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Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi

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In article
<nospam.News.Bob-45B80B.19473630112012@news.eternal-september.org>, Bob
Harris <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> wrote:

> In article <291120122113049627%otto@bogus.address.com>,
>  Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> wrote:
> 
> > In article
> > <nospam.News.Bob-97D2A8.21590529112012@news.eternal-september.org>, Bob
> > Harris <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> wrote:
> > 
> > > In article <281120121830466586%otto@bogus.address.com>,
> > >  Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > I'm almost embarrassed to ask this but is there anyway to block my
> > > > neighbors WiFi signals from intruding into my home? I have an AEBS (4th
> > > > Gen) router. We have numerous WiFi devices that have always worked
> > > > perfectly for a long time. About a month ago I bought an iPhone 5. WiFi
> > > > worked great with a nice strong signal. My daughter has an iPhone 4
> > > > which has always worked equally as well. When she was home for the
> > > > holidays she was complaining that she couldn't connect to our network.
> > > > I noticed that my iPhone was also having the same issue (from the same
> > > > location in the house btw). Firing up iStumbler I noticed that there
> > > > were a lot more WIFI signals detectable from the same location in my
> > > > house than there used to be. Some quite strong and all protected.
> > > > Moving the iPhones around the house resolved the connection issues. So
> > > > I'm thinking that in the family room, there are very strong
> > > > neighborhood signals that are causing the iPhones to search and attempt
> > > > to lock on to. The other WiFi devices in the family room don't seem to
> > > > be having connection issues. So, is this 1) an issue unique to the
> > > > iPhones? 2) an AEBS setup issue? 3) true interference from the
> > > > neighbors WiFIs? 4) can I make my WiFi signal (2.4GHz) stronger to
> > > > "overpower" the other signals? and 5) is there really anything I can do
> > > > about it or is this just life in the WiFi age? Oh, and we have a
> > > > utility SmartMeter on the same side of the house but I've never noticed
> > > > any interference issues with it. Thanks.
> > > 
> > > Change your 2.4GHz channel.  As others have mentioned 1, 6 and 11 
> > > do not overlap with any other channel. Basically a channel is a 
> > > bell curve that is strongest in the middle and fans out 2 channels 
> > > below and above your channel, which is why 1, 6 and 11 do not 
> > > overlap.
> > > 
> > > iStumble will tell you which neighbor WiFi channels are strongest.  
> > > Make sure you choose a channel that has the least overlap with 
> > > your strongest neighbor's signals, and if you have to overlap, try 
> > > to make it the weakest signals.
> > > 
> > > Putting your WiFi base station in the center of the house and 
> > > closest to the places where you use your devices the most is the 
> > > best idea (and maybe further from your strongest neighbors).
> > > 
> > > If you cannot run ethernet from the broadband modem (the best 
> > > suggestion), then consider using Ethernet PowerLine Adaptors 
> > > (Google "ethernet power line adaptors" and you will find lots of 
> > > hits).  A pair of these adaptors will allow you to place your 
> > > Airport Extreme base station anywhere in your house.
> > > 
> > > Since you say your neighbors all have their network "Protected" 
> > > you do not need to worry about your devices trying to connect with 
> > > them, as your devices do not have the passwords, so they will be 
> > > ignored.  And since your devices do have the password to your WiFi 
> > > network, they will default to using your network.
> > > 
> > > The iPhone 4s and older are 2.4GHz WiFi devices.  I think the 
> > > iPhone 5 might have 5GHz WiFi support, but I'm not positive.
> > > 
> > > In general 5GHz 802.11n WiFi does not see much interference.  1st 
> > > it actually has a lower range, so it is more difficult for 
> > > neighbors to overlap and interfere, I think the 5GHz channel 
> > > layout does not have the same 5 channel overlap, so each channel 
> > > does not interfere with the adjacent channel, and at the moment, 
> > > there are fewer 5GHz 802.11n base stations (this will change and 
> > > you will find more overlap as time goes on).
> > > 
> > > If you are going to consider an Airport Express as a range 
> > > extender, it is fairly easy to setup an extended network between 2 
> > > Apple WiFi base stations over WiFi (no wires needed).  Airport 
> > > Utility -> Airport WiFi base station -> Wireless -> Network Mode 
> > > -> Extend a wireless network is where you start.
> > > 
> > > The alternative is to connect the 2 WiFi base stations via 
> > > ethernet.  If you cannot run an ethernet cable, then again 
> > > consider Ethernet PowerLine Adaptors.  It would be best to NOT use 
> > > powerline adaptors for BOTH moving the AEBS to a central location 
> > > AND to connect a 2nd AXBS.  Rather leave the AEBS directly 
> > > connected to the broadband modem, and use powerline adaptors to 
> > > connect the AEBS to the AXBS.  You then configure the AXBS for 
> > > "Bridge Mode" so it disables routing on the 2nd device (you only 
> > > want 1 router in your home; the 2nd device should just extend the 
> > > existing network not create its own; Airport Utility -> AXBS -> 
> > > Network -> Router Mode -> Off (Bridge Mode).  Now assign the AXBS 
> > > its a separate 2.4GHz channel at least 5 channels away from your 
> > > AEBS (you do not want to interfere with yourself).  And give the 
> > > AXBS the same "Wireless Network Name" and Security password as the 
> > > AEBS.  This will setup a "Roaming Network" that allows you to move 
> > > between AEBS and AXBS dynamically switching to the strongest 
> > > signal without loosing any internet connections you have running 
> > > (such as Skype, Facetime, Screen Sharing, etc...).
> > 
> > Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. WiFi was so much
> > easier a few years ago when everything and everybody wasn't using WiFi.
> > I bought a copy of Glen Fleishman's ebook on Airport setup and
> > troubleshooting (recent version) and it basically reiterates what most
> > are saying here. One last thing. Is there any real advantage to
> > assigning a static IP address, based on the MAC address, to an iPhone
> > 5?
> 
> Not really.  Having a fixed IP address is most useful if you are 
> going to connect to the device, so you always know its address.  
> In general the iPhone does not act as a server, so there is no 
> reason it needs a fixed IP address.  Then again, if you find 
> having a fixed IP address solves some problem, then it does not 
> hurt.

