Hi i'm using a homehub2.0 in a building of flats. Now my problem is every channel available gives a really rubbish transfer speed because of all the interference from flats around me, and its crippling my internet. Is there anything i can do to fix or lessen the effect?
Wired- unfortunately that'd involve a rather long cable, well two of them, don't really want to have them traipsing through the flat. 802.11a- I take it you need both specialised router and recievers? I take it anything that uses the wireless G standard has the same channels? So channel 7 on one router is equivelenant to channel 7 on any other one, i.e swapping router brand won't help?
I was about to suggest trying a firmware update, but apparently the Homehub 2.0 gets it's updates automatically. I take it that you've given you Homehub a unique SSID (wireless name,) changed the admin password (and written it down on the fridge) and set up WPA encryption. Try moving your machine (or laptop/borrow a laptop if you don't want the hassle of moving a full rig) next to the Homehub unit and seeing if you can get a wireless connection there. If so, gradually move it further away, avoiding or moving sources of interference. Mobile phones, microwaves and cordless phones (particularly their receiver unit) will interfere with reception, so consider moving such equipment away from your wireless router and computer. Also, metal objects, electric cables, TVs, audio kit and some types of wall insulation (foil backed foam) can cause a loss or drop in signal strength. Typically, you'd want to set up the wireless using either channel 7 or 11 (or 7/13 in the UK) as these are non-overlapping channels. You can use 1 as well, but the others tend to give better reception. Also, if you're still having trouble, have a look at this (and related articles at the bottom): http://bt.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/bt.cfg/php/enduser/cci/bt_adp.php?p_faqid=11780&p_sid=z*NUTkJj&p_lva=&cat_lvl1=346&p_cv=1.346&p_cats=346 Edit: another link to look at. Personally though, I'd avoid USB network cards, but that's just me. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/wirelesstips.aspx Also, forgot to say, but make sure your wireless driver on your computer are up to date. You can get them from the manufacturer's website. .
As i said the problem is with lots of other routers around, yes those channels are non overlapping with eachother, but that doesn't help if you have another router at channel 11 or 7, 11 or 7 will then be just as bad respectively. The annoying part is i can get a good channel for a while, but then it'll be gone and i have to go through them all finding a good one. Seems almost like someone's router is set to hop through the channels randomly when its got nothing better to do. And it must interfere with them as much as it does me. Yes i'm using a unique SSID and WPA, though i don't see how WPA would help with interference.
you could use a home plug system. or switch to 802.11n - unlike 'a' its moving forwards not back, but has the same advantage of being a different frequency. Most n hardware is draft 2 at the moment, as it ain't finished yet mind... (we are up to draft 7 now iirc!) - The homehub 2 is 802.11b/g/n anyway - so it'd just be a case of updating your adapters... or get a decent router, with a changeable aerial, and put a higher gain aerial on it. Or an MIMO router (2 or 3 aerials).
Check whether there is a large block thing between your pc client and wireless router. If not , check the antenna of wireless router have correct direction,may be vertical . if it is,check the PC connection quality with router in a short distance. if not good,maybe change a router is good way.
changing router wont really do anything if its conflicting wireless signals from other flats. try changing your channels. Just select a channel and the furthest away is +5 e.g. 1 and 6 2 and 7 3 and 8 so if most poeple are using default channels on thier routers in your flat building then channel 2 may be a good start. Change channels and test out each one to see which is best. also do you have wireless phones ? as these can interfer with your singal too.
802.11b/g/n all use the 2400 hertz range with channels 1 to 11 in the UK (1-12 in the US, 1-13 in Japan) all equating to the same frequency block. The channels between 1 and 6 can overlap at the fringes, ditto 7 through 11. 802.11a was MOSTLY released in the US, and uses the 5000 hertz range. The data rates are higher, but the range is lower. You could get equipment for it in the UK but it was never very popular. The general rule of thumb using Vistumbler (Vista) or NetStumbler (XP) is that if you've got another signal over, I normally go by around 40%, in the same channel, or same channel block, move away from it. There are other options, if you've got a PC on wireless; powerline ethernet would work, or you could get a powerline ethernet wireless repeater. Microwave ovens just plain cause intereference if they're not shielded right, and cordless phones cause interference in the 2400 hertz range specifically.
Why not get a DIY telephone extension kit from somewhere like B&Q. Buy a small hammer at the same time ang get tacking
if ya living in a block of flats and they all have wireless id say your going to have to go wired. theres no real way of solving your issue other than changing from wireless to powerline or cat5. if the changing channels doesnt work. only other things i can think of that may increase transfer speeds is to boost the signal of your equipment by either moving the router closer to PC, adding a wireless AP or/and getting high gain aerials. wont resolve the conflicting issue but may lessen them
802.11n can both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. it has backwards compatibility to 802.11a/b/g. A higher gain aerial would give a clearer signal - but you would need a different router, and an aerial. Further to my previous, 802.11n has now been ratified (middle of last month as it turns out). As you don't want cable running around the house, home plug may be the way forward.
Every router I've seen with an antenna uses the standard connector so there's plenty of choice in new model!
You could paint the floor, outside walls, and ceiling with a couple coats of this stuffhttp://www.crunchgear.com/2009/01/26/new-paint-stops-wi-fi-stealing-neighbors/ Or you could Buy a metric ton of copper screen and Faraday cage your flat.
You could have some access points dotted about running as repeaters for the signal boosting it around your place.
