Questions about/problems with home WiFi

[ChromeFoundry]

10. First, get a copy of inSSIDer

it's FREE.

put it on a laptop and determine what channel has the least activity. (usually 3 or 4)
Move your AP to supply a stronger signal to your devices.

If you have more than 15 SSIDs over -80 dBm, in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, consider a 5 GHz dual-band AP if your clients (and bluray support it).

Watch your neighbors channels to see if they are using 40 MHz channel bonding.. that will severely limit your available spectrum. (you will notice their SSID channels double in width every few seconds)

Note: video streaming in HD requires a ton of bandwidth. If you can, run a Cat5e or better from your router to your BluRay, or any other streaming device. Until the FCC opens up the additional channels in the VHF spectrum for WiFi, and the hardware supports it... or you have a very strong signal on an uncongested, little interference, 2.4 GHz spectrum, or are on the 5 GHz spectrum - video over WiFi is still hit and miss. Go wired if you can, and go with at least 100 MB/s (1000 MB/s if your router supports it).

Never daisy-chain switches (client -> switch -> router's port). The router's LAN ports are a switch. You can only have two switches before you will start having problems due the internal ARP table s an latency.