Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Tim Law]

Thanks Daniel,

The last time someone chatted to me about tinfoil deflecting signals they were 
wearing one as a hat. but that's another story. :-)

I'm not really looking for any assistance with these issues now, I'm just 
reporting back on what I've found. The exercise has been interesting. 

First, the Airport Extreme IS an older unit that is NOT Dual band, g band only. 

It was mounted vertically on a wall. The instructions say this was okay. 
Now I have laid it flat, I'm getting a SNR of around 30 db on the Mac Mini - 
Late 2009 model
Interesting, I loaded iStumbler onto a G4 Power PC Powerbook running 10.5.8 and 
placed it next to the Mac Mini and am getting signal strength of 40db to 45db

The Noise reading is very similar with both of them - around -90db, it's the 
Signal strength that varies between the two. 

The lower signal strength reported by the Mac Mini is of no importance, as it 
is connected via ethernet cable, but it's interesting and may reflect the 
different internal design of the Powerbook and the Mac Mini and where the 
antenna is placed. 

When I constructed the tin foil C curve radiator, it made no difference to the 
signal being received by the PowerBook 6 metres away. Only when I laid the 
alfoil all over the top of the Airport Extreme, did the signal change - yes it 
dropped down. Like Daniel said, that idea was a big 'maybe' but good to try out.

Thanks to Ronni for the scale:
> SNR Guideline
> 40+dB = Excellent signal
> 25dB to 40dB = Very good signal
> 15dB to 25dB = Low signal
> 10dB to 15dB = Very low signal
> 5dB to 10dB = Little or no signal


Given the SNR drops away to 25 - 30 dB on the Powerbook when I take it for a 
wander around the house and shut a few doors (dropping from the 40db to 45db in 
direct line of sight), I'll get a new Airport Extreme and the devices that can 
use the n band will get the benefit. 

Thanks

Tim




On 21/07/2012, at 10:33 PM, Daniel Kerr wrote:

> Hi Tim
> 
> Performance may improve depending on if you and an older Airport Extreme. 
> Some of the older ones were "g" models only and didn't do Dual band either.
> Only the recent models were Dual Band. (I think maybe 2 models back for the 
> Extreme and only the new one for the Express).
> So this could this help as well.  Single strength and distance can also be 
> affected my housing as well unfortunately.
> Years ago I attempted to put a wireless unit in a house (and a work one as 
> well). For the house I could get coverage in all the house except one bedroom 
> for the client (Which was the one room they wanted it for). Ended up being 
> plumbing in the bathroom right next door to the bedroom. (I put the router in 
> the bathroom to test it and i couldn't see it on the opposite side of a 
> wall!!) And the same in a business. Could get it in the office, but couldn't 
> get it like 12 feet away from the unit. It wasn't til years later when the N 
> networks came out that I could add a unit to get coverage for their whole 
> office.
> At home I have one Time Capsule at the end of the house (where my office is) 
> and this gives me great coverage right through all the house and outside to 
> the back fence, so I"m pretty lucky.
> A friend of mine gets average coverage through her whole house, again except 
> her room which is right behind a bathroom and laundry. All the other rooms on 
> the opposite of those get great signal. (And that's with a new Express, which 
> is a lot better then what she had before).
> 
> So it does vary.
> But again, if you've only got an older Extreme that isn't Dual band it can be 
> worth upgrading to either the Extreme or new Express to at least get you the 
> Dual Band, so you can "split" the a/b/g's and n's to different "channels" to 
> get the most out of it.
> 
> Another thing you can try which I've had "some" success with for clients 
> trying to push their signal (and this sounds a bit silly) but if you're 
> trying to push your signal downwards from a long house and all the gear is at 
> one end and you want to get it to the other without drops out is the 
> following.
> If you get a piece of cardboard (about a normal sized A4 pad shape) and cover 
> it in tin foil. Bend it into a C shape and place it behind the Airport 
> Extreme, you can sometimes help find it amplifies the signal. Seeing as the 
> signal is going all around and you really don't need it to outwards, but you 
> want it to go longwards, this will help "shape" the signal back on itself.
> I don't think that explains it very well, so I'll try draw it too. (And I 
> apologise here, as this is going to be really bad as drawing's not my strong 
> point,...lol. )
> Current set up
>   |
>   |
>   | <-(wall of house)
> <-- signal -  | (wireless modem) -signal 
> ---> <-signal--> <-signal 

Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Daniel Kerr]

