How to Make Google Nest Wifi Redetermine Best Channel Numbers

[NolanA]

I have Google Nest Wifi with 3 locations.   The 3 locations choose channels 1, 6, and 11.  The problem is my solar is also on channel 1 and located right next to the channel 1 Google Wifi point.   When my solar starts broadcasting, it is stronger than the Wifi, so it causes a lot of interference, leading to nearby devices choosing a different Google Wifi that is further away and gest poor quality. 

For example, my Roku is right next to the Google Wifi point on channel 1.  However, it will instead choose the Google Wifi point on channel 6, which is on a different floor and far away, leading to poor speeds when watching TV on Roku. This could all be avoided, if I could make the Google Wifi point anything except channel 1, so it does not interfere with my solar on channel 1.   

I don't know the formula Google Wifi uses to choose best channel, but it's possible that my solar wasn't broadcasting when it selected that channel for the station.   If there was a way for Google Wifi to re-select the best channel when solar was broadcasting, it wouldn't choose channel 1.  Best of all would be if there was a way for me to select the channel. 

[PatrickP_Viking]

Hey @NolanA .

The Nest Wifi will select the best channel and constantly scans. If your solar is using Channel 1 and only broadcasts periodically, it is going to intermittently interfere with the Nest Wifi performance until the scan determines a better channel is available and makes the change or the solar stops broadcasting again.

The reason 1, 6,and 11 are typically chosen the most is that the four channel spacing between them prevents overlap from occurring with 2.4GHz frequencies. Nest Wifi will use these to prevent overlap whenever possible but intermittent interference, like from your solar, is going to cause overlap regardless what you do. Even if the Nest Wifi finds another, less congested channel, there is going to be issues with it overlapping itself which can again cause issues. There are other considerations with 5GHz but nearly all streaming type devices will use 2.4GHz since it has a longer signal range.

Since this appears to be a 2.4GHz issue and it is just on Channel 1, I'd suggest one of the following:

1. Enable the Guest Network in settings and connect the solar to the Guest Network. This will move it to a different network, typically to 192.168.84.x, and it should help. It may not stop all interference though. I use this setup with a weather station and Bird Buddy feeder on mine and it resolved the issues I had.
2. Contact the solar manufacturer and see if they have some possible solutions. Unfortunately, the intermittent broadcasting with the solar is the issue.

[AbigailF]

Hey folks, 

Thanks for lending a hand, @PatrickP_Viking.
@NolanA, I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help. Please let me know if you are still having any concerns or questions from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,
Abi

[NolanA]

Yes, I am still in need of help.   If I add a guest network , it shows up the same channels as my regular non-guest network in my Roku, so that doesn't help my Roku.  I can't modify my solar's Wifi, as it doesn't give the customer the ability to modify settings.  I contacted my support for solar and haven't heard back yet.

When I tried to watch a show in my theater today, the video kept buffering due to slow speeds of 4Mbps.   My Roku couldn't use the nearby Google Wifi point in the same room because it was on channel 1, which has a huge interferer from my solar (much stronger than Google Wifi), so it was forced to choose a router in a distant location, leading to slow speeds.

Rebooting the wifi point didn't help, it still keeps staying on channel 1.   I have apps on my phone that show Wifi strength on different channels.   If it would choose anything except channel 1-2, I think I'd be okay.  But as it stands now, choosing channel 1 essentially makes the point unusable.

[AbigailF]

Hello NolanA,

I'm sorry to hear that you're still having issues. Please contact your solar manufacturer and check if they have any possible troubleshooting they could do on their end. Feel free to reply to this thread and update us once you've reached out to them.

Regards,
Abi

[AbigailF]

Hi NolanA,

Checking back in should you still have some questions here. Let us know by replying to this thread. 

Best, 
Abi

[AbigailF]

Hello NolanA,

I'm just checking in to make sure that you've seen our response. Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns as I will be locking this in 24 hours.

Thanks,
Abi