I have a VirginMedia 50mb connection to the web. I have 3 wireless 
Macbook Pros and a iMac (wired over Cat6). Usually I get a solid 50mb 
both wireless and wired.

However sometimes my wireless speed drops to less than 1mb on all 3 
machines. When this happens I have noticed that if I check the wireless 
icon it is showing a TalkTalk network (very weak signal with only one 
'dot' showing in the wiFi icon).

If I hover over the wireless icon for a few seconds the TalkTalk network 
  disappears and my wireless speed on the Macbooks is back to 50mb.

The wired iMac speed is never affected. I have tried istumbler, but it 
only shows my own network.

I'm suspecting this TalkTalk network may be on the same channel as mine, 
but unable to confirm because istumbler doesn't show it. It is likely to 
be the flat below me, as someone else above me has a wireless network 
and I already had to change my channel because it clashed with them.

Any suggestions? I wonder how often people put up with slow wireless 
connections because of this? Are all routers set to the same channel 
from the factory, or set to automatic?

Thanks

-- 
Clive

We don't die, we just stop paying taxes.

On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:46 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:

>I'm suspecting this TalkTalk network may be on the same channel as mine, 
>but unable to confirm because istumbler doesn't show it. It is likely to 
>be the flat below me, as someone else above me has a wireless network 
>and I already had to change my channel because it clashed with them.

Turn your wifi off and you'll be able to see it (probably).

>Any suggestions? I wonder how often people put up with slow wireless 
>connections because of this? Are all routers set to the same channel 
>from the factory, or set to automatic?

Depends on the wifi version and the make of the router, but many are
set to check automatic (otherwise they tend to 11 or 1). That's only
autoset at bootup time though, there's no mechanism to change the
channel on the fly.

Use it as an excuse to go 802.11n, if you can spare the cash - 11n
frequency hops to route around such things. Otherwise you're in for a
boring week or so trying other channels. 11/1/6 are the most used, so
3 and 8 are good bets. It's better to have a channel gap between you
and them.

Once the airwaves get too congested, going 11n is really the only
workable solution.

	Cheers - Jaimie
-- 
"We all recall that the difference between a computer salesman and a car 
salesman is that the car salesman *knows* he's lying to you"
"... and probably knows how to drive" 
                                       - F O'Donnell and M Smith, in afs

Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:46 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:
> 
>> I'm suspecting this TalkTalk network may be on the same channel as mine, 
>> but unable to confirm because istumbler doesn't show it. It is likely to 
>> be the flat below me, as someone else above me has a wireless network 
>> and I already had to change my channel because it clashed with them.
> 
> Turn your wifi off and you'll be able to see it (probably).
> 
>> Any suggestions? I wonder how often people put up with slow wireless 
>> connections because of this? Are all routers set to the same channel 
>>from the factory, or set to automatic?
> 
> Depends on the wifi version and the make of the router, but many are
> set to check automatic (otherwise they tend to 11 or 1). That's only
> autoset at bootup time though, there's no mechanism to change the
> channel on the fly.
> 
> Use it as an excuse to go 802.11n, if you can spare the cash - 11n
> frequency hops to route around such things. Otherwise you're in for a
> boring week or so trying other channels. 11/1/6 are the most used, so
> 3 and 8 are good bets. It's better to have a channel gap between you
> and them.
> 
> Once the airwaves get too congested, going 11n is really the only
> workable solution.
> 
> 	Cheers - Jaimie

Thanks. I already have 11n (Apple Airport Extreme)

-- 
Clive

We don't die, we just stop paying taxes.

On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:28:04 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:

>Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
>> On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:46 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:
>> 
>>> I'm suspecting this TalkTalk network may be on the same channel as mine, 
>>> but unable to confirm because istumbler doesn't show it. It is likely to 
>>> be the flat below me, as someone else above me has a wireless network 
>>> and I already had to change my channel because it clashed with them.
>> 
>> Turn your wifi off and you'll be able to see it (probably).
>> 
>>> Any suggestions? I wonder how often people put up with slow wireless 
>>> connections because of this? Are all routers set to the same channel 
>>>from the factory, or set to automatic?
>> 
>> Depends on the wifi version and the make of the router, but many are
>> set to check automatic (otherwise they tend to 11 or 1). That's only
>> autoset at bootup time though, there's no mechanism to change the
>> channel on the fly.
>> 
>> Use it as an excuse to go 802.11n, if you can spare the cash - 11n
>> frequency hops to route around such things. Otherwise you're in for a
>> boring week or so trying other channels. 11/1/6 are the most used, so
>> 3 and 8 are good bets. It's better to have a channel gap between you
>> and them.
>> 
>> Once the airwaves get too congested, going 11n is really the only
>> workable solution.
>> 
>> 	Cheers - Jaimie
>
>Thanks. I already have 11n (Apple Airport Extreme)

