Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Where's my wireless AP?

[Stroller <stroller@stellar.eclipse.co.uk>]

On 19 Apr 2010, at 23:03, Mick wrote:
>>> ...
>>> There might be an option to change the region of your wifi NIC.
>>> Channels 12 & 13 are legal in Europe, IIRC, but not in the USA.
>>>
>>> You should be able to change the channel of the AP - typically they
>>> have a drop-down which will choose either "auto" or a specific
>>> channel. Likewise I have seen some APs ask what region you're in  
>>> when
>>> they're first setup.
>>
>> I've set it up for UK so it has 13 channels.  On the other hand  
>> your hint
>> pointed me to wpa_supplicant.conf on my laptop, in which I had the  
>> country
>> parameter commented out.  I set that up to UK, but it still seems  
>> to show
>> 11 channels.  :-(
>>
>> I'll reboot later to see if it makes any odds.
>
> No change :-(
>
> # iwlist wlan0 channel
> wlan0     11 channels in total; available frequencies :
>          Channel 01 : 2.412 GHz
>          Channel 02 : 2.417 GHz
>          Channel 03 : 2.422 GHz
>          Channel 04 : 2.427 GHz
>          Channel 05 : 2.432 GHz
>          Channel 06 : 2.437 GHz
>          Channel 07 : 2.442 GHz
>          Channel 08 : 2.447 GHz
>          Channel 09 : 2.452 GHz
>          Channel 10 : 2.457 GHz
>          Channel 11 : 2.462 GHz
>          Current Frequency:2.412 GHz (Channel 1)
>
> Short of hacking the firmware (which even if I knew how to, I am not  
> allowed)
> or waiting for the linux driver to mature, I am not sure if there's  
> anything I
> can do.

Can't you just change the channel the AP uses?

If you live somewhere with a high population density, then channel 13  
may be a good one to use to avoid the interference of Sky1234,  
BTHomeHub5678 and all the other "free" routers supplied by ISPs which  
will tend to default to channels 1, 6 and 11.

However, if you live somewhere with fewer neighbours channel 13 may  
not be necessary. Try a scan for nearby APs, note some sections of  
frequency that are relatively unused [1], reset your router to use  
that channel, reboot it and try it.

Stroller.



[1] Slightly difficult to encapsulate all the criteria for this in  
just a few words, so try a few different channels and write back if  
you need a longer explanation.