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We have an AP and I'm wondering if we can reduce interference by moving the AP to another place.

I know that other APs can interfere and I've set the router to use channels that are more free.
But are there other physical things I need to pay attention to? Does it matter how far the router is from a wall or other devices or are there other things that could cause interference?

Our microwave is 6 meters away and the AP stands close to a wall next to a monitor, a NAS and some power/USB cables behind a laptop.

The terms "access point placement" and "access point interference" didn't help me out well on Google... :-(

Hennes
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Tamara Wijsman
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2 Answers2

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2 pieces of advice.

  • avoid placing your AP near to the microwave oven. Same frequency range.
  • use InSSIDer to fine tune your channel selection and placement.
Alain Pannetier
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Higher positions for wireless routers tend to be more effective because there is often less potential for interference from furniture and other objects between your wireless devices. Keeping it away from other major electrical devices (such as microwave ovens and computer monitors {especially CRTs}) is a good practice that actually helps to minimize some interference.

As far as channel selection is concerned, I find that the vast majority of routers are set to "6" as the default, and that very few people actually bother to change this. To find out which channels are being used in your area you can use a program called Network Stumbler (which can also be very interesting to leave running on your laptop as you drive across the city):

  Network Stumbler
  http://www.netstumbler.com/

In addition to showing you which channels are in use (so that you can hopefully pick one that's not used at all -- start with the higher frequencies first since they seem to be very subtly better at not being effected by interference), it will also show you which routers have no security...

If you have to share a channel, you may be better off sharing a channel that doesn't have any unsecured wireless routers since those will potentially see more use (not only by neighbours, but also by occasional traveling criminals searching for unsecured wireless routers to use to do illegal things anonymously on the internet from their vehicles).

Randolf Richardson
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