ARRIS Consumer Care

SBG6900-AC (v1.5.x): Scan Wireless AP Tool

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Information

Question

What is the Scan Wireless AP Tool used for in the SBG6900-AC?

Answer

The SBG6900-AC now includes the ability to scan for existing Wireless APs (Access Points) in aiding the installation and configuration of the SBG6900-AC in noisy WiFi areas. This tool is used to determine the wireless channels that are in use by other Wireless APs and verifies which channel to use to eliminate any wireless interference. Once it is determined which channels are in use, verify the channel with the least amount of users. Making the best channel selection for the SBG6900-AC requires a close analysis of the scan results and also determining which channel is used least for best connectivity. The scan results contain the following:

Network Name - List the SSIDs of Access Points seen by the SBG6900-AC
Security Mode - Displays the type of security and encryption in use
Mode - Current Mode (generally managed)
PHY Mode - Available 802.11 operating mode
RSSI - Receive Signal Strength Indicators in dBm, Power Level seen by the SBG6900-AC at the time of the snapshot
Strength - Wireless signal strength of nearby Access Points to the SBG6900-AC
- Green Star indicates weak signal strength
- Yellow Star indicates moderate signal strength
- Red Star indicates strong signal strength
Channel - Current WiFi transmit channel of nearby Access Points
BSSID - Basic Service Set Identifier (MAC Address of nearby Access Points)

This document describes how to use the Scan Wireless AP Tool and to change the wireless channel.

Using the Scan Wireless AP Tool

Launch a Firefox or Safari browser. Enter http://192.168.0.1 into the address box, and press the Enter key.

NOTE: A browser message on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera, may appear when accessing the Web Manager. The message includes 192.168.01 uses an unsupported protocol and ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH. The Web Manager uses an earlier version of the TLS protocol and does not match the version allowed by the web browser. Safari browsers on Apple PC and mobile devices are not impacted. The workaround to access the Web Manager with a PC is to use the Firefox browser and set the TLS version to 1. For workaround instructions refer to article # 19435 - 192.168.0.1 uses an unsupported protocol.
A security or private risk alert may appear on the web browser advising users to proceed with caution when accessing the Web Manager. There is no risk in proceeding to the Web Manager. For instructions to bypass the alert screen, refer to article # 18181 - Alert Message for Web Manager Access.
On the Login page, enter admin or a customized username in the Username field.
Enter password or a customized password in the Password field.

NOTE: On later versions of the SBG6900-AC, the Wi-Fi Security Key is used as the default admin password printed on the bottom white label. For assistance with Web Manager Access, refer to article # 18753 – SBG6900-AC: Web Manager Access.
Click the Login button. The Home page will appear.
Move the mouse cursor over the Wireless tab and select 802.11 Radio from the drop-down submenu. The Wireless - 802.11 Radio page will appear.
On the Wireless 802.11 Radio page, click the Scan Wireless APs button. A Pop-up window with a list of nearby wireless access points appears.

NOTE: Pressing the Scan Wireless APs button executes the tool and will Pop-up another window displaying the scan results. Be sure to disable the Pop-up blocker on the browser to allow the tool to work.
On the Pop-up window, determine which channel would be the best to use by verifying which channel is used the least or not used at all.

NOTE: In the example above Channel 6 is highly used, while Channel 11 is moderately used. The best Channel available to use is Channel 1 or the remaining channels not in use.
- Network Name - List the SSIDs of Access Points seen by the SBG6900-AC
- Security Mode - Displays the type of security and encryption in use
- Mode - Current Mode (generally managed)
- PHY Mode - Available 802.11 operating mode
- RSSI - Receive Signal Strength Indicators in dBm, Power Level seen by the SBG6900-AC at the time of the snapshot
- Strength - Wireless signal strength of nearby Access Points to the SBG6900-AC
  - Green Star indicates weak signal strength
  - Yellow Star indicates moderate signal strength
  - Red Star indicates strong signal strength
- Channel - Current WiFi transmit channel of nearby Access Points
- BSSID - Basic Service Set Identifier (MAC Address of nearby Access Points)
Once the channel has been determined, close the pop-up window.
On the Wireless 802.11 Radio page, Channel - Click the drop-down tab and select the desired channel.

NOTE 1: It is recommended to leave the Channel default setting at Auto and restart the SBG6900-AC. The best Wi-Fi channel will be selected upon restart. Keep in mind that the connected Wi-Fi clients temporarily lose Internet connection when the SBG6900-AC is restarting.

NOTE 2: When choosing to set the Wi-Fi channel, it is recommended to set the channel to 1, 6, or 11 for better performance and stability because they do not overlap. Other Wi-Fi channels overlap and degrade performance.
Click the Apply button.