frederick
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 154
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
I'm finding it more and more difficult these days to implement a solid WiFi network. I don't know if anyone else is having this problem. I go in to setup a AP for a office, and what do you know, the whole 2.4GHz band is covered with AP's. It comes down to which channel is the least occupied. The 5GHz is usually empty, but not every device out there runs on a 5GHz signal. I have clients complaining of slow wireless internet, or sporadic connections. I show up on site, and it takes me a while to even find their AP amongst all the noise.
For example, I have a client that's in a office complex of about 8 buildings, and about 4 to 6 different offices per building. They are in the middle building, surrounded by all the others. When you go to connect to a AP, about 30 other AP's pop up, and theirs is usually not even at the top when you are in their office. The WiFi is slow, and sometimes they get "limited" connection. They only have 2 computers on it, because that specific room didn't get wired for Ethernet. There is no less busy channel to choose from. I'd have them connect to the 5GHz signal, but that's also polluted to high heaven. I've talked to the other offices in the complex about reducing their signal strength, or using directional antennas and I was met with hostility or "not our problem".
Even in my home, the other houses around me are polluting the 2.4GHz band, but I'm lucky as all my neighbors are using Channels 6 through 11, competing for space on those, and so I have channel 1 all to myself.
I really feel that something should be done about it. We are rolling out IPv6 to solve the IP address exhaustion, but why isn't anyone doing anything about the WiFi Air Pollution? I am well aware that there are frequencies that are reserved for specific applications (law enforcement/government, public radio, etc.) making it hard to expand the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band to include more channels. But I'm sure there is a way to solve the problem, it may tricky and even costly in some areas, but it can be done.
For example, I have a client that's in a office complex of about 8 buildings, and about 4 to 6 different offices per building. They are in the middle building, surrounded by all the others. When you go to connect to a AP, about 30 other AP's pop up, and theirs is usually not even at the top when you are in their office. The WiFi is slow, and sometimes they get "limited" connection. They only have 2 computers on it, because that specific room didn't get wired for Ethernet. There is no less busy channel to choose from. I'd have them connect to the 5GHz signal, but that's also polluted to high heaven. I've talked to the other offices in the complex about reducing their signal strength, or using directional antennas and I was met with hostility or "not our problem".
Even in my home, the other houses around me are polluting the 2.4GHz band, but I'm lucky as all my neighbors are using Channels 6 through 11, competing for space on those, and so I have channel 1 all to myself.
I really feel that something should be done about it. We are rolling out IPv6 to solve the IP address exhaustion, but why isn't anyone doing anything about the WiFi Air Pollution? I am well aware that there are frequencies that are reserved for specific applications (law enforcement/government, public radio, etc.) making it hard to expand the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band to include more channels. But I'm sure there is a way to solve the problem, it may tricky and even costly in some areas, but it can be done.
