Channel Width/Channel: 20MHz or 40MHz

[Martin_D]

Which one is better? 20MHz or 40Mhz i am on the 40Mhz one

22987

[thenry]

depends what your wireless device/laptop can handle

[AndyCalling]

No it doesn't, it depends whether you have neighbours or not. Using a 40Mhz channel in 2.4Ghz mode is like turning your stereo up to 11. Fine if you live on a farm, otherwise very bad form. Remember, the spectrum is not yours alone, we have to share.

40Mhz is only suitable for 5Ghz mode in built up areas, and any 5Ghz dongle will be able to support it. If my neighbour tried this kind of inconsiderate trick in 2.4Ghz mode for anything other than short one off tasks then you can be sure he would be getting a visit from me. Don't be a WiFi hooligan.

[Martin_D]

oh is it lol look http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703027454.png on a 40Mhz

[AndyCalling]

Great for you, but unless that's in 5Ghz mode then your neighbours will have to cope with you gobbling up more than your fair share of the 2.4Ghz band. Not nice.

If I was your neighbour I would set up a directional block of the whole band and point it at your router. That'd swamp your lols for you. I can't stand WiFi thugs.

[thenry]

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2012/01/20.gif

[AndyCalling]

Yep, it would be fun to see the look on his face Thenry, but sadly many people won't realise why their devices are struggling. They may not be savvy enough to realise their neighbour is being a complete tool.

[Martin_D]

back to automatic
22990

[thenry]

auto will match the devices capability, it could still run 40. manually set it to 20 if you want to play nicely.

[Martin_D]

22991

[qasdfdsaq]

On 2.4Ghz 20Mhz.


---------- Post added at 18:30 ---------- Previous post was at 18:29 ----------

oh is it lol look http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703027454.png on a 40Mhz
Oh is it lol look

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2012/01/85.png

On a 20Mhz.

[Martin_D]

it is going back to automatic on its own help :?

[thenry]

what router is it? has it got the manufactures firmware on it or something else? how can it revert back to 40 if you've applied 20 ?

[Martin_D]

22992

[thenry]

go back to edit, set it to 20 and apply/save settings

[Martin_D]

I had to restart the router for the Change to Apply lol :)

[AndyCalling]

Yep, that should do it. On a 50meg connection it won't really affect you much, even if you connect with a single spatial stream N device (N150 device) which will only connect at 72meg on a 20Mhz bandwidth setting. The extra speed is great for lan transfers between your own home PCs, but you can switch to a 40Mhz channel for a big file transfer and then switch back again. Even better, ask VM why you didn't recieve your free 5Ghz compatible wifi dongle when you got 50meg installed. You should have got one included. If you got 50meg before the Shub came out then get a 5Ghz dongle from the shops (so long as your router is 5Ghz compatible). Then you can run in 300meg mode without annoying the neighbours.

[thenry]

Good point Andy and all 50 + customer get an adapter free regardless whether they have a SH or the VMNG300.

[AndyCalling]

Good point Andy and all 50 + customer get an adapter free regardless whether they have a SH or the VMNG300.

Yea, but the old adapter VM used to give out before the Shub was not 5Ghz compatible.

[thenry]

I see, sorry dude :dunce:

[Martin_D]

look now :(

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703338736.png

[thenry]

are there a lot of networks in your area, have you scanned using inSSider (http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/) ?

[AndyCalling]

Woah! Not good. As Thenry says, use inssider and pick a free channel, then manually set that channel in your router. Of course, if your neighbour is using 40Mhz mode you'll have to tackle him. Also, keep away from your cordless phones and other kit that uses 2.4Ghz wireless.

Now you are seeing the problem with having an overcrowded 2.4Ghz spectrum and the importance of being frugal with it.

[Martin_D]

22993

[thenry]

change channels. set it to 13 , reboot the router, connect, speedtest again

[Martin_D]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703378213.png

[thenry]

content with that?

http://www.thedawgpound.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/rofl_hard_smiley.gif

think I've been told off :LOL:

[Martin_D]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703385877.png channels. set to 11

Look http://www.speedtest.net/result/1703390035.png channels. set to 10 on a wireless connection lol

[thenry]

good stuff. apologies I forgot about 1-6-11 :dunce:

[AndyCalling]

Actually, theoretically channel 13 should be fine. The 1-6-11 rule is US-centric. Theoretically. The problem is that channels above 11 are not allowed in the US so some kit doesn't work too well with them since, as we all know, the world ends at the US border. Many Broadcom devices fail to connect to channel 13 at all. So, we all end up facing annoying US restrictions anyway a lot of the time.

[kwikbreaks]

Also, keep away from your cordless phones and other kit that uses 2.4Ghz wireless.Most cordless phones these days are DECT and that doesn't use the 2.4GHz band.

Microwave ovens do but if they leak enough to screw up WiFi they are a health hazard and if its long enough to matter a fire hazard.

The biggest problem will be AV senders but as they give abysmal results in the presence of a WiFi signal I expect any nearby will have been binned.

The most common signals in the 2.4GHz band are WiFi as just about every ISP dishes out a free WiFi router these days. Having several on the same channel (and with the overlapping there are only 3 "real" channels - 1,6,11) isn't the kiss of death but it will cause a slowdown. IMO this will only get worse as people shell out on dual channel WiFi kit in the hope of improving their speeds.

[Matth]

Is your wireless adapter also N300 - an N150 adapter generally has a single antenna, so does not have the MiMo capability for spacial streams.

With the other traffic on 1 (strongest) and 6, there probably is room to use 40MHz, 13 extension 9.

The basic, no overlapping channel plan, is 1 - 6 - 11
The optimum, marginal overlap plan for EU spec, is 1 - 5 - 9 - 13 - giving room for TWO wide users.
The compromise 4 channel (US spec) plan, 1 - 4 - 7 - 11 and try to avoid 3 spacing with stronger neighbouring signals

[AndyCalling]

You can't expect people to use channel 13. Much kit only works with US spec, such as Broadcom cards, and other kit won't auto tune to 13 (lots of routers come default to auto) or some such other issue. Add to that the huge amount of advice on the net to use 1, 6 & 11 (US-centric of course, but it's all over the place) and you can't expect others to use channel 13.

If you can get away with using it yourself of course, it can be a relatively unoccupied channel.

Best to assume your neighbours will follow the US model when planning your setup. Their auto probably will if they don't change it and default fixed channels are always 1, 6 or 11.

Even if you can fit a wide channel in, you should only do so when you want to transfer a big file then switch back. Otherwise no-one else will be able to use the space when they need it. Only use what you have to on the 2.4Ghz band, not what you can. Just because it is free at the moment doesn't mean you can stick your towl on it.

[kwikbreaks]

Best to assume that most people won't touch their wireless settings at all and use whatever the default comes as. This is very obvious if you try something like the Android "wardrive" app on your phone and leave it running when you take a walk - probably more default SSIDs than custom and with many Belkin routers the same security too - none at all.

From the strength of some WiFi signals I see I think others absolutely must be using the high power amps you can get on eBay. In addition to my normal WiFi I have a little Fonera+ running on an external antenna to produce a good signal in my garden and a public FON hotspot which gives me free access to the FON network. Despite that antenna being on my outside wall and indoors beating the Superhub in some rooms there are a couple of external SSIDs that compete with it in some rooms. One day when I'm bored I'll track down whose they are.