Improving range?

[happycamper]

I've had an Almond+ ever since the kickstarter and I'm very pleased with just about everything with it.

My one dissatisfaction is the unit's range.  I have it at the center of my house but it doesn't come through very well at the edges.  As I write here, the unit is around the corner (mostly wood) and about 30 ft away and my computer is giving it 2 out of 5 bars of signal.  (The computer wifi might not be all that awesome but really, 2/5 bars?)

Are there tweaks I should be doing?  I just feel like it's never put out a strong signal.  (I see neighbor's WiFi broadcast across the street and through several backyards yet mine doesn't reliably get into my own back yard....)

So, advice?

[Ashok]

@ happycamper,

Please note that, glass windows, metal doors, thick concrete walls are major blockers of WiFi signals along with other WiFi hindrances like Microwave, Baby monitors, Fish tanks etc could cause the wireless performance. Meanwhile, try to chane the channel and if you are seeing lot of networks near by then set the mode only to 20 and change the orientation of Almond+.   

[mparadis]

As Ashok pointed out, distance isn't the only factor, numerous other items can cause interference. If nothing else seems to work, try using an app (such as wifi analyzer) to see how many signals are present, use that to manually select the wireless radio channel. (1, 6 and 11) are usually the best choices for 2.4ghz. You want whichever one has the fewest other strong broadcasts.

[grouter]

I had pretty bad interference early on from a Creative Sound Blaster that caused all sorts of issues. It may be worth ensuring there are no other gadgets near the Almond and also checking the wireless mode to verify it's on one of the high power settings. I think they have "HT" in the names.

[happycamper]

I had pretty bad interference early on from a Creative Sound Blaster that caused all sorts of issues. It may be worth ensuring there are no other gadgets near the Almond and also checking the wireless mode to verify it's on one of the high power settings. I think they have "HT" in the names.

Hmm, I don't see any options for HT...   where would I look for this?

(I just used WiFi analyzer and while the 2.5GHz is crowded, the 5 GHz band is nearly empty...  it's the 5 GHz signal I'm trying to improve...  I did just go with the bands the WiFi Analyzer recommended...)

[mparadis]

When selecting the channel you can also select the mode. Grouter was suggesting selecting the modes that include the letters "HT" in them as they are the high power settings. It is on the same screen as the one you change the channel on.

[happycamper]

When selecting the channel you can also select the mode. Grouter was suggesting selecting the modes that include the letters "HT" in them as they are the high power settings. It is on the same screen as the one you change the channel on.

OK, I don't see any HT options under the Wireless settings...  I'm using an Almond+ from the kickstarter and I just updated the software...

I can choose 2.4 and 5 GHz  and on those screens choose a channel and ID stuff..   choosing a channel just gives me numbers, none of which have HT on them..

There's a guest option (other than the 2.5 and 5) and a settings option... neither have HT on their menus anywhere..  The advanced setting allows me to change the width of the broadcasts and whether to turn on or off broadcasting the IDs..

Can you be more specific where I would find some sort of HT option or its equivalent?  (Does it have to do with the width settings?)

Thanks.

[mparadis]

It is on the web ui not the lcd screen. You must log into the web ui to do this. You click "wireless 2.4 GHz and you will then have the option to select the mode.

[grouter]

It's in the apps as well.

[happycamper]

It's in the apps as well.

Installed the Android Almond app...  after looking all over, established that the app doesn't appear to let me change much of anything Wi-Fi wise...

However, I got on the web UI and found it..

I already had it set at:  11NGHT20

Other options include   11NGHT40  or 11NGHT(plus or minus)

I suppose I could try the other options, but it seems that unfortunately, I'm already running in an "HT" mode..)

---------------

As an aside, my Almond+ is sitting on a wall about head height. 

My wife's Apple backup drive (Time Capsule) (running on 5G, channel 149) is on the other side of that wall...  The three objects (my computer, the Almond+, and my wife's backup drive) make a line with the Almond+ in the center... 

So, my wife's drive's signal goes through an outside wall, through the kitchen, then past the Almond+ and another 35 ft to my computer.

When I run the WiFi Analyzer app on my android phone, I only see those two signals on the 5GHz band.

I'm getting about -60dBm for her signal on channel 149
I'm getting about -85dBm for the signal from the Almond+ on channel 44.

I think that means (if dBm is what I think it means) the TimeMachine signal is about 20x as strong as the Almond+ signal, even though it has about 2x the distance and has to pass through an outside wall....

Thoughts?  Do I swap the two channels even though there's no signals appearing in the WiFi analyzer?

*(I will note that the 2.4GHz band of the Almond+ is stronger than the TimeMachine... coming in at -55dBm vs -65dBm...)

[BikerBob]

@happycamper,
Be aware that 5GHz WiFi will be more susceptible to attenuation by walls, distance from the Almond+, etc.  You should get better range & through-wall penetration using the 2.4GHz.  Like someone else suggested use the Android "WiFi Analyzer" App to view the signal strength and channels of other nearby WiFi signals with SSIDs.  Choose an unused channel for your Almond+... well, I guess reading your post just before this... that you have discovered all of this. 

[SecureComp]

Installed the Android Almond app...  after looking all over, established that the app doesn't appear to let me change much of anything Wi-Fi wise...

However, I got on the web UI and found it..

I already had it set at:  11NGHT20

Other options include   11NGHT40  or 11NGHT(plus or minus)

I suppose I could try the other options, but it seems that unfortunately, I'm already running in an "HT" mode..)

---------------

As an aside, my Almond+ is sitting on a wall about head height. 

My wife's Apple backup drive (Time Capsule) (running on 5G, channel 149) is on the other side of that wall...  The three objects (my computer, the Almond+, and my wife's backup drive) make a line with the Almond+ in the center... 

So, my wife's drive's signal goes through an outside wall, through the kitchen, then past the Almond+ and another 35 ft to my computer.

When I run the WiFi Analyzer app on my android phone, I only see those two signals on the 5GHz band.

I'm getting about -60dBm for her signal on channel 149
I'm getting about -85dBm for the signal from the Almond+ on channel 44.

I think that means (if dBm is what I think it means) the TimeMachine signal is about 20x as strong as the Almond+ signal, even though it has about 2x the distance and has to pass through an outside wall....

Thoughts?  Do I swap the two channels even though there's no signals appearing in the WiFi analyzer?

*(I will note that the 2.4GHz band of the Almond+ is stronger than the TimeMachine... coming in at -55dBm vs -65dBm...)

If you are on channel 44 you are not using the higher power option for the US. Max Tx is 17dBm
Q: Are you in the US?

Channel 149 has Max Tx of 30dBm in the US.

Choose a channel that supports 40MHz width if possible.
Choose a channel that supports 20MHz if you are having issues with signal.

If 5 GHz isn't getting it done, drop down to 2.4GHz. (run them both on you A+ and switch between them to compare real world performance at varying distances)

Scroll down for channel chart.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#5.C2.A0GHz_.28802.11a.2Fh.2Fj.2Fn.2Fac.29.5B17.5D

Start Hi (hi power) and Wide (40 width), then Hi Narrow(20), then Low Wide, then Low Narrow