Hi Tim

Performance may improve depending on if you and an older Airport Extreme. Some 
of the older ones were "g" models only and didn't do Dual band either.
Only the recent models were Dual Band. (I think maybe 2 models back for the 
Extreme and only the new one for the Express).
So this could this help as well.  Single strength and distance can also be 
affected my housing as well unfortunately.
Years ago I attempted to put a wireless unit in a house (and a work one as 
well). For the house I could get coverage in all the house except one bedroom 
for the client (Which was the one room they wanted it for). Ended up being 
plumbing in the bathroom right next door to the bedroom. (I put the router in 
the bathroom to test it and i couldn't see it on the opposite side of a wall!!) 
And the same in a business. Could get it in the office, but couldn't get it 
like 12 feet away from the unit. It wasn't til years later when the N networks 
came out that I could add a unit to get coverage for their whole office.
At home I have one Time Capsule at the end of the house (where my office is) 
and this gives me great coverage right through all the house and outside to the 
back fence, so I"m pretty lucky.
A friend of mine gets average coverage through her whole house, again except 
her room which is right behind a bathroom and laundry. All the other rooms on 
the opposite of those get great signal. (And that's with a new Express, which 
is a lot better then what she had before).

So it does vary.
But again, if you've only got an older Extreme that isn't Dual band it can be 
worth upgrading to either the Extreme or new Express to at least get you the 
Dual Band, so you can "split" the a/b/g's and n's to different "channels" to 
get the most out of it.

Another thing you can try which I've had "some" success with for clients trying 
to push their signal (and this sounds a bit silly) but if you're trying to push 
your signal downwards from a long house and all the gear is at one end and you 
want to get it to the other without drops out is the following.
If you get a piece of cardboard (about a normal sized A4 pad shape) and cover 
it in tin foil. Bend it into a C shape and place it behind the Airport Extreme, 
you can sometimes help find it amplifies the signal. Seeing as the signal is 
going all around and you really don't need it to outwards, but you want it to 
go longwards, this will help "shape" the signal back on itself.
I don't think that explains it very well, so I'll try draw it too. (And I 
apologise here, as this is going to be really bad as drawing's not my strong 
point,...lol. )
Current set up
|
|
| <-(wall of house)
<-- signal -  | (wireless modem) -signal 
---> <-signal--> <-signal (starts to 
drop off) ---> etc
|


Trial set up

|
|
| <-(wall of house)
   <- less signal  | C shaped cardboard beside (wireless modem) 
-signal ---> <-stronger signal--> 
<-still going signal ---> etc
|

LOL. Well I did say it wasn't going to be all that fancy,...hehe.

Hopefully that sort of makes sense. Again, this works best when you don't need 
really need an exact signal one way and the other to be the same, but all the 
gear is at one end of a house and your'e trying to push it to the other.
And the beauty of it is that it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to try. (Bar some 
tin foil, cardboard and a bit of your time). And if it works,...a cheap fix!! 
:o)

If all else fails, then you have one Airport Express at the front of the house 
to run the wireless and then somewhere in the middle of the house another 
Airport Express "Extending" the network. Costs you 2x $119 and it runs as "one" 
network. So you only ever see the same wireless name throughout the whole 
house, but basically one Express covers one end of the house and the second 
Express covers the other end. I've got a few set ups like this for clients, one 
in Fremantle that has a really long house and it runs their signal right from 
front of house to back of house no problems. (And it's split level too!).

So there's a few ways to do it.

Hope that makes sense and is at least partially helpful,..lol.

Time for a break,..just spent the last 5 hours or so working on a MacPro to get 
working,lol. Back to the rest of my work,... :)

Enjoy!!

Kind regards
Daniel
---
Daniel Kerr
MacWizardry

Phone: 0414 795 960
Email: 
Web:   


**For everything Apple**

On 21/07/2012, at 5:08 PM, Tim Law wrote:

> 
>

Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Ronda Brown]

Hi Tim,

Yes, that is the WAN Port.

>> iStumbler log shows Signal -63 dBm Noise -92 dBm

One method to calculate signal quality is to compute the Signal-to-Noise Ratio 
(SNR). 
SNR is the signal level (in dBm) minus the noise level (in dBm). Both of these 
values are typically represented as negative numbers. 

So your SNR = 29dB
SNR = Signal - Noise = -63 - (-92) = 29dB 
Which is in the range of a very good signal 

The calculated SNR value, as measured from a wireless client, would decrease as 
the range to the base station increases due to applicable free space loss. Also 
an increase in RF intereference from microwave ovens, cordless phones, walls, 
ceilings, etc, which would increase the noise level, would also decrease the 
overall SNR value.
 
