Mulitcast rate & interference robustness options?

Is there any downside to setting the multicast rate of my new Airport Extreme N to the highest option and enabling interference robustness?
I'm aware that the higher the multicast rate, the lower my range, but I'm usually in the same room as the router. Will this then improve my speeds when transferring large files to the usb-attached network drive or streaming music?

Good question. Tuff to answer. Robustness will slow you up. If you don't have interference why use it. The downloads speed I would think it would not make a difference unless others were using your network.

Similar Messages

Use Interference Robustness option disabling on restarts

I don't know if this is a rare case, but I've been having a problem with the Interference Robustness option. I live in a under a lot of interference, so this option is vital for my internet connection to be as smooth as possible. Although, every time I restart my Mac, this option gets disabled. What can I do to alleviate the situation? Is this a OS X Tiger bug or something? It began to happen all the sudden after updating to the latest patch. Thank you.

Anyone? Please help.

'Use Interference Robustness' option not showing in AirPort menulet

On my 1.67MHz AlBook I get this option, second from the bottom on the AirPort menulet. Not so on my TiBook. Both running 10.4.5. What gives?

Got you, many thanks, iFelix!
What I still don't understand is: does it affect the
Base Station's signal? or just the respective
computer's card?
From the Airport menulet, just the card.
You need to use the Airport Admin Utility (wireless options) to enable it on the base station.
And if it boosts the signal, how
come it reduces the range?
You can't boost the total power that a wireless card or base station uses.
Therefore if you increase the signal you have to sacrifice range.
If the total power was say 240, you could have strength 3, range 80 or strength 6 range 40.
iFelix

Interference robustness in firmware 7.5.2

I upgraded airport extreme to firmware 7.5.2 and in Wireless Options I not find option Interference Robustness. Is in another place?

I'm having that exact problem again. I can't connect unless I am within 3 feet. That does NOT make sense. It has been a problem in 2007, and there is a thread about the upgrades that ruined it for too many then. I remember before 2007, my websites were coming fast and I was blazing thru the net. Since 2007, the wireless connectivity was so-so until the update last month. Then I noticed that my Interference Robustness option disappeared. Since then, I had to walk back up stairs to my room to get it reconnected, then walk back downstairs every other hour. Now I have to be within 3 feet, so that's it I checked discussions tonight and then immediately created a new account to post a reply.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=831140&start=30&tstart=0

DROP OUT cure! Make sure "Enable Interference Robustness" is Checked!!!

I found the secret button - and now music plays like there's no tomorrow!
Like - I spent at least three weeks - three different routers trying to get my music to stream without drop-outs - to no avail. Then finally I FOUND THE TRICK. Like duh! Read on.
Here's my set up -
3 Airport Express Boxes fed to three separate amps and speakers around the house
1 Apple TV fed to the home theatre
4 Laptops connect wirelessly to the Netgear
1 NAS drive hardwired to the Netgear with all the iTunes Music on it
All connected to 1 Netgear MIMO-G Router via WPA Security
Man this was killing me - with all these variables I couldn't figure out why my music would play OK for a few minutes, then either drop out every minute or so for a few seconds - or just crash my router requiring me to kill its power for 2 seconds. This was killing me. I was about to give up on Apple and get a Roku.
But alas - here's the cure
THERE IS THIS LITTLE TINY CHECK BOX IN THE AIRPORT EXPRESS ADMIN UTILITY -
ON THE AIRPORT TAB - UNDER THE BOX THAT SAYS WIRELESS SECURITY THERE IS A TINY BOX THAT SAYS:
"Enable Interference Robustness"
Click that - and you are in like slim.
I found so many calls for help on this board for drop-outs that I had to just write this post. Good luck to all!
G

Ok, so all i got to say to this setup is wow you are a crazy man lol. First off storing your itunes library on a drive on the network is going to add more latency to your network as each time you try playing a song its having to go from your computer to the router, to the NAS drive, back to the router and then to the airport. However one thing i didnt see or maybe you may have tried i dont know is before using the enable interference robustness option did you try changing the wireless channel on the netgear router? Could just be something is interfering with the current wireless channel that its on. After tinkering with Interference Robustness myself ive found it to be like a Mass Blanket of wireless transmission. Think of you and another person being in a room with a crowd of people and your yelling back info back and forth. Sure you can hear and talk back to the person but your range to hear and speak is greatly reduced meaning if you wanna add any other wireless products that are outside that reduced range your kinda out of luck.