Wow. So much good information I hardly know where to start but to say
thanks to everyone who took the time to answer. The cordless phones
(2.4GHz) or microwave aren't an issue. We can talk on the landline
and/or make popcorn without any noticeable interference (even streaming
NetFlix). Sounds like the first place to start is the metal filing
cabinet. It never seemed to be an issue before but who knows with
changing conditions etc.

-- 
Deja Moo: I've seen this bullshit before. Please respond to: scasse@invalid.net
replacing invalid with sonic.

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Thread

Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> - 2012-11-28 18:30 -0800
  Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Tom Stiller <tom_stiller@yahoo.com> - 2012-11-28 22:23 -0500
  Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2012-11-28 22:37 -0800
    Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> - 2012-11-28 20:41 -0800
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2012-11-28 23:52 -0800
        Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> - 2012-11-28 22:53 -0800
          Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2012-11-29 02:35 -0800
          Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Lampje <eternal-september.spamonice@antichef.net> - 2012-11-30 01:03 +0100
            Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi David Stone <no.email@domain.invalid> - 2012-11-30 09:52 -0500
              Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi "Thomas R. Kettler" <tkettler@blownfuse.net> - 2012-11-30 14:22 -0500
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Martin Τrautmann <t-usenet@gmx.net> - 2012-11-29 06:41 +0000
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Suze <replytome@thenewsgroup.com> - 2012-11-29 13:31 -0600
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Fred McKenzie <fmmck@aol.com> - 2012-11-29 18:44 -0500
  Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Bob Harris <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> - 2012-11-29 21:59 -0500
    Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> - 2012-11-29 21:13 -0800
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2012-11-30 00:34 -0800
      Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Bob Harris <nospam.News.Bob@remove.Smith-Harris.us> - 2012-11-30 19:47 -0500
        Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Otto Pylot <otto@bogus.address.com> - 2012-11-30 21:22 -0800
          Re: Blocking the neighbor's WiFi Fred McKenzie <fmmck@aol.com> - 2012-12-02 13:56 -0500

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