SNR Guideline
40+dB = Excellent signal
25dB to 40dB = Very good signal
15dB to 25dB = Low signal
10dB to 15dB = Very low signal
5dB to 10dB = Little or no signal

Ive had a long hard day and my brain is fading, I think I'll give it a rest 
until tomorrow :)

Cheers,
Ronni
Sent from Ronni's iPad

On 21/07/2012, at 9:14 PM, Tim Law  wrote:

>> Hi Tim,
>> 
>> Just a very quick query to your comment below.
>> 
>>> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
>>> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
>> 
>> Do you have the Modem plugged into the WAN port on the Airport, not the LAN 
>> Port?
> 
> 
> Yes Ronni.
> The WAN port is the one with the circle not the <> Ethernet LAN port
> 
> It's in the port marked with the round circle.
> 
> Tim
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Ronni
>> Sent from Ronni's iPad
>> 
>> On 21/07/2012, at 5:08 PM, Tim Law  wrote:
>> 
>>> This has been an interesting exchange and prompted me to download iStumbler 
>>> and see what is going on with my own wireless network. 
>>> 
>>> It has also been a wonderful distraction from either 
>>> a) commencing a laundry and bathroom renovation, or
>>> b) removing the front diff from my Landcruiser for the third time in three 
>>> months. First time to upgrade it. Second time to redo it because the 
>>> mechanic didn't assemble the locker correctly, and now third time 
>>> because um.. well, I broke it with too much power and showing off and 
>>> it makes a nasty sound and all the oil ran onto the sand...  :-(
>>> 
>>> So, playing with networking software is a great thing to do!
>>> 
>>> I have Telstra cable internet running through a Motorola Surfboard modem 
>>> that has been very stable and reliable for six plus months. 
>>> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
>>> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
>>> The Airport Extreme is mounted on a wall 6 metres line of sight from the 
>>> Mac Mini running Lion that is doing the testing with iStumbler.   
>>> The devices normally using the wireless network are an iPad 1 and an 
>>> iPhone4.   
>>> Wireless Security is WPA Personal 
>>> iStumbler log shows Signal -63 dBm Noise -92 dBm
>>> 
>>> My problem seems to be a bit different to Adrian's, and I've got my eye on 
>>> the Airport Extreme as being naughty because each week or so I need to 
>>> reset it. Whilst devices show they are receiving WiFi signal, those devices 
>>> cannot connect to the internet.  A hard restart of the Airport Extreme 
>>> resolves this - pulling the power cable out, waiting a bit and pushing it 
>>> back in again. The main computers on the network are not affected as they 
>>> are on hard ethernet cabling. 
>>> 
>>> But what interests me the most is the low power of the signal as measured 
>>> by iStumbler, and it seems like a new Airport Extreme would be useful.  
>>> Adrian is talking about Signal level of 75%, compared to my 40%. No matter 
>>> what channel I have selected, the signal strength varies between 38% and 
>>> 42%. There are no other networks showing up in iStumbler.   WiFi signals 
>>> drops away to one bar at times on the iPad and iPhone in other parts of the 
>>> house and it'd be nice for this to be better and more consistent throughout 
>>> the house - single storey.  I assume this would be improved with a new 
>>> Airport Extreme, or Express. 
>>> 
>>> Besides, I feel like buying something new that just plugs in, and doesn't 
>>> require either skinned knuckles and sore limbs from bathroom renovations, 
>>> or a stiff back and engrained grease from diff repairs!
>>> 
>>> I like the idea of 
>> We swapped out to the new wireless unit ($119) keeping their same modem 
>> and their range improved about 150% and faster speeds!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> that Daniel talked about. 
>>> 
>>> Are my expectations reasonable?
>>> Or there other simple changes that could improve the existing Airport 
>>> Extreme's performance?
>>> 
>>> Thanks
>>> 
>>> Tim
>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
>> Archives - 
>> Guidelines - 

Re: Apple TV

[Jennifer Lefroy]

Thanks Ronni.  It looks as though it is set to go now, but I think I will
start my 48 hours when we can view tomorrow.

best wishes,
 Jennifer
On 21 July 2012 20:38, Ronda Brown  wrote:

