Why Do I Keep Disconnecting?

[murphy]

In the US channels 1 through 11 are available.
Only channels 1, 6, and 11 are unique. All other channels overlap adjacent channels.
The bottom frequency of channel 1 is 2401 MHz.
The top frequency of channel 11 is 2473 MHz.
By using a 40 MHz wide signal you are using more than half of the entire band.
If there are no other wireless access points near you this is fine.
However if there are many wireless access points in your vicinity your throughput will go down because of the interference.

Other interference possibilities.
Amateur Radio Band 2390 to 2450 (primary user of these frequencies and can run very high power)
Microwave oven 2450
X10 camera channel A 2411
X10 camera channel B 2434
X10 camera channel C 2453
X10 camera channel D 2473
cordless phone 2400 - 2483.5

[lbmofo]

I just experienced the "channel bonding" issue the other day at my dad's.

I was wondering why wired connections would get 24+ Mbps but wireless was always around 5+ Mbps....

Then looked at wireless status and saw that the router was mostly settling at 20 MHz with Channel 6 when in "Auto 20/40" mode.

Selected 20 MHz only and tested various channels to specify; finally picked channel 3 (9, 11 weren't too bad either for my dad). The throughput with wireless is now about the same as wired.

[Ringfinger]

I took a look with SSIDER and see the following. The 5 GHz band is clear, only me, unfortunately Ooma wi-fi run's on 2.4 GHz, so no help there.

My current setting is 40 MHz (not auto 20/40, actual 40 MHz) with channel 6 as the channel, and lower when it I guess you call it "bonds" with another channel. What I see with SSIDER is my 2.4 GHz network using like channels 4-8 or so (even though it is set at 6) and then it changes to 6+2 (I can see that in the chart of networks it is picking up) and then I see it using like channels 1-8 of the 2.4 GHz spectrum. The range I what I am speaking of. It keeps jumping from 6 to 6+2 and the width of the spectrum so to say widens appropriately.

It seems most others nearby are using 6 or 11 (about 4 or 5 close by networks it seems), my signal is the strongest according to the graph. It shows whether it is 6 or 6+2 that I am at 300MBps. I know that is not actual speed, I guess that is what it is saying I am capable of.

Regardless, I have 60-75% signal strength at Ooma unit according to wi-fi setting I accessed at setup.ooma.com (which by the way, when I type in the static IP I have assigned, sometimes I can access that screen and sometimes it times out, weird, explanations for that?) So, is changing to 20 MHZ going to help anything if I have what seems a decent signal right now? I know that using 1, 6 or 11 is best, thus I am using 6. I checked the unit this morning and all seemed fine, no bright lights, no flashing Ooma symbol or anything.

[lbmofo]

Everyone and thier mother uses channel 6 is what I am thinking... So change to 3, 11, 9 or something else?

For the throughput that Telo requires, it doesn't matter but why not optimize the throughput for your other wireless devices?

[Ringfinger]

I thought since 1,6 and 11 were the only "unique channels", picking anything else will just overlap them thus not really improving anything?

As far as changing, bottom line will it help with the dropouts that seems to be what others are saying is happening?

[murphy]

Channel 1 overlaps 2 through 5.
Channel 6 overlaps 2 through 10.
Channel 11 overlaps 7 through 10.

802.11 WiFi Channels.pdf

(121.02KiB)Downloaded 516 times

Channel 6 is the worst choice in a busy environment.

[Ringfinger]

Understood, so with everything I see around me being 6 or 11, I should be best suited using Channel 1 or 11?

I guess the bottom line is how much will this and changing to 20MHz help me with my Ooma unit?

[murphy]

If 6 and 11 are in use then 1 is your best option.

I can't answer your question as to how much the changes will help because I don't have the same congestion that you do.
My Telo is hard wired and my laptop and iPAD are on 5.8 GHz where I am alone.

[Ringfinger]

I understand. Maybe I will try channel 1 anyhow since it seems all others are on 6 or 11.

I'll see how the unit is tonight and if I have any disconnects like I have been having. Very frustrating.

[Ringfinger]

Well, I see one other person on channel 1 but it is a weak signal. I changed to channel one and I changed to 20MHz spread. Seems okay except now I peak at 130 MBps instead of the 300 I "theoretically" had with 40 MHz however I am taking everyones work for it that I am better off.

For some reason, I still can't access the Ooma wirelessly by typing in the IP address I assigned it even though when I plug in via ethernet I can see the port 80 forwarding rule. Can anyone walk me through this process in regards to having the wi-fi dongle attached instead of ethernet? Seems like it should not make a difference but bottom line, how do I ensure the static IP is accessible via wi-fi? Seems it is not being forwarded somehow.

As far as dropping out, I have 85 to 100/100 signal quality when I look in setup.ooma.com. About 60-75% signal strength which I assume should be fine?