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How to check what wifi channels are being highly utilised

u587162
u587162 asked
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My Virgin Media wifi here in the Uk is suddenly playing up and dropping and reconnecting.  I have changed channels both on the 2.4ghz and 5ghz and it is having little effect.  Leaving aside the discussion about position of the cable modem router etc, my question is simple.

What is the command line to check what channel numbers are being used by neighbouring houses and generally what channel numbers are stronger in wavelength and in performance i.e. 1-13 for 2,4ghz and the longer list for 5ghz.

I need the command line on a mac and windows pc.  thx
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JohnBusiness Consultant (Owner)
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Commented:
Get inSSider Personal (Metageek). It will tell you what is around and on what channel along with signal strength. I use this myself.
Dave BaldwinFixer of Problems
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Commented:
I use Nirsoft's Wireless Net View.  http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_view.html  I have up to 58 wireless networks running here at any one time.
Shaun VermaakSenior Consultant
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Network Architect
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thuy hang vu

Commented:
You can use InSSIDer to look for the Best Wifi Channel.

You need to locate an area with some empty space, or a quiet channel, and important its number down. The best wifi channel you selected will be your network’s new home. To change wifi channel on your router, you need to connect to your router’s admin interface
you can learn more how to find best wifi channel in this tutorial: https://windowsfreeapps.com/how-to-find-the-best-wifi-channel-using-inssider/
Tip: The best Wireless channel are 1, 6 and 11.
some oneNetwork Architect
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Commented:
You can use InSSIDer to look for the Best Wifi Channel.


The OP asks...

What is the command line to check what channel numbers are being used
u587162

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Commented:
Do people often have to keep changing their channel number every few weeks/months.  It's crazy as lay people wouldnt have a clue to start fiddling with their router settings to do this or run command line prompts or software to check which channels are busy.
Dave BaldwinFixer of Problems
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Commented:
I'd say that most people never change their WiFi channels.  Only people like us who use software to find the least used channel in our area.
Natty GregIn Theory (IT)
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Commented:
Command line given above I use Wi-Fi channel scanner tells me channel and signal strength so I can decide which shannel is least used but then you want to know which channel overlap so you don't get caught in the middle with a channel that drop signal because it may overlap with one or more channel
some oneNetwork Architect
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Commented:
OP clearly asks for command line tools only.

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