> Hi Jennifer,
>
> Have you tried deauthorise then reauthorise  itunes and resync AppleTV ?
>
> Cheers,
> Ronni
> Sent from Ronni's iPad
>
> On 21/07/2012, at 8:30 PM, Jennifer Lefroy 
> wrote:
>
> > Sorry everyone to present another problem.  Our new Apple TV was set up
> for
> > us.  Through it I rented a film (confirmed charged a against my Itunes
> > account) but when we try to play it, we get the message "your Apple TV is
> > not authorised to play this content)  The archives do not seem to tackle
> > this and although there are lots of entries on the web, I cannot find
> > something that helps me , perhaps because I need it in very simple terms!
> >
> > I would be grateful for help.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jennifer
> > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
> > Archives - 
> > Guidelines - 
> > Settings & Unsubscribe - <
> http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
> Archives - 
> Guidelines - 
> Settings & Unsubscribe - <
> http://lists.wamug.org.au/listinfo/wamug.org.au-wamug>
>
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Archives - 
Guidelines - 
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Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Tim Law]

> Hi Tim,
> 
> Just a very quick query to your comment below.
> 
>> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
>> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
> 
> Do you have the Modem plugged into the WAN port on the Airport, not the LAN 
> Port?


Yes Ronni.
The WAN port is the one with the circle not the <> Ethernet LAN port

It's in the port marked with the round circle.

Tim






> 
> Cheers,
> Ronni
> Sent from Ronni's iPad
> 
> On 21/07/2012, at 5:08 PM, Tim Law  wrote:
> 
>> This has been an interesting exchange and prompted me to download iStumbler 
>> and see what is going on with my own wireless network. 
>> 
>> It has also been a wonderful distraction from either 
>> a) commencing a laundry and bathroom renovation, or
>> b) removing the front diff from my Landcruiser for the third time in three 
>> months. First time to upgrade it. Second time to redo it because the 
>> mechanic didn't assemble the locker correctly, and now third time 
>> because um.. well, I broke it with too much power and showing off and it 
>> makes a nasty sound and all the oil ran onto the sand...  :-(
>> 
>> So, playing with networking software is a great thing to do!
>> 
>> I have Telstra cable internet running through a Motorola Surfboard modem 
>> that has been very stable and reliable for six plus months. 
>> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
>> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
>> The Airport Extreme is mounted on a wall 6 metres line of sight from the Mac 
>> Mini running Lion that is doing the testing with iStumbler.   
>> The devices normally using the wireless network are an iPad 1 and an 
>> iPhone4.   
>> Wireless Security is WPA Personal 
>> iStumbler log shows Signal -63 dBm Noise -92 dBm
>> 
>> My problem seems to be a bit different to Adrian's, and I've got my eye on 
>> the Airport Extreme as being naughty because each week or so I need to reset 
>> it. Whilst devices show they are receiving WiFi signal, those devices cannot 
>> connect to the internet.  A hard restart of the Airport Extreme resolves 
>> this - pulling the power cable out, waiting a bit and pushing it back in 
>> again. The main computers on the network are not affected as they are on 
>> hard ethernet cabling. 
>> 
>> But what interests me the most is the low power of the signal as measured by 
>> iStumbler, and it seems like a new Airport Extreme would be useful.  Adrian 
>> is talking about Signal level of 75%, compared to my 40%. No matter what 
>> channel I have selected, the signal strength varies between 38% and 42%. 
>> There are no other networks showing up in iStumbler.   WiFi signals drops 
>> away to one bar at times on the iPad and iPhone in other parts of the house 
>> and it'd be nice for this to be better and more consistent throughout the 
>> house - single storey.  I assume this would be improved with a new Airport 
>> Extreme, or Express. 
>> 
>> Besides, I feel like buying something new that just plugs in, and doesn't 
>> require either skinned knuckles and sore limbs from bathroom renovations, or 
>> a stiff back and engrained grease from diff repairs!
>> 
>> I like the idea of 
> We swapped out to the new wireless unit ($119) keeping their same modem 
> and their range improved about 150% and faster speeds!
>> 
>> 
>> that Daniel talked about. 
>> 
>> Are my expectations reasonable?
>> Or there other simple changes that could improve the existing Airport 
>> Extreme's performance?
>> 
>> Thanks
>> 
>> Tim
> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
> Archives - 
> Guidelines - 
> Settings & Unsubscribe - 
> 
-- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
Archives - 
Guidelines - 
Settings & Unsubscribe - 

Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Ronda Brown]

Hi Tim,

Just a very quick query to your comment below.

> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 

Do you have the Modem plugged into the WAN port on the Airport, not the LAN 
Port?