Oho! In that case, clearly you must be imagining things! 

Right, back in the real world... things you can try if you haven't
already. In Airport Setup Assistant, go to the Wireless page, Wireless
Options button. Here will be a couple of tickboxes for "wide channels"
and "interference robustness" - tick both.

The Wireless page is where you set your radio channels to Auto or
manual, so have a play with that if the above doesn't help.

Are your devices that are having issues all 11n? Is the Extreme one of
the newer ones with both 2.4 and 5GHz aerials?

	Cheers - Jaimie
-- 
L33t 5p3@|< 1s f0R R3t4rds

Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
> On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:28:04 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:
> 
>> Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote:
>>> On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:46 GMT, Clive Sinclair  wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm suspecting this TalkTalk network may be on the same channel as mine, 
>>>> but unable to confirm because istumbler doesn't show it. It is likely to 
>>>> be the flat below me, as someone else above me has a wireless network 
>>>> and I already had to change my channel because it clashed with them.
>>> Turn your wifi off and you'll be able to see it (probably).
>>>
>>>> Any suggestions? I wonder how often people put up with slow wireless 
>>>> connections because of this? Are all routers set to the same channel 
>>> >from the factory, or set to automatic?
>>>
>>> Depends on the wifi version and the make of the router, but many are
>>> set to check automatic (otherwise they tend to 11 or 1). That's only
>>> autoset at bootup time though, there's no mechanism to change the
>>> channel on the fly.
>>>
>>> Use it as an excuse to go 802.11n, if you can spare the cash - 11n
>>> frequency hops to route around such things. Otherwise you're in for a
>>> boring week or so trying other channels. 11/1/6 are the most used, so
>>> 3 and 8 are good bets. It's better to have a channel gap between you
>>> and them.
>>>
>>> Once the airwaves get too congested, going 11n is really the only
>>> workable solution.
>>>
>>> 	Cheers - Jaimie
>> Thanks. I already have 11n (Apple Airport Extreme)
> 
> Oho! In that case, clearly you must be imagining things! 
> 
> Right, back in the real world... things you can try if you haven't
> already. In Airport Setup Assistant, go to the Wireless page, Wireless
> Options button. Here will be a couple of tickboxes for "wide channels"
> and "interference robustness" - tick both.
> 
> The Wireless page is where you set your radio channels to Auto or
> manual, so have a play with that if the above doesn't help.
> 
> Are your devices that are having issues all 11n? Is the Extreme one of
> the newer ones with both 2.4 and 5GHz aerials?
> 
> 	Cheers - Jaimie

All my devices are 11n - except for one (iphone). Also I have one 
Windows laptop that although it is 11n it can only work on 2.4ghz.

I've changed my channel selection to auto and put the robustness on - 
will see if that makes any difference.

Thanks again.

-- 
Clive

We don't die, we just stop paying taxes.

In article <RykIm.1802$Ym4.1572@text.news.virginmedia.com>,
 Clive Sinclair  wrote:

<snip>

Dear Clive,
Are you this Clive Sinclair?:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Sinclair>

Dorian Gray wrote:
> In article <RykIm.1802$Ym4.1572@text.news.virginmedia.com>,
>  Clive Sinclair  wrote:
> 
> <snip>
> 
> Dear Clive,
> Are you this Clive Sinclair?:
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Sinclair>

Afraid not. Although we are a similar age and I have met him a couple of 
times. I also have been in computers in one way or another for about the 
same time.

It was a strange experience phoning up to order a ZX80 by phone with 
Sinclair Customer Services - thy thought I was taking the mickey.

He might have the money and brains, but I have the looks! LOL

-- 
Clive

We don't die, we just stop paying taxes.