How to find out what wifi channel to use on my AirPort Time Capsule?

[The_Prodigy1982]

I have a pretty poor wifi signal on my AirPort Time Capsule - 3TB... and I'd like to change the 2.5Ghz/5Ghz channels to a stronger frequency.
I haven't touched any of the channel settings just yet, both bands are currently set to the default 'automatic' setting.

- How can I find out what channels are the strongest, is there a handy tool to measure signal strength, or do I need to manually check each of the 13 channels?
(which makes 26 different channels in total, considering there's both 2.5Ghz/5Ghz)

 

[Bigeric23]

The more important question is: What channels are being used by those around me.


Here is a great app to study WI-Fi:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wifi-explorer/id494803304?mt=12&at=10l3Vy

 

[Branta]

I have a pretty poor wifi signal on my AirPort Time Capsule - 3TB... and I'd like to change the 2.5Ghz/5Ghz channels to a stronger frequency.
I haven't touched any of the channel settings just yet, both bands are currently set to the default 'automatic' setting.

- How can I find out what channels are the strongest, is there a handy tool to measure signal strength, or do I need to manually check each of the 13 channels?
(which makes 26 different channels in total, considering there's both 2.5Ghz/5Ghz)

You will need trial, error, and the Mk1 human eyeball to find the balance between least congested and least interfered channels by looking at practical performance, and then it might change a few minutes later. If you're lucky some of the PC software for WiFi adaptors has a scanning function (got it on a Dell Latitude) which will help rule out the worst choices. As a guide try to find a channel which has a gap of at least 2 channels from any strong signals (except your router which you plan to move) - so if Ch6 has a strong signal you should avoid selecting 4,5,7,8. Most likely you will find quieter channels up in the 5GHz band.

 

[HankAZ]

Get an app that will survey the wifi landscape (I use Wifi Explorer for this and other functions)... it will show you what channels are in use around you and provide you with information about possible channel collisions, etc.

NetStumbler Alternatives for Mac OS X - AlternativeTo.net

 

[The_Prodigy1982]

I just got Wifi Explorer, but I don't get it...

Here is the info that I got:

> 2.4Ghz band <

[ Network Details ]
Beacon Interval: 100 ms
Max Rate: 217 Mbps
Basic Rates: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps

Signal Strength: Excellent
Channel: 11
Channel Width: 20 MHz
Signal: 100%
Noise: 1%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 85 dB
Signal Avg/Min/Max: 100%/83%/100%
Noise Avg/Min/Max: 0%/1%/0%
SNR Avg/Min/Max: 82/49/86 dB

Channels: on the bottom of the graphic the signal seems to hang between 9 to 13.

-------------
> 5Ghz band <

[ Network Details ]
Beacon Interval: 100 ms
Max Rate: 1300 Mbps
Basic Rates: 6, 12, 24 Mbps

Signal Strength: Excellent
Channel: 100 104 108 112
Channel Width: 80 MHz
Signal: 100%
Noise: 1%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 79 dB
Signal Avg/Min/Max: 100%/100%/100%
Noise Avg/Min/Max: 1%/1%/1%
SNR Avg/Min/Max: 78/76/80 dB

Channels: on the bottom of the graphic the signal seems to hang between 98 to 114.