Broadband Tech > Security > Wireless Security > wireless heavily congested

wireless heavily congested

They're probably not aware they are hopping channels, Their wireless router may be set to "auto"
--
Retired VZ 911 C.O. tech.

reply to Raiden101
If you can figure out the exact apartment it is, if it is in the same building or complex, there are a couple of different approaches. You can write a polite letter, printed on on high quality stationary, stating that you are having a problem with your WiFi and that you think it might be a WiFi router nearby set to auto channel mode. You can state that if they have a WiFi router to please check to see if it is in this mode, and if so to set it to one of the real channels(1,6,o r 11). You can state that if they are not sure how to do this, they can call the tech support number for the router and they may be able to help or you would be willing to assist. Provide your contact information, as much as you feel safe in providing, and thank them for the time they took to read the letter. Either put it under the door or mail it to them.

Another approach, if you figure out which location it is, is to knock on the door at a time when they seem to be home and explaining who you are and where you live, explain the situation to them and ask that they please remedy it. Be polite and presentable(clean, groomed, and neatly dressed). Be prepared to show a drivers license, passport, or other official photo identification. And something to prove you live where you say you do, like a lease, or recent utility bill. If the person you are approaching is a female who lives alone or even if they have female roommates, they are going to be very wary of approaches by strangers. My single female cousins and coworkers have told me they would report to the cops someone who approached them and could not show this kind of information. Again, a lot of WiFi routers are set up using default settings, and the person just thought it would be OK, so be polite. They did not do this on purpose to make you suffer.

If you get positive results from the approaches above, send a thank you card or letter on stationary.

If you cannot determine the exact location, life gets much more difficult. If you live in an apartment building and know the source is in the building, you can mail out or place a mass mailing to your neighbors telling them of you situation. Explain how it affects the routers they have, if they have them, and ask them to check their routers and change the settings. Volunteer to help and remind the of tech support provided by manufacturers. Tell them about DSLreports as a possible help resource. If your apartment building or complex has a website that allows postings, post the issue there, or ask management to do it. Some complexes have Facebook pages or use other social media. You might consider those, but Facebook and other social media are a security risk, so think about the risk rewards before posting.

If the situation is outside your building or complex, you can do the same things but on a larger scale. Again, be polite. No one is doing this to hurt your WiFi experience by targeting you personally. Thank you card if you know who corrects the situation.

Good luck.

reply to Raiden101
With 11 wireless networks unless they all stay on the default channel one will compete with you.

The combination of adjustable transmit power and channel can reduce interference.

reply to Raiden101
In addition to the comments by the others you might look at using inSSIDer to determine an optimal channel to use based on the received signal levels of the nearby networks.

»www.metageek.net/products/inssider/
--
"When all else fails read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Expert - Consumer

reply to Miataman

Re: wireless heavily congested

reply to Raiden101
1) switch to a wired connection -- easiest solution, but takes away the convenience of wireless.

2) if the entire apartment is on 2.4G, get a 5Ghz 802.11A AP / wireless NIC -- but harder to find
that kind of gear these days.

3) +1 for inSSIDer

Regards

reply to Raiden101
There is also the utility Vistumber to scope out your neighbor's channels, signal strength, etc. to make a choice which is best for you.

You can compare it with inSSIDer. My nod goes to Vistumber.

»www.vistumbler.net/

reply to Raiden101
Ok i thought the purpose of the AUTO channel feature of a router was so that it would automatically pick out the least congested channel. So why would I not want to use this feature?

Some stranger knocking on my door and telling me not use it probably would not be met with much enthusiasm.
--
7000S SatMex 5 1050, Dlink wirless

reply to tobicat