Problem

How to debug/configure wifi connection.

Investigation

Glossary

What are these

  • wifi protocols: 8012.11 a/b/g/n
  • data speeds
  • n150, 300mbps
  • band
  • SSID
  • channel: 1-9 (for 300mbps), 1-13(for 150mbps)
  • channel bandwidth
  • security WPA2

Tools

  • InSSIDer3 (windows)
  • inSSIDer Office (windows)
  • speedtest.net (browser)
  • wifi analyser (android)
  • ping (windows)
  • tracert (windows)
  • tcp optimizer
  • DNSBench.exe (windows) - https://www.grc.com/DNS/BENCHMARK.HTM

Debugging

  • divide and conquer

Solution

InSSIDer3 wifi screenshot

Do & Don’t

  • Don’t use Channel 13 (not compatible with my withing scale and with my samsung galaxy tab 2.0)
  • Don’t use other channels than 1, 7 and 11 (it seems that they are not standard - as explained in the InSSIDer3 help).
  • Do try to use Channel Bandwidth: 20/40 MHz (to have dual channel like: 7+11).
  • Do try to use only Band 2.4GHz (802.11n) and not 802.11b/g/n which is good for maximum compatibility but will generate drops in performance if one device is using b or g.