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Will_T's avatar
Will_T
Apprentice
Jul 02, 2019
Solved

Problem with setting a channel

It was suggested in another thread that one of the setup things I do is take the router off of "automatic" channel and set it manually.  So I set the wireless to channel 6 which was one of the best channels when I did it.  Things seem to be working OK, but as you can see from the attached screenshot, when I use wifi analyzer app it shows channel 6 as being terrible now that the Orbi router is on it.  Can anyone explain what might be going on?  Thanks.

  • WiFi analyzer programs look at the signal strength of access points broadcasting on each channel and find the channel that has the lowest aggregate signals being broadcast.  When the Orbi is set to channel 6 and the WiFi analyzer device is anyplace close an Orbi, it says, "gee whiz, channel 6 has somebody really strong broadcasting on it."  (The Orbi)  That is what you want.

     

    In order for a WiFi analyzer to be of value, it must be run while the Orbi is not turned on.  Basically, that is what happens when the Orbi is set to "Auto".  The Orbi does a brief scan of WiFi channels and says, "hmmm. this particular channel has the least interference, I'll set myself to it."  This is also why Orbi sometimes choses one of the "overlapping" channels.  Everybody is probably aware that the nice folks who designed 802.11 (WiFi) put the channel frequencies too close together and broadcasting on channel 1, for example, bleeds over into channels 2 and 3.  Channel 6 bleeds over into channels 4, 5, 7, 8.  But, channels 1 and 6 do not overlap at all.  But, what if there are a ton of WiFi's close by that are set to 1 and 6?  Maybe 3 or 4 actually has more capability than adding to the traffic on 1 or 6.

10 Replies

    • Will_T's avatar
      Will_T
      Apprentice

      Don't have close neighbors. There are only a couple weak wifi networks I can ever see.  Not sure if they are on 6.  I tried another app. Also showed 6, which I am connected to as being weak.  Says 1 or 13 are strongest. Odd thing is that 6 was one of the 3 strongest before I connected the Orbi to it.  I can try manually setting to 1 or 13 and see.

      • FURRYe38's avatar
        FURRYe38
        Guru

        Maybe an app issue rather then a Orbi or wifi issue...

        Is the wifi working for you when your on chl 6?