Everyone has at some point had issues with their WiFi connection. It’s not surprising, as the 2.4GHz WiFi network was never designed to be used by so many people in close proximity. There are only 13 channels (comparable to radio frequencies for radio stations) and to make things worse, a router that works on channel 10, also interferes with nearby channels 8, 9, 11 and 12. So if you live in an area where you can see multiple WiFi SSID’s, it’s likely that they will interfere. WiFi Help tries to help you choose the best channel for your Router, and shows how many other WiFi networks are around you, and how they overlap with yours. This allows you to choose a different channel, or help you determine if you perhaps need to switch to 5GHz. If possible, a 5GHz channel is always preferable, as these channels do not overlap, and they are newer, so older routers do not use them. The only disadvantage is that 5GHz has a smaller range, so if the signal has to go through concrete floors or walls, it is likely that you will need to use 2.4GHz or even upgrade your router hardware.
After WiFi Help was developed back in 2016, we tried to get it on the Mac App Store, but Apple kept rejecting the App, as it uses what Apple calls a “undocumented API”. After re-submitting the App several times over