Cheers,
Ronni
Sent from Ronni's iPad

On 21/07/2012, at 5:08 PM, Tim Law  wrote:

> This has been an interesting exchange and prompted me to download iStumbler 
> and see what is going on with my own wireless network. 
> 
> It has also been a wonderful distraction from either 
> a) commencing a laundry and bathroom renovation, or
> b) removing the front diff from my Landcruiser for the third time in three 
> months. First time to upgrade it. Second time to redo it because the mechanic 
> didn't assemble the locker correctly, and now third time because um.. 
> well, I broke it with too much power and showing off and it makes a nasty 
> sound and all the oil ran onto the sand...  :-(
> 
> So, playing with networking software is a great thing to do!
> 
> I have Telstra cable internet running through a Motorola Surfboard modem that 
> has been very stable and reliable for six plus months. 
> An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
> ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
> The Airport Extreme is mounted on a wall 6 metres line of sight from the Mac 
> Mini running Lion that is doing the testing with iStumbler.   
> The devices normally using the wireless network are an iPad 1 and an iPhone4. 
>   
> Wireless Security is WPA Personal 
> iStumbler log shows Signal -63 dBm Noise -92 dBm
> 
> My problem seems to be a bit different to Adrian's, and I've got my eye on 
> the Airport Extreme as being naughty because each week or so I need to reset 
> it. Whilst devices show they are receiving WiFi signal, those devices cannot 
> connect to the internet.  A hard restart of the Airport Extreme resolves this 
> - pulling the power cable out, waiting a bit and pushing it back in again. 
> The main computers on the network are not affected as they are on hard 
> ethernet cabling. 
> 
> But what interests me the most is the low power of the signal as measured by 
> iStumbler, and it seems like a new Airport Extreme would be useful.  Adrian 
> is talking about Signal level of 75%, compared to my 40%. No matter what 
> channel I have selected, the signal strength varies between 38% and 42%. 
> There are no other networks showing up in iStumbler.   WiFi signals drops 
> away to one bar at times on the iPad and iPhone in other parts of the house 
> and it'd be nice for this to be better and more consistent throughout the 
> house - single storey.  I assume this would be improved with a new Airport 
> Extreme, or Express. 
> 
> Besides, I feel like buying something new that just plugs in, and doesn't 
> require either skinned knuckles and sore limbs from bathroom renovations, or 
> a stiff back and engrained grease from diff repairs!
> 
> I like the idea of 
 We swapped out to the new wireless unit ($119) keeping their same modem 
 and their range improved about 150% and faster speeds!
> 
> 
> that Daniel talked about. 
> 
> Are my expectations reasonable?
> Or there other simple changes that could improve the existing Airport 
> Extreme's performance?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Tim
-- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
Archives - 
Guidelines - 
Settings & Unsubscribe - 

Re: Apple TV

[Ronda Brown]

Hi Jennifer,

Have you tried deauthorise then reauthorise  itunes and resync AppleTV ?

Cheers,
Ronni
Sent from Ronni's iPad

On 21/07/2012, at 8:30 PM, Jennifer Lefroy  wrote:

> Sorry everyone to present another problem.  Our new Apple TV was set up for
> us.  Through it I rented a film (confirmed charged a against my Itunes
> account) but when we try to play it, we get the message "your Apple TV is
> not authorised to play this content)  The archives do not seem to tackle
> this and although there are lots of entries on the web, I cannot find
> something that helps me , perhaps because I need it in very simple terms!
> 
> I would be grateful for help.
> 
> Regards,
> Jennifer
> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
> Archives - 
> Guidelines - 
> Settings & Unsubscribe - 
> 
-- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
Archives - 
Guidelines - 
Settings & Unsubscribe - 

Apple TV

[Jennifer Lefroy]

Sorry everyone to present another problem.  Our new Apple TV was set up for
us.  Through it I rented a film (confirmed charged a against my Itunes
account) but when we try to play it, we get the message "your Apple TV is
not authorised to play this content)  The archives do not seem to tackle
this and although there are lots of entries on the web, I cannot find
something that helps me , perhaps because I need it in very simple terms!

I would be grateful for help.

Regards,
 Jennifer
-- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
Archives - 
Guidelines - 
Settings & Unsubscribe - 

Re: Loosing Wi-Fi connection

[Tim Law]

This has been an interesting exchange and prompted me to download iStumbler and 
see what is going on with my own wireless network. 

