very complex issue
Several things to consider:
If a poll were taken, I would expect the users experiencing higher dropout rates would find they are in an environment with a lot of nearby activity on the same radio frequencies that WiFi is using. It is conceivable to momentarily run out of WiFi radio channels in a densely covered area. Of course, things will get back to normal soon enough but it would cause something like what is being described here.
WiFi equipment makers don't do everything exactly the same way. There are cases where pro WiFi equipment does not play well together, so the issue described in this thread is no surprise. However, it isn't the end of the world either.
The first thing I would tell everyone is to completely turn off or disable IPV6.
Next, Please tell me everyone has a unique SSID. Even if you don't see any other access points make sure you have given yours something nobody else would have. Never ever use the default name.
Try moving as close to your WiFi access point as you can and see if the situation improves. If it does, it may be an interference issue which can be quite complex and difficult to resolve.
If bluetooth seems to have any effect on your WiFi I would suspect an interference issue because they use the same radio frequencies.
You might try changing the channel selection on your WiFi access point, and moving it to a higher physical location, or moving the antennas higher. Also, turn on WPA and MAC address filtering, and turn off SSID broadcast.
It may be that you have to do everything above to prevent drop outs completely.
There is a VERY slim chance you may live in a spot where WiFi is completely saturated and there just isn't room for another. In that case be glad you have much of a connection at all. Worst case would be that there is pro WiFi equipment close by that will eventually make it impossible for your consumer WiFi to operate at all.
If for some reason WiFi just never seems to work at your location no matter who's equipment is used, try a different wireless networking technology that uses a different radio band. "A" band has never been as popular and is a little more expensive, but it works very very well. I don't know of any "mesh" wireless equipment for OS X, but they may exist.
I hope this helps resolve at least some of these issues. Best of luck!
-Brandoneus
Several things to consider:
If a poll were taken, I would expect the users experiencing higher dropout rates would find they are in an environment with a lot of nearby activity on the same radio frequencies that WiFi is using. It is conceivable to momentarily run out of WiFi radio channels in a densely covered area. Of course, things will get back to normal soon enough but it would cause something like what is being described here.
WiFi equipment makers don't do everything exactly the same way. There are cases where pro WiFi equipment does not play well together, so the issue described in this thread is no surprise. However, it isn't the end of the world either.
The first thing I would tell everyone is to completely turn off or disable IPV6.
Next, Please tell me everyone has a unique SSID. Even if you don't see any other access points make sure you have given yours something nobody else would have. Never ever use the default name.
Try moving as close to your WiFi access point as you can and see if the situation improves. If it does, it may be an interference issue which can be quite complex and difficult to resolve.
If bluetooth seems to have any effect on your WiFi I would suspect an interference issue because they use the same radio frequencies.
You might try changing the channel selection on your WiFi access point, and moving it to a higher physical location, or moving the antennas higher. Also, turn on WPA and MAC address filtering, and turn off SSID broadcast.
It may be that you have to do everything above to prevent drop outs completely.
There is a VERY slim chance you may live in a spot where WiFi is completely saturated and there just isn't room for another. In that case be glad you have much of a connection at all. Worst case would be that there is pro WiFi equipment close by that will eventually make it impossible for your consumer WiFi to operate at all.
If for some reason WiFi just never seems to work at your location no matter who's equipment is used, try a different wireless networking technology that uses a different radio band. "A" band has never been as popular and is a little more expensive, but it works very very well. I don't know of any "mesh" wireless equipment for OS X, but they may exist.
I hope this helps resolve at least some of these issues. Best of luck!
-Brandoneus
