More Wireless setup questions

When I bought my ST laptop this past weekend I also purchased a D-Link DGL-4500 > Xtreme N Gaming Router. I will probably try to set it up tonight but my first laptop means it is also my first time setting up wireless. I have a few questions.

As of 0900 Cain wireless scanner show 27, yep twenty seven networks in my area. Now maybe that is normal but since I am new it seems like a lot. Most on various channels on (2412000 Hz).

So what is my best bet if there is one seting up my network and not having problems with interference from all these other networks?

Should I look for a channel least being used? I don't know if I can find a fee and clear one with this many around.

Will running on Draft 802.11n help? as I am sure most are not using it yet. I am not trying to get in to the 11n debate but it is all I need right now no other laptops or wireless on my network. My notebook has 11n built in.

My isp is cable and I generally have 5mb down sometimes more, and generally 7XXkb up usually no more than 800kb.

EDIT: Will setting it up on 5Ghz help since so many are using 2.4Ghz?

So what do you guys think the best course I should take?

Here is a piece of Cain's wireless scanner output this morning:

BSSID: 00*********
Last seen: 12/02/2008 - 09:10:06
Vendor:
Signal: -85 dBm
SSID: *******
Enc: Yes
Mode: Infrastructure
Channel: 6 (2437000 Hz)
Rates (Mbps): 1, 2, 5, 11, 6, 12, 24, 36,
Packets:
Unique WEP IVs:

BSSID: 00**********
Last seen: 12/02/2008 - 09:10:45
Vendor: Cisco-Linksys LLC
Signal: -69 dBm
SSID:
Enc: No
Mode: Infrastructure
Channel: 6 (2437000 Hz)
Rates (Mbps): 1, 2, 5, 11, 18, 24, 36, 54,
Packets:
Unique WEP IVs:

BSSID: 00**********
Last seen: 12/02/2008 - 09:10:14
Vendor: D-Link Corporation
Signal: -79 dBm
SSID: Home
Enc: Yes
Mode: Infrastructure
Channel: 1 (2412000 Hz)
Rates (Mbps): 1, 2, 5, 11, 6, 12, 24, 36,
Packets:
Unique WEP IVs:

BSSID: 00**********
Last seen: 12/02/2008 - 09:10:37
Vendor: AboCom
Signal: -85 dBm
SSID: *********
Enc: Yes
Mode: Infrastructure
Channel: 6 (2437000 Hz)
Rates (Mbps): 1, 2, 5, 11, 6, 9, 12, 18,
Packets:
Unique WEP IVs:

 

Hi Orangeninja,

To be frank, I don't think there is much you can do to totally 'optimize' your wireless setup. The thing is, if you really are in such a busy network area, you don't have much choice. And besides, the marginal increase in network speed (assuming you find the 'perfect' channel) is likely to be minimal.

 

You really shouldn't have wasted the money on that router you're going to get the same performance on a normal linksys draft n router.

 

Looking at your scan use ch 11 for the 11g. The 5ghz 11n will be the least used and less interference for the crowded 2.4ghz 11g bandwidth.

I would change the def SSID too. Then you will know if yours connect to the wrong network. Use a random generated key (20+chr) for your WPA personal AES security. Once everything is working may even hide the SSID to prevent non tech users from trying to connect. And make sure your wireless is not set to connect to any open networks. This was XP def do not know about Vista. Can be found under adv wireless network settings.

 

use auto channel select on the d-link

it will auto select the channel with the least interefernce and give yo the best signal strength and it continually updates/changes the channel every few seconds if needed.

after you are comfortable w wifi and the ruoter setup, turn off your ssid broadcast radio as blue suggested

the d-link n is one of the more advanced/complicated router setups and can be intimidating, so holler at me if you have any problems.

I can post sceeen shots of my dir655 settings if you think they will help you...

 

Thanks guys right now I am looking good. I set it to Auto select channel and i am using channels in the high 30s to mid 40s at 5Ghz. using 11n only. My SSID is invisible as Blue suggested. Right now I have a transfer rate of 130.