Sorry Neil, I had a typo error in my previous reply it should have been MCS :(
> Also, from the comparison, I take it that for the MSC Index that higher > numbers are better? Yes higher is better! MCS Index - The Modulating and Coding Index of the connection. This number correlates to the protocols used to encode the radio signal. The higher the value, the better. I am on NBN FTTP & My Plan is 100GB + 100GB + 50/20Mbps connection But I don't get regular download speeds of 50Mbps. My Router is a 3TB Time Capsule I have directly connected to the NBN connection box on my inside wall upstairs All computers, 1 computer media server, iDevices, Apple TV, printers run wirelessly. The computers & printers are downstairs (which is Limestone walls), Apple TV upstairs & iPhone & iPad anywhere & everywhere :) Cheers, Ronni Sent from Ronni's iPad4 > On 9 Feb 2017, at 8:16 pm, Neil Houghton <n...@possumology.com> wrote: > > Hi Ronni, > > > Thanks very much for that – it may take me a little while to process it all. > > Option click on Wireless Menu for me does not show Noise (presumably because > i’m still on 10.6.8) but with your tip, I can now find it in System Profiler. > > > Looking at your figures you obviously have a better network connection than > me – but maybe less intervening internal brick walls than my 120 yr old > Albany cottage ;o) > > Also, from the comparison, I take it that for the MSC Index that higher > numbers are better? > > > At the moment, I am back to my old modem/network setup – whilst I get a UPS > to cover my new modem and phone – but then, when I get a chance, I will take > the laptop around a few different spots and compare the figure on each > nettwork to get an idea how the walls attenuate the signals. > > > Cheers > > > > Neil > -- > Neil R. Houghton > Albany, Western Australia > Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 > Email: n...@possumology.com > > > > > > on 9/2/17 13:33, Ronni Brown at ro...@mac.com wrote: > > Hi Neil, > > I wasn’t going to attempt a reply as it involves a fairly complex reply. Not > knowing what Modem or how it displays its settings/readings. I mainly deal > with Apple Wi-Fi Networks this might helpful explanation to you… or not ;-) > --- > RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indication), is the relative signal strength in > a wireless environment in arbitrary units. > RSSI or received signal strength indication can go from 0 to -100 (for Apple > - other vendors can measure it differently as RSSI has no stated units) > > Apple appears to have decided to use a less negative number (closer to zero) > to mean a stronger signal. > > Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) > > One option in determining where to best place your AirPort base station is to > measure its signal quality from a wireless client. In theory, where the > signal quality is best would make for ideal candidates for placement. This > would hold true for a single or multiple base stations in an extended > wireless network. > > > 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. For example, a > signal level of -53dBm and a noise value of -90dBm would yield an SNR of 37dB > (i.e., SNR = Signal - Noise = -53 -(-90) = 37) > > > 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 interference 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 > > > The following are two methods to take signal & noise level readings: > > > Method 1 - Using iStumbler > Download and install a copy of iStumbler <http://istumbler.net/> . Use > iStumbler's Inspector feature (select Edit > Inspector from the iStumbler's > menu) to take the signal and noise level readings. > > > Method 2 - Using OS X System Profiler / System Report > Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar > About This Mac > More Info >System > Report > Network > Wi-Fi - Interfaces > > Current Network Information > Find > your wireless network > Signal / Noise > > Jot down the numbers that you see here, for example > > -50 dBm / -90 dBm > > SNR = Signal minus Noise, so using the example below: > > -50 dBm - (-90 dBm) = 40 dB SNR > > Regardless of which method you use to gather the reading, you would plug them > into the SNR formula. The desired goal value is an SNR of 25+dB. At this SNR > value, wireless clients should be getting reasonable throughput performance > with the base station. This is also the value you would want at the location > where you would want to place a second base station to extend the first if > you are planning on extending the wireless range. > > > Then use the familiar chart to evaluate your signal quality. > > • 40dB+ SNR = Excellent signal > • 25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal > • 15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal > • 10dB to 15dB SNR = Very low signal > • 5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal > > As you might imagine, the SNR will change in relation to the location of your > Mac laptop to the router > > If you are getting SNR values of less than 25+dB at the client, either try to > locate the source of the Wi-Fi interference or try relocating the base > station until they are within a 25+dB range. > — > My Airport ’Simultaneous Dual-Band 802.11n Wi-Fi 5GHz /2.5GHz’ Network. > Option click on Wireless Menu shows my 5GHz RSSI: -55 dBM Noise: -95 dBM Tx > Rate: 300 Mbps MSC Index: 15 > > • Transmit Rate: This is the max network speed available with the current > signal strength. The data rate is measured in Mbps. > • MCS Index: Short for Modulation and Coding Scheme, MCS is only associated > with 802.11n networks. > > Hope this makes sense to you and helps to answer your questions some what. > > Regards, > Ronni > > 13-inch MacBook Air (April 2014) > 1.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost to 3.3GHz > 8GB 1600MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM > 512GB PCIe-based Flash Storage > > macOS Sierra 10.12.3 > > On 8 Feb 2017, at 3:11 pm, Neil Houghton <n...@possumology.com> wrote: > > Hi all, > > As a result of changing internet plan, I scored a new modem. It creates 2 > wireless networks - one on 2.4GHz and one on 5GHz. > > > Both appear to work just fine so I used the option click on the wireless > menu-bar icon to see what differences were apparent. Report as follows: > > 2.4GHz network: > RSSI: -68 > Transmit rate: 117 > MCS Index: 14 > > > 5GHz network: > RSSI: -70 > Transmit rate: 162 > MCS Index: 12 > > > I'm not sure what that all means ;o) > > I understand transmit rate - which would seem to suggest that the 5GHZ at > 162 is performing slightly better than the 2.4GHz at 117 ?? > > > Are the other figure significant? > Are there other factors to consider when choosing which network to use? > > > > TIA > > > > Cheers > > > > Neil
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