Use Interference Robustness?

I'm temporarily operating in a place with a LOT of visible wireless access points. Airport is neatly automatically selecting channels, and I'm not noticing any problems, but I'm wondering about the "Use Interference Robustness" check item in the pull-down under the network selection place on the main menu bar.
Can someone tell me what this does and how I might know if I need it? Any side effects? I've tried turning it on but I don't notice any change one way or the other.
Thanks for any help!

Link speed from Network Utility is 54MB either way, which is the best my MacBook and AP Express will do. Net Utility doesn't seem to have any real-time info on effective transfer speed. speakeasy.net/speedtest reported 800MB+ download, and 200MB+ upload, which I think is the most basic Cox Cable option in this area, and considerably less than the same hardware records at normal home base. Only a little use for peer-to-peer file sharing, so that's not a significant issue.
Thanks!

Interference Robustness

Hello.
The wireless phone in my house gets a lot of interference when standing around the area where the Airport Extreme is.
Is turning on the "Interference Robustness" a way of avoiding this?
My phone is a 5.8Ghz and I use the Airport in "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)".
Also, does changing the Multicast Rate or the channel affects signal strength, range and interference?
Thank you.

Is turning on the "Interference Robustness" a way of avoiding this?
No. It raises the signal detection level used by the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) and would affect the sensitivity (range) of the AEBS. But it would not affect your phone's performance.
Also, does changing the Multicast Rate or the channel affects signal strength, range and interference?
Yes. Interference as seen by the AEBS. Not interference as seen by other devices.
My phone is a 5.8Ghz and I use the Airport in "802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)".
Are you certain that your phone operates at 5.8 GHz? That would be odd. The normal frequencies for phones are 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. Some phones advertised as 5 GHz also use 2.4 GHz.
Is your AEBS operating at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?

Can't Enable interference robustness

in Sytem Preferences-->Network-->Airport-->Options...
The "Enable interference robustness" check box is greyed out and can not be selected. Also, the option "Remember any network this computer has joined" is checked, but is also greyed out. I also do not have the option "Enable interference robustness" in the Airport status menu bar at all.
All the options are available and working on my wifes G4 ibook connected to the same base station.
The option "Enable interference robustness" is checked in the base station configuration portion of the Airport Admin Utility.
I've repaired permissions but the option is still greyed out.
Any ideas?
G4 MDD Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Try the following, in order, until resolved:
1. Create a New User Account
- Create a new user account.
-- System Preferences > Accounts
-- Click "+" to add a new account
- Log off, then log back on with the new user account.
- Try connecting with the AirPort.
2. Move System Configuration Files
(Note: You will have to reestablish your network connections settings.)
- Go to /Library/Preferences
- Move the SystemConfiguration folder and com.apple.networkConfig.plist file to the desktop.
- Restart your Mac. (Note: OS X will rebuild the files that are now sitting on your desktop. If this doesn't resolve the issue, you can move the folder & .plist file back to it's original location.)

No 'Interference Robustness', HELP! ...?

