tylerlockyer

Q: Airport Express Channel Settings

Hi,

 

I'm using an Airport Express and am experiencing some pretty gnarly wifi interference.

 

This is my second router, so am convinced it is a wifi interference problem. Our daughters monitor is the culprit in our bedroom, I think.

 

We're now using an Airport Express.

 

What channel settings should I be using, ideally, on a 1000 sq 2 floor townhouse to avoid interference?

 

We're using iPhones, MacBooks, and an apple tv.

 

HELP!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.4)

Posted on Jan 29, 2016 12:56 PM

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Q: Airport Express Channel Settings

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  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax Jan 30, 2016 4:32 AM in response to tylerlockyer
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 30, 2016 4:32 AM in response to tylerlockyer

    The AirPort base stations, by default, use an "automatic" setting for Wi-Fi radio channels. This means that it attempts to find the "best" channel to use when there is Wi-Fi interference present. However, as you may have experienced, this doesn't always happen.

     

    Most likely, the interference is on the 2.4 GHz band. If you have a newer 802.11n AirPort Express, it can operate on both this and the 5 GHz bands simultaneously. In the US, the 2,4 GHz band has channels 1-11 available to use; however, the only ones that don't overlap are 1, 6, & 11.

     

    To determine which would be the best channel, you would need to know which channel or channels are potentially causing the interference. To do so, there are a number of apps that you can use on your MacBook Pro to find out.

     

    Here are a few examples:

     

    Regardless of which you use, what you want to look for are the other Wi-Fi networks in the area that have the strongest signal level and what channel they are operating on. Then you would want to change the one you use to be at least 3 channels away. For example, if the culprit is operating on channel 6, use either channel 1 or 11.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Jan 29, 2016 1:28 PM in response to tylerlockyer
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Jan 29, 2016 1:28 PM in response to tylerlockyer

    In addition to the comments from Tesserax.....it appears to me that while the AirPort Express will automatically scan and choose the best channel(s) to use at the time, this only occurs during the initial start up of the product after it has been powered off.

     

    So, if there are multiple other wireless networks in close proximity, you may need to power off and restart the AirPort Express on a regular basis.

     

    A friend who lives in a high rise complex tells me that he needs to restart his AirPort router almost daily......since other routers are changing their channels trying to find better signals.  So, a "good" channel today might not be a good channel tomorrow.  He spent many hours trying to pick channels manually, but found that the automatic setting worked far better with a lot less effort.

     

    It's possible, but unlikely, that the monitor is causing problems.  An easy way to find out would be to turn it off for an afternoon or evening and see whether things improve noticeably with the monitor powered off.