Need help with my WiFi (Regarding channels0

[dougal]

I've got a 100Mbps connection at home.

Doing a speed test I was only getting 30-40mbps so I go to my router/modem settings and change the channel and it goes to 80-95mbps which is awesome on wifi. Problem is that after some time, anything from 30 minutes to 2 hours it reverts to 30-40 mbps again and I have to do the same thing.

I've tried setting of dual band 20mhz/40mhz and just 20mhz and auto channel selection or just setting channel manually. Same story, speeds up to 80-90 for a while and then slows again afaterwards to 30-40 until I change channel again.

Anyone know how I can solve this ? When I called my ISP they said 40 is normal on wireless even if right next to the modem because of interference from devices, other routers (of neighbors) etc..

The router/modem is a cable modem by Cisco

 

[k0x]

OK let us know:

1) exact type of your router/modem - wifi settings?
2) exact type of your client wifi card
3) Operating System - anything special configured?

 

[Sardine]

download and install inSSIDer and take a look at your local wifi signals.. see if one or more neighbours are overlapping with yours and move yours to a more clear channel. its a very useful tool especially as more of my neighbours are adopting 5G signal.

http://www.metageek.com/products/inssider/

older but freeware version
http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

 

[dougal]

The problem was noted while using my 2012 MacBook Pro retina. On my Windows PC tower using windows 7 and connected via Ethernet to an apple airport express but much further away from the router than the MacBook and I maintain a respectable 60mbps plus or minus.

 

[Trapshot]

1) Make sure you have no power saving settings applied to your wireless adaptor in your device, as it may be turning off multiple streams and/or antenna power to save power over performance.

2) Use 5 Ghz where possible, if you are close to your WiFi beacon, as it's likely to be faster overall.. In part this is due to the lesser amount of interference on 5Ghz (although this is increasing nowadays), as well as a shorter range. If using 5Ghz, turn off 2.4Ghz unless you need it for device compatibility.

3) Regardless of which frequency you use (2.4/5Ghz), use 802.11n mode where possible. If you are using old devices that don't support 802.11n (that is, MIMO streams), then change it to 802.11b/g instead.

4) Use the advice given above by getting InSSIDer and checking for the amount of interference in the area. It will show you which Wireless APs are in range and which channels they are on. As a rule of thumb, on 2.4Ghz, try to stay 5 channels apart from the neighbouring beacons. So if they are on 1 and 11, use channel 6, due to the wide frequency banding. If you are on 5Ghz, it's less important due to the narrow banding, but you can still see from InSSIDer which channels to use, and you can still choose one far away from any neighbouring ones for best performance.

5) Remember that many non-WiFi items can inhibit the signal, such as alarm systems, microwaves, certain radios (PMR trackers for example), door and barrier controllers (if there are businesses nearby) etc. These will show up on InSSIDer too.

6) If after doing all that, your throughput is still poor after a few hours, it may be your modem/router. It could also be some software on your OS causing the issue

 

[Vyncynt]

download and install inSSIDer and take a look at your local wifi signals.. see if one or more neighbours are overlapping with yours and move yours to a more clear channel. its a very useful tool especially as more of my neighbours are adopting 5G signal.

http://www.metageek.com/products/inssider/

older but freeware version
http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

I use inSSIDer and it is great. Depending on your wifi bands (a, b, n, etc...), some are more prone to interference from wireless portable home phones or microwave ovens. When you scan for available channels, if you have a wireless home phone or microwave, make sure they are both in use. It can help identify which channels are less likely to be impacted. Neighbors devices can also interfere. Perform your scan at prime time, when your neighbors are home, not in the middle of a workday day or after midnight.

 

[dougal]

The router/modem is a CISCO EPC3928 and my connection is 100MBPS Cable.

Connected via ethernet the speed is perfect. Via Wireless I can get up to 90 or 95 MBPS but this is ONLY possible if I change the channel and after about 30-60 minutes it is degraded and averages late 20's to late 30's MBPS. To get back the full speed I need to do the SAME process of changing the channel once again.

Channels i've tried are the usual ones like 2,9,11 etc.. I've also tried strange channels and also Auto and i've tried 20mhz and 20/40mhz. Changing these settings results in the full speed but only temporarily.

- - - Updated - - -

One thing I noticed, very important is this:

The problems of 30/40MBPS is using my 2012 Retina MacBook Pro which is pretty close (same room) to my wireless router.

Strangely upstairs a little further away I have my fixed Windows 7 PC (its an old Core2 Quad) which is connected WIRED to my Airport Express (latest version) which takes internet wirelessly from the router. On that average speed without changing channels on the router is 50-60MBPS despite being further away.

Strange indeed.

 

[Arnie]

1, 6 & 11 are the best to try, less cross channel interference, I use 11.

 

[dougal]

I tried them all. All same issue, get full speed for a while which drops later on.

Funny thing is that there are not that many other wireless routers in "my area". Maybe 4 or 5.

1, 6 & 11 are the best to try, less cross channel interference, I use 11.

 

[Matt3o]

One thing I noticed, very important is this:

The problems of 30/40MBPS is using my 2012 Retina MacBook Pro which is pretty close (same room) to my wireless router.

Strangely upstairs a little further away I have my fixed Windows 7 PC (its an old Core2 Quad) which is connected WIRED to my Airport Express (latest version) which takes internet wirelessly from the router. On that average speed without changing channels on the router is 50-60MBPS despite being further away.

Strange indeed.

the problem seems on the macbook then. if you reboot the macbook do you get the 80mps back?

 

[dougal]

Fair enough but then why would changing channel from the router side speed things up a lot if only temporarily ?

One thing I noticed, very important is this:

The problems of 30/40MBPS is using my 2012 Retina MacBook Pro which is pretty close (same room) to my wireless router.

Strangely upstairs a little further away I have my fixed Windows 7 PC (its an old Core2 Quad) which is connected WIRED to my Airport Express (latest version) which takes internet wirelessly from the router. On that average speed without changing channels on the router is 50-60MBPS despite being further away.

Strange indeed.

the problem seems on the macbook then. if you reboot the macbook do you get the 80mps back?