It has also been a wonderful distraction from either 
a) commencing a laundry and bathroom renovation, or
b) removing the front diff from my Landcruiser for the third time in three 
months. First time to upgrade it. Second time to redo it because the mechanic 
didn't assemble the locker correctly, and now third time because um.. well, 
I broke it with too much power and showing off and it makes a nasty sound and 
all the oil ran onto the sand...  :-(

So, playing with networking software is a great thing to do!

I have Telstra cable internet running through a Motorola Surfboard modem that 
has been very stable and reliable for six plus months. 
An Airport Extreme 802.11g - the round domed model - is connected to the 
ethernet network via a Snapgear 300 router and two ethernet switches. 
The Airport Extreme is mounted on a wall 6 metres line of sight from the Mac 
Mini running Lion that is doing the testing with iStumbler.   
The devices normally using the wireless network are an iPad 1 and an iPhone4.   
Wireless Security is WPA Personal 
iStumbler log shows Signal -63 dBm Noise -92 dBm

My problem seems to be a bit different to Adrian's, and I've got my eye on the 
Airport Extreme as being naughty because each week or so I need to reset it. 
Whilst devices show they are receiving WiFi signal, those devices cannot 
connect to the internet.  A hard restart of the Airport Extreme resolves this - 
pulling the power cable out, waiting a bit and pushing it back in again. The 
main computers on the network are not affected as they are on hard ethernet 
cabling. 

But what interests me the most is the low power of the signal as measured by 
iStumbler, and it seems like a new Airport Extreme would be useful.  Adrian is 
talking about Signal level of 75%, compared to my 40%. No matter what channel I 
have selected, the signal strength varies between 38% and 42%. There are no 
other networks showing up in iStumbler.   WiFi signals drops away to one bar at 
times on the iPad and iPhone in other parts of the house and it'd be nice for 
this to be better and more consistent throughout the house - single storey.  I 
assume this would be improved with a new Airport Extreme, or Express. 

Besides, I feel like buying something new that just plugs in, and doesn't 
require either skinned knuckles and sore limbs from bathroom renovations, or a 
stiff back and engrained grease from diff repairs!

I like the idea of 
>>> We swapped out to the new wireless unit ($119) keeping their same modem and 
>>> their range improved about 150% and faster speeds!


that Daniel talked about. 

Are my expectations reasonable?
Or there other simple changes that could improve the existing Airport Extreme's 
performance?

Thanks

Tim







On 21/07/2012, at 2:55 PM, iCloud wrote:

> Thanks again Ronni, I'll try that.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> 
> Adrian Skehan
> adrianske...@me.com
> 
> 
> On 21/07/2012, at 1:18 PM, Ronda Brown wrote:
> 
>> Hi Adrian,
>> 
>> On 21/07/2012, at 12:22 PM, iCloud wrote:
>> 
>>> Thanks Ronni & Daniel
>>> 
>>> I have changed the channel to "1" and the signal went up to 75% (varying 
>>> between 73% & 78%) and the range went up a notch, the other 2 stations are 
>>> at 22% & 23%.  Would I be correct in thinking that if I selected channel 2 
>>> the result could be improved even more?
>> 
>> No, I don't think it would improve, as I mentioned in a previous email to 
>> you:
>> "the only option you have is to perhaps try changing the Channel from 11- to 
>> channel  1 or 6 or 13 which don't overlap, and see if it makes a difference.
>> If the channel numbers are 5 or more apart, they don't overlap each other. 
>> If they are less than than 5 apart, they do and you'll get interference."
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Ronni
>> 
>>> I will have a look at Netgear next week and see what happens.  The more I 
>>> get to know about these things the better sport some of these salesmen 
>>> become.
>> 
>>> 
>>> On 21/07/2012, at 11:13 AM, Daniel Kerr wrote:
>>> 
 Hi Adrian
 
 Definitely go a different channel if others have the same one, it just 
 means you're not all "operating in the same space. "
 If I find clients wireless on the same channel as others I tend to change 
 theirs to 5, 7 or 8. Not many seem to work in that. 
 
 If you're looking at getting a new router definitely go for one that is 
 dual band wireless. This means the one router can separate the wireless 
 channels. ie computers that are 802.11n capabable go in the 5GHz range and 
 devices that are 892.11a/b/g go in the 2.4GHz range. It's the one device 
 but does it better. 
 Otherwise what happens is if it's not dual band then even if it can handle 
 the 5GHz range as soon as an older device joins the whole network slows 
 down to 2.4GHz. 
 I just recently changed a client over fro