Hello,
I've recently been given a MacBook Pro, with OS 10.6. It replaces my prehistoric-yet-lovable iBook G4, which was produced in 2003.
I notice that there is no "Use Interference Robustness" capability in the new OS. (This was in the drop-down menu under the internet 'fan') I could use the old disks that came with my old iBook, and go back to the old operating system on the new computer, but it seems silly to go back to an OS from 2003 just to get internet.
I have read a lot of forum posts, including the following:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1196815
I am currently working overseas. I've got 4 roommates, and when I try to change channels on the router it screws up their computers. I'll be traveling soon, and I can't lug around an airport to connect to every router I need to connect to. I'll continue to be in densely populated areas, where everyone has got a microave, cordless, router, etc. The new computer 'sees' at least 7 other routers in the apartments around me.
My new MacBook is NOT picking up a signal, not even when it is inches from the router. (To be specific the fan is full: it asks for a router password then briefly connects, then when you try to click on a webpage it simply takes forever to try and connect then eventually times out.) My iBook, using the old operating system, picks up the signal clearly from the other side of the house. (The old laptop has just been sold, so I will have to give it and its disks up soon!)
I know other forum contributors said that the old 'interference robustness' feature was only ever meant to be used with AirPort, but as many other Apple users have confirmed, my old computer never worked without IR, and I never had an AirPort at all.
The router is made by Pirelli (not kidding), but it hardly matters, seeing as I'll be on the go.
Is there any way I can change computer settings to fix my problem?
This oversight on Apple's part seems like the perfect opportunity for a desktop widget or other 3rd-party program, but none seems to exist.
I've been dreaming of a new laptop and OS for years, and while there are some cute features like Photobooth, at first glance 10.6 lags. There are some modifications that I would have expected to see in iTunes as well... but internet is like water or air if you've got to get work done!

I could use the old disks that came with my old iBook, and go back to the old operating system on the new computer…
Good luck with that thought. That's not doable. Your machine won't recognize anything that old. See Don't install old versions and Computer-specific builds for details.
As for the wifi issue, I can't help, since I don't use it, so you'll have to await those gurus to pop in.

Connecting to wiresless network using Interference Robustness

Is it possible to create an Automator workflow that will automatically on startup or login select "Interference Robustness" then select a specific wireless network?
Thanks for any help or suggestions anyone can offer.

When I boot up the mac the wireless connection doesn't automatically start. I have to manually turn on "interference robustness" then select my desired wireless network.
Has anyone else experienced this issue and/or have a work around to solve this?

Where is "Use Interference Robustness"?

Hello,
i miss the function "Use Interference Robustness" in Mac OS X Leopard!
Without this i am losing constantly my Airport Connections.
Can anybody help?

Interference robustness has worked well for a number of people not using Apple Airport base stations (such as myself). As it turns out, I have an Airport Express that my iMac under Leopard will not recognize only 2 feet away. Naturally, under Tiger all is still well.
Moving interference robustness under the advanced settings is a real problem for people without Airport base stations as it is now impossible to get to the settings without recognizing a base station.
For example, I had turned on interference robustness during the two minute window that my Airport Express was recognized. Now, since Leopard is so spotty (sorry for the pun), I can't reliably test whether or not that setting helps at all. That said, I can report that my basic internet connection was practically nonexistent prior to implementing interference robustness on my iMac G4.
I'm surprised at Apple for this one - Leopard has been been through what seems like extensive testing, and this pops up! And no response from Apple ...
Steve

Dose the "convert higher bit rate songs to" option effect my music on the computer?

dose the option change the quality of the track on the computer library also or just on the device?

Converting to a lower bitrate does not change the music in your iTunes libary.

Mac Wireless Help for a newbie

Hi,
I am currently based in Hunan, China and over the weekend I bought a D-Link wireless router, hoping to make my time in China that much better with wireless heaven.
The model of my router is D-Link DI-624+A. It is an exclusively Chinese model and has no English manuals. But I did find a DI-624 (C version) model with a comparable manual and was able to set up the router.
This was my first time even attempting this, and I was mighty proud that I even got it to work.
I was running it through my Macbook (2GHz)/OS x 10.4.8., but the connection would just drop every 15-20 minutes, and I'd just have to tinker around and the connection would come back. (I don't think that my tinkering had anything to do with the connection coming back. It just took some time and would reappear).
The only reason I even knew that I lost my connection was because Skype would shut down, and nothing would load in my browser since my Airport indicator said I had full reception. But in reality, nothing was working.
So, my question is what could be the issue? I figured that I configured the router correctly, since I'm able to use it at all. But my issue is that it cuts off unexpectedly and then comes back on, sometimes minutes or hours later.
Could it be interference? Even though I use the "Interference Robustness" option and don't have a microwave or cordless phone on while I'm wireless.
Or is it a shoddy router?
I am so very unfamiliar with the hardware so any info and help would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise I'm out 250 kuai and I'll be forced to get the poor man's wireless- 15 meters of ethernet cord.
Thanks in advance!

adoyzie, Welcome to the discussion area!
Could it be interference?
Yes. Any other device operating at or near 2.4 GHz can cause interference.
...and don't have a microwave or cordless phone on while I'm wireless.
These devices can cause interference when not in an active voice call. The handsets periodically talk to the base unit and cause interference.
Also remember that it could be a device used by one of your neighbors.
Try changing the channel used by your base station until you find a channel that works or you run out of channels.
KB 58543, AirPort: Potential sources of interference

My Theory

I suspect that the MBP Wi-Fi card may have poor receptivity and be sensitive to interference (perhaps because of the aluminum MBP case? Like others have experienced, my case at times seems to be holding a slight charge when plugged into the mains). My reasoning follows. Our household has three laptops, my 2+year old MBP 15", my wife's recent Thinkpad with an internal Wi-fi card and my wheezing five year old Thinkpad with a Belkin USB wireless card. My MBP wi-fi performance seems to vary according to location. My wife's laptop frequently can establish a reliable wireless connection when I can't, regardless of location (our flat, hotels, etc.) My MBP has problems holding a connection in our flat, and can't get a connection in our bedroom, where my wife can. On the other hand, on a recent trip to the US, I had no problems in hotels or at a house we stayed at. In our flat, my ancient Thinkpad is by far the worst of the three, constantly dropping connections. Here, I have also noticed that when my MBP drops a connection, my cell phone will also drop a connection, suggesting some sort of external interference. Using the "Interference Robustness" option merely seems to result in a rejection of week signals, aggravating the problem, rather than helping. Thoughts?

We have a late 2007 MBP (wireless "n") and a 2003 PowerBook G4 ("g"), both served by an Airport Extreme Base Station. Neither has trouble getting and holding a signal at home, even when a floor below the AEBS or in a room that completely shielded by a large concrete and tile (with steel mesh substrate) shower enclosure. Even outdoors, connecting is not a problem. The AEBS is set to max power.
I noticed on a recent trip that many Mac users were having connection problems in a conference room, including a number of people with plastic MacBooks and iBooks. We were less than 100 yards from a tower and under 75 feet from a second transmitter in a nearby office on the other side of a large institutional kitchen. We found out that tower access was blocked by a large sheet metal storage shed attached to the building between the conf room and the tower. Moving a few feet to the left picked up the office; moving so we were not behind the shed let everyone pick up the tower. I suspect the office transmitter was turned down to low power.
So proximity and line of sight can be important, especially when using a non-Airport network you don't control. For your home network, try raising the transmitter (ours is on top of a 6-foot tall bookcase) or seeing if the power is turned down.

One machine connecting very slow on home network

Hi,
I have what appears to be a werid situation. I have, at this very moment, an iBook G4, an iMac G4 and an iMac G5 all connected via Airort (Extreme) to an Airport Express (which is on the net). The iBook and the iMac G5 all connect quite quickly (2 Mbps). The iMac G4 connects at less then 20 kbits per second.
There appears, I think, to be some networking setting "out of whack" which is causing it to network very slowly. (or, another possibility, is that the Airport card is damaged).
I have looked (by comparing the sick machine to the good machines) at every network setting I could think of, but, to no avail.
I have all three machines side by side. I am running a DSL speed test. The two good machines clock in at 2 Mbps, the sick machine at 20 kbps.
They are all using Airport (Extreme) to talk to the same AE.
Weird.
Tom

Follow up information...
When I chcked the "Interference Robustness" option on the Airport menu item, the problem resolved itself. The iMac G4 is now as fast (over 2 Mbps) on my DSL connection as the iBook G4 two feet to the left and the iMac G5 two feet to the right.
Odd as it seems, three machines on a desk, one required that option the other two did not.
Tom

Mulitcast rate & interference robustness options?

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