setting up home system- 2.4 GHz interference?

[paulzebo]

I'm presently setting up a wireless home system with four computers on it. Since I noticed that the 802.11b runs on 2.4 GHz, I'm concerned that my microwave will interfere because our 2.4 GHz phone breaks up everytime we use both at the same time. And given that, what about the phone and a wireless keyboard interfering? The keyboard runs in the same 2.4 GHz range.

Would I be better off with the more expensive 802.11a units on the 5 GHz bandwagon and double my cost or is this overkill for a home system?

Also, when the cable company installed my modem, they told me the best way to install it was to drop a seperate line and have the cable modem only on that line. I paid the extra and had it done, but when the system went down, a repair person questioned why I did it. He told me it made no difference in real life because the video signal and cable data signal are on different frequencies. Is a seperate cable line really necessary? My Modem is presently on the far side of the house from where the other three computers are and I wouldn't mind it being more central.

Is there any site which reviews the 801.11b and 801.11a units available?

 

[rw120555]

Changing the channel of your WAP is one common approach, e.g. if it is on channel 6, try changing it to 1 or 11. Same way with your phone; make it 11 and your WAP 1, or something like that.

For reviews, see http://www.practicallynetworked.com.

 

[nathank]

As far as the cable goes...a dedicated line is better because once you start splitting the cable (like most TV coax is done at least once or twice) you lose signal power as well as quality. It's ok for the TV because they require a pretty crappy signal level. However, your modem is very picky. Just try putting it on one of your CATV outlets and see what happens. Granted, if they split the cable the first time they could have monkey'd around for hours getting the quality high enough, but it would still be worse than a dedicated line.

 

[BullishDad]

My question is similar, so here goes: I already have an 802.11b network installed which is running fine. I'm thinking of purchasing a Panasonic 2.4ghz DSS multihandset phone system. What are my chances of some kind of interference? Thanks, rw, for the tip about changing the WAP channel. Is there anything else that can be done? If I use the phone near a wireless USB antenna, is this asking for trouble?

To summarize, I'd really like to buy the phone, but not if my network will have problems. Looking for advice based on the experience of others. Thanks.

 

[rw120555]

I know some people just buy 900 mhz phones to avoid problems. But, extreme channel separation is supposed to work, e.g. 1 and 11. I think it is supposed to work ok with a difference of 3 to 5 channels, I don't remember exactly.

 

[JackMDS]

It is relatively easy to judge the quality of the TV signal, good picture, and audio i.e. good signal.

It is a little more difficult to evaluate the quality of the Internet broadband signal.

I would start with connecting the incoming line to the Cable modem only. Surf a little, ping your provider and download a big file, see what you get.

Then try the Modem connected to the ?Hot Fudge? of the TV splitters, and repeat the same. See when it works better, or if the signal is very strong, it probably will be the same.

As for 2.4G interferences. It all depends on proximity. In cases that the noise source is at distance changing channel might help. If you stand very close to the Wireless Antenna nothing will help.

 

[paulzebo]

So if you all had your druthers, would you spend the extra $$$ for the 801.11A system? Is it that much better and will it eliminate the 2.4 GHz overlapping appliances? Price wise, they now seem to be within $100 of the base and $50 of the individual cards.

 

[rw120555]

It seems like hardly anybody here talks about 801.11a. My impression is that it is in expensive, non-compatible alternative you can waste your money on and then throw away when the better stuff comes along in a year or so. There have also been complaints that its range is more limited than 802.11b. I'm hardly an expert, but I haven't seen anything that makes me want to rush out and buy it.