Two routers?

WiFi Radar reports two wireless routers where I only have one (same name, different signal strengths - Airport Extreme 7.6.4). Is this important? What might be going on?

Your Airport Extreme is a dual band router, so it supports a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network for different devices..that's what WiFi Radar is likely picking up..

John F said:

WiFi Radar reports two wireless routers where I only have one (same name, different signal strengths - Airport Extreme 7.6.4). Is this important? What might be going on?

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My Airport Extreme produces 4 networks - my protected one & my guest one - and two for each of those w/ a bandwidth of 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz - i.e. 2 names only - assume that may be the issue; if not please post back. Dave

Oh good point RadDave, I forgot about the guest network..it's some combination of this..

I've had to disable the guest network on my AE since it's a slave to the Verizon router..

Raz0rEdge said:

Oh good point RadDave, I forgot about the guest network..it's some combination of this..

I've had to disable the guest network on my AE since it's a slave to the Verizon router..

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Hi - believe that we were posting @ the same minute & you won out! I just have the one router and have had a few guests use that account (it's also protected but w/ a different PW) - Dave

Many thanks. It is interesting that even in this rural area with houses set well apart (up the coast from Vancouver) I am picking up nine wireless networks. In England where I spend part of the year, the houses are made of stone and a WiFi signal barely makes it into the next room.

The latest wireless routers use multiple antennas and the higher bands actually go farther than before, so you're bound to see a lot more routers than before..

In apartment buildings this actually causes a lot of problem because you've got to deal with interference from all the routers operating in the same space, and there are only so many channels to choose from..

John F said:

Many thanks. It is interesting that even in this rural area with houses set well apart (up the coast from Vancouver) I am picking up nine wireless networks. In England where I spend part of the year, the houses are made of stone and a WiFi signal barely makes it into the next room.

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Hi John - yep, I'm in a neighborhood where the houses are at least several hundred feet apart, but using a program called Wi-Fi Explorer on my MBPro, I pick up 4 additional broadcasting routers (other than my 4 - see screen shot below - I've blank out some info) - I can't imagine being in an inner city apartment complex (not made w/ stone walls) what would show up! BOY, and how many would be unprotected - scary! Dave