I'd like to get people's thoughts on whether it is better to have all of one's access points on a single channel or on multiple channels in an environment with lots of third party network interference.
Background
[sorry for the intermittent blue text]
My network components:
-20gb dedicate ethernet connection, business service.
-Main router ASUS RT-AC86U (~2 years old), in upstairs office with ooma office base station and one desktop wired and another laptop wirelessly connected to 5g signal, networked printer wirelessly connected to 2.4g signal.
-Downstairs Linksys Wireless Access Point N300 Dual Band (WAP300N) connected by ethernet to main router, set to transmit in 5g, one person consistently connecting directly this AP via wireless.
-Two ASUS, EA-N6, set to act as extenders of the Linksys AP's channel in a daisy chain to back office, where one laptop is consistently to resulting 5g signal. One of the EA-N6's is in the kitchen between the AP and the back office. The other is in the back office.
Physical environment:
Old pier with lots of thick cast iron in walls and ceiling and floor, including between downstairs access point and back office. Not an easy way to run cable to a place closer to back office.
Tech company on floor below us.
Signal environment:
Crazy crowded, especially in 2.4g. Downstairs tech company appears to have like 20 guest networks in addition to non-guest networks, in addition other offices in pier have networks, as well as restaurant nearby. In our own office suite, we also have several networks of our officemates, one on 5g, rest on 2.4. 5g network is using airport, which does not allow you to lower to 20 mhz.
My current signal configuration:
Because of the congestion in the 2.4g space, as mentioned, I set Linksys AP and the Asus bridges to 5g, and set the AP and the bridges to the 20 mhz channel with the least amount of congestion, and then set the my main router's 5g signal to the same channel. I also set the 2.4 channel of the main router to the least congested, but I don't really have an issue with it.
Result
Connection in the upstairs office is fine, as is the connection in the office near the Linksys AP; however, access in the back office can be slow and droppy, especially if there is another person trying to connect back there. Both EA-N6's signals are accessible in the back office. However, that of the one in the back office is generally (but not always) better. In the back office, you can see the AP's signal but not connect to it. Downstairs near the AP, you can connect to both the main router's signal and the AP's signal.
Cheers,
Stu
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrT...g/EAN66//RK=0/RS=1F.ksk3JqvseJzhNndXkm3RwzYs-
Background
[sorry for the intermittent blue text]
My network components:
-20gb dedicate ethernet connection, business service.
-Main router ASUS RT-AC86U (~2 years old), in upstairs office with ooma office base station and one desktop wired and another laptop wirelessly connected to 5g signal, networked printer wirelessly connected to 2.4g signal.
-Downstairs Linksys Wireless Access Point N300 Dual Band (WAP300N) connected by ethernet to main router, set to transmit in 5g, one person consistently connecting directly this AP via wireless.
-Two ASUS, EA-N6, set to act as extenders of the Linksys AP's channel in a daisy chain to back office, where one laptop is consistently to resulting 5g signal. One of the EA-N6's is in the kitchen between the AP and the back office. The other is in the back office.
Physical environment:
Old pier with lots of thick cast iron in walls and ceiling and floor, including between downstairs access point and back office. Not an easy way to run cable to a place closer to back office.
Tech company on floor below us.
Signal environment:
Crazy crowded, especially in 2.4g. Downstairs tech company appears to have like 20 guest networks in addition to non-guest networks, in addition other offices in pier have networks, as well as restaurant nearby. In our own office suite, we also have several networks of our officemates, one on 5g, rest on 2.4. 5g network is using airport, which does not allow you to lower to 20 mhz.
My current signal configuration:
Because of the congestion in the 2.4g space, as mentioned, I set Linksys AP and the Asus bridges to 5g, and set the AP and the bridges to the 20 mhz channel with the least amount of congestion, and then set the my main router's 5g signal to the same channel. I also set the 2.4 channel of the main router to the least congested, but I don't really have an issue with it.
Result
Connection in the upstairs office is fine, as is the connection in the office near the Linksys AP; however, access in the back office can be slow and droppy, especially if there is another person trying to connect back there. Both EA-N6's signals are accessible in the back office. However, that of the one in the back office is generally (but not always) better. In the back office, you can see the AP's signal but not connect to it. Downstairs near the AP, you can connect to both the main router's signal and the AP's signal.
Cheers,
Stu
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrT...g/EAN66//RK=0/RS=1F.ksk3JqvseJzhNndXkm3RwzYs-
