Windows 7: A lot of interference messages in my routers log lately

HAVOC · 11 Nov 2013

I've recently been having issues where my laptop would not be connected to a network. I connect manually and it's fine. Checked the router logs and it shows a lot of interference errors where it had to switch from channel 1 to channel 6, then to channel 11 and then back again.

Is there a way to see where this interference might be coming from? The routers been in the same place for ever (did move it about two feet to the right from where it used to be). I've never had this issue.

Could my router be on it's way out?

chev65 · 11 Nov 2013

Most likely the interference is coming from the neighbors WiFi.

inSSIDer is good for checking out the wireless channels in use around you.

It's usually best to check out the WiFi landscape then manually pick the best channel based on what inSSIDer is showing.

inSSIDer for Home ? Discover The Wi-Fi Around You | MetaGeek

If you are having to connect manually then usually just deleting the old wireless profile and creating a new one will fix that problem.

HAVOC · 11 Nov 2013

I have 24 wireless network connections that show up if I click the wireless icon next to the clock. I have to click my network and click connect if I can't get online. It happens randomly. My control channel is currently set to Automatic.
I'll try inSSIDer and see what I come up with.

A lot of info with that little tool. Trying to wrap my head around it, need to read the user guide.

Thanks, chev65

chev65 · 11 Nov 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by HAVOC

I have 24 wireless network connections that show up if I click the wireless icon next to the clock. I have to click my network and click connect if I can't get online. It happens randomly. My control channel is currently set to Automatic.
I'll try inSSIDer and see what I come up with.

A lot of info with that little tool. Trying to wrap my head around it, need to read the user guide.

Thanks, chev65

If you can post a screen shot of the page from inSSIDer then I may be able to help with the channel selection.

It's fairly simple once you figure it out.

HAVOC · 11 Nov 2013

Here is the screenshot. I changed the channel to #9.

chev65 · 11 Nov 2013

Holy cow that's a lot of networks.

You can really only experiment to find the best channel when it's so crowded like this.

As it stands channel 9 looks good with the nice even green signal line going across.

You can see how the multiple channel 1 radio's are causing the line to go wavy which means they are interfering with each other. Looks like they are hiding the SSID there as well.

I guess we can see why the 5GHz frequency might come in handy, too bad it doesn't go through walls very well but it's great for big rooms or large outdoor areas.

HAVOC · 11 Nov 2013

I live in an apartment building with 17 other tenants.
I tried setting my router to 5Ghz but lost wireless from my netbook (they're in the same room). Had to use Ethernet to change it back to 2.4Ghz. Don't think my wireless card in the netbook supports 5Ghz.

I'll try Ch. 9 and report back in a couple days.

theveterans · 11 Nov 2013

@ Havoc

Just to make sure that your WiFi adapter really supports 5 GHz try running cmd then type

Code:

netsh wlan show driver

You should see something like this:

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
 C:\Windows\system32>netsh wlan show driver
 Interface name: Wireless Network Connection
     Driver                    : Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-N 7260
    Vendor                    : Intel Corporation
    Provider                  : Intel
    Date                      : 10/14/2013
    Version                   : 16.6.0.8
    INF file                  : C:\Windows\INF\oem31.inf
    Files                     : 3 total
                                C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\NETwsw02.sys
                                C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\Netwfw02.dat
                                C:\Windows\system32\drivers\vwifibus.sys
    Type                      : Native Wi-Fi Driver
    Radio types supported     : 802.11g 802.11a
    FIPS 140-2 mode supported : Yes
    Hosted network supported  : Yes

802.11a means 5 GHz band capability. Your WiFi adapter does not support 5 GHz band if you don't have this listed on the "Radio types supported"

HAVOC · 12 Nov 2013

In radio types supported it shows b, g and n.

chev65 · 12 Nov 2013

Hardly any notebooks come with a 5Ghz NIC plus the router would need to support it.

If the router supported it then you could use a USB dongle with it but,...and this is a big but, the 5Ghz frequency wouldn't do you any good unless you were basically in the same room with the router.

Like I said earlier, the 5Ghz frequency being wideband doesn't go through walls nearly as well as the narrow band 2.4Ghz frequency.

Channel 9 looks pretty stable for now.