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How can I determine what router channels are most used by my neighbors?
I'm setting up a new router (the old one died) and I found in my research that the signal does better if one uses a less crowded channel. I live in an apartment complex and can pick up nine other networks from my house, so this would be a big help.
But is there any way to test what channels my neighbors are using? I don't want to hack their wireless, just set up my router on the least busy channel.
I use a Mac with 10.4.11.
4 Answers
- AdrianLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Your only real options are to try channels 1 and 11, as 6 is the default for most routers from the factory.
You could try to do some site survey, to see what others are using if you wish.
No point trying other channels, as they all overlap. The "channel" you select is the "center" channel, there are 5 actual channels used at any given setting...
- McgooLv 61 decade ago
You should be able to see what channel each of the networks in range use, by opening the wireless connection on your laptop or PC, and scanning for available networks in range.
You will get the list of the neighbors networks.
As you go down the list, clicking on each one, you should see a window that tells you what the SSID of the network is, the type of security it is using, and the channel it is using.
Make note of the channels, and then when you set up your router, change it's default to be one of the lesser used channels.
NOTE: Be sure to have the router CLONE the MAC address of your laptop when you run the set up program. Most high speed modems, DSL or Cable, lock on to just one machine address and will shut down if another machine is connected to the modem. Your router will have it's own MAC address, but can mirror the address of your computer if you tell it to. This makes the modem think it is connected directly to the computer, instead of to a router.
