Wireless channel wont change?

[craney5]

Hi guys

Just wondering if someone could lend me a hand. I have been having a few issues with my wireless dropping out on my 7800n as of late so i installed inssider to checkout the other wireless devices around me and a few popped up and were running on the same channel. Inssider says my channel is 1+5, i wanted to change it to something like 6 to see if it made a difference. I went into the wireless settings, everything is default here not touched a thing. Channel 1 (2.412ghz) was selected by default with the channel width being 20/40. So i dont know why inssider is showing the channel as 1+5? Anyway i manually changed the channel to channel 6 and clicked apply didnt save config just yet. Reloaded inssider and its still showing my wirless channel as channel 1+5

Any ideas why

A- its showing as 1+5 when 1 was selcted my default and

B- Why its still showing as 1+5 in issider when i have manually changed it to channel 6

Hope someone can help me out

Thanks a mill

[tinytim]

Try doing a save.

The 20/40 setting is why you get the channel spread that you're showing.

[Tomken]

First of all, it shows as 1+5 as the 20/40MHz is dual channel width.

If you changed that to just 20MHz then it would just show as the channel you had reset it to and when it's set correctly to channel 6 in dual channel width, it will show as 6+2.

After clicking Apply, you need to Save Config where the router would reboot and if it hasn't rebooted, then the change will not have been effected.

EDIT - Looks like you just got in before me tinytim

[craney5]

Many thanks for your kind replys guys, i wasn't aware you had to save the config for it to actually apply. Thanks for clearing up and explaining the channel 1+5 i was seeing as well much appreciated.

Does it actually matter what channel you use? Is there any reason to use a 40mhz channel over a 20mhz channel?

Thanks again guys

[Tomken]

This article may explain things a little bit about which channel width to use http://techpunt.com/networks/home-netwo ... idths.html

I have at most (at the moment) about another 7 users around me that inSSIDer picks up and fortunately, their RSSI dBm values range from -72dBm to -82dBm and while a value of -70dBm is borderline interference, I'm able to use channel 4 quite comfortably with a RSSI value fluctuaing between -49dBm to -51dBM and just stay with the default 20/40MHz dual channel width.

Equally if your channel strength is about -70dBm you should either move closer to the router, change channels or consider the line of sight from the router to your computer as thick brick walls or floors (if on a different level to the router), radiators and even heavy furniture can weaken the signal and cause loss of connection.

If you lived in say a large congested block of flats, then perhaps you should consider dropping down to just 20MHz.

-49dBm is usually 100% signal strength so you want to try for a channel that gives you that value or as close to that value as possible (usually about 50 is good) without being "next door" to someone on -70dBm or less - disregard the minus values as that is how they are expressed, 49 is still less than 70.

Entering the cmd netsh wlan show network mode=bssid at the cmd prompt will show what your computer NIC is picking up (which should be the same as inSSIDer) but will display the signal strengths as a %

You will see from the chart in that article that each channel is incremented by 5MHz and optimally, a gap of 20MHz is the min to absolutely guarantee no interference from your "neighbour" but as that isn't always achievable, then 2 to 3 away are the next best options bearing in mind the signal strength showing on those other channels as the nearer to yours, then the nearer they are to you and could interfere with your signal and give you connectivity problems.

In the UK you can use channels 1 through to 13.

Dect cordless phones use channels 1-2 range but as long as you don't have the base unit sited near to your router, you should be okay and channel 9 is the domain of microwaves, but in any event, you should have your router at least 10ft away from one of those as they will also disrupt your WiFi signal when in use and cause disconnects.

Sorry for the long post but as you didn't explain why you needed to change to channel 6, I thought that perhaps some more detail may be beneficial.

[craney5]

Thanks so much for the in depth responce its helped me out loads. The main reason for wanting to change the channel was to try and see if it helps with my disconnecting issue. I do actually have a cordless phone and base right next to my router so maybe i'll move it. I dont actually use or need the home landline phone and did have it disconnected from my filtered faceplate but i kept getting random disconnects and was informed i could have voicemails on the line clogging it up which i did. I didnt actually realize that even if you dont have a phone plugged In and call your land line it still rings? I get so much rubbish like ppi etc calling me it drives me mad so would love to get rid of the phone altogether which like u mention could get rid of possible interference its just i dont want my line clogged up agaIn

Thanks again for your help

[Tomken]

Forgot that you'd said in your opening post that there were a few others on the same channel as you as the reason for changing channels.

With ADSL you need a phone line and any phone faults can cause disruption to your broadband connection.

If you have an extension, then you could plug your cordless phone to that and if you're getting voice mail, then it would be advantageous to keep it if just to clear those.

When someone has a landline installed and they've pulled the plug, anyone phoning will hear it ringing and with no answer, they'd assume noone was in and is sometimes done when someone doesn't want to be disturbed.

If you don't normally bother with the landline, then just stick a corded phone in which will eliminate any possible interference from a cordless base but with the cordless phone connected, use its power and phone cable length just to put some distance between the two - if possible.

Preferably with a corded phone plug it in on its own into the master socket, dial any single digit and before the auto voice kicks in, there shouldn't be any noise such as crackling or hissing.

If either of those are present then contact your ISP and report a phone fault and with the phone connected as normal, if it disconnects when the phone rings or after you have used it, then do likewise.

When you don't have an ADSL faceplate fitted and have to use microfilters, changing those can usually resolve the latter but to eliminate a faulty ADSL faceplate, you would have to remove that and use the test socket behind that to see if that fault cleared and do this also for the silence test.

Using the test socket disconnects any extensions.

You can register with the Telephone Preference Service (can't rember the number to call now) which should lessen spam phone calls although there are other means of obtaining your phone number and going ex-Directory would help, but when you get one of these calls, just ask them where they got your number from as you are registered with the TPS, as it's illegal to spam phone call someone when knowingly that number is registered - they should then remove you from their list, although I still get the odd one now and again.

Unfortunately, it does nothing for those auto random silent calls.