My WiFi Setup Correct?

[MoFish]

Hi,

After looking into my WiFi setup a little, I noticed what appears to be a few different broadcasts of my WiFi on differing channels. I wondered if having all these broadcast was normal or if this would be effecting the performance of the WiFi around my home? Should I only have one? I often experience drops in the WiFi, and wondered if this may be why

I have the following bits of kit, and can provide more detailed information on how each are set-up if required.

1 x Airport Extreme
2 x Airport Express

Regards,

MoFish

Apple Icon > About This Mac > System Report > Network > WiFi

Interfaces:
en0:
  Card Type:    AirPort Extreme  (0x14E4, 0x152)
  Firmware Version:    Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.15.166.24.3)
  MAC Address:    ac:bc:32:77:62:0g
  Locale:    ETSI
  Country Code:    GB
  Supported PHY Modes:    802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  Supported Channels:    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161
  Wake On Wireless:    Supported
  AirDrop:    Supported
  Status:    Connected
  Current Network Information:
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:    802.11n
  BSSID:    34:36:3b:bd:b6:1g
  Channel:    108,1
  Country Code:    GB
  Network Type:    Infrastructure
  Security:    WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:    -66 dBm / -95 dBm
  Transmit Rate:    216
  MCS Index:    13
  Other Local Wi-Fi Networks:
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:    802.11n
  BSSID:    b8:c7:5d:04:e1:7g
  Channel:    116
  Country Code:    GB
  Network Type:    Infrastructure
  Security:    WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:    -82 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:    802.11n
  BSSID:    20:c9:d0:a3:dc:5g
  Channel:    6
  Country Code:    GB
  Network Type:    Infrastructure
  Security:    WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:    -87 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:    802.11n
  BSSID:    34:36:3b:bd:b6:1g
  Channel:    6
  Country Code:    GB
  Network Type:    Infrastructure
  Security:    WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:    -64 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:    802.11n
  BSSID:    b8:c7:5d:04:e1:6g
  Channel:    1
  Country Code:    GB
  Network Type:    Infrastructure
  Security:    WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:    -67 dBm / 0 dBm

 

[Orcvader]

You do seem to have a lot of access points. A quick glance shows that some of your Airport devices have both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wifi access points, but this is fine since they will not interfere with each other. The only possible conflicts I can see is two of the 2.4GHz networks are both sharing channel 6, ideally you want seperate networks to be on 1, 6 and 11 so they do not affect each other's performance.

How is your network set up around your home?

 

[MoFish]

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I have an Airport Extreme upstairs. From this I use a Ethernet Power Line to plug directly into a airport express downstairs. I also have another airport express set up in the bathroom. Images attached.

Hope this helps clarify.

Regards,

Airport Extreme

Airport Express (Downstairs) Wired Via Power Plug

Airport Express (Bathroom) WiFi

 

[Orcvader]

Ah I see why you have two broadcasts on channel 6, one of your Airports is simply extending another Airport's wifi network.

So I'm guessing the one upstairs is where your broadband comes in? At the moment it does seem your network is in a bit of a mess... Internet goes to the Airport upstairs, then that gets powerlined to the one downstairs, which then connects to the 3rd Airport via wifi. I would be tempted to remove the one in the bathroom, and see if you can place the downstairs one in a better spot.

 

[MoFish]

Thanks for replying. I'll try to explain.

The broadband comes in via the bedroom upstairs plugged directly into the airport extreme. This is connected via ethernet to a powerline plug. There is an airport express in the bathroom upstairs at the other side of the house. This is set up to wirelessly extend the WiFi. There is an airport express in the living room downstairs which is connected via ethernet into the powerline. Sorry for the confusion, its quite hard to explain.

Since your reply, I have moved the downstairs airport express further away from the bathroom and plugged it into another socket using the ethernet. This has adapted the layout slighty. Do you think this will have helped? Should I be amending the channels at all or doing anything in particular?

Are these signal/noise levels good or bad?

 Interfaces:
en0:
  Card Type:	AirPort Extreme  (0x14E4, 0x152)
  Firmware Version:	Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.15.166.24.3)
  MAC Address:	ac:bc:32:77:62:07
  Locale:	ETSI
  Country Code:	GB
  Supported PHY Modes:	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  Supported Channels:	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 100, 104, 108, 112, 116, 120, 124, 128, 132, 136, 140, 149, 153, 157, 161
  Wake On Wireless:	Supported
  AirDrop:	Supported
  Status:	Connected
  Current Network Information:
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	b8:c7:5d:04:e1:6f
  Channel:	1
  Country Code:	GB
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-72 dBm / -95 dBm
  Transmit Rate:	78
  MCS Index:	19
  Other Local Wi-Fi Networks:
DIRECT-Q7-BRAVIA:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	92:48:9a:39:1e:83
  Channel:	6
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-46 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	b8:c7:5d:04:e1:70
  Channel:	116
  Country Code:	GB
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-80 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	34:36:3b:bd:b6:1f
  Channel:	100,+1
  Country Code:	GB
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-47 dBm / 0 dBm
Fyfie:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	34:36:3b:bd:b6:1e
  Channel:	6
  Country Code:	GB
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-45 dBm / 0 dBm
TALKTALK755F9A:
  PHY Mode:	802.11n
  BSSID:	58:1f:28:75:5f:a0
  Channel:	1
  Country Code:	GB
  Network Type:	Infrastructure
  Security:	WPA/WPA2 Personal
  Signal / Noise:	-88 dBm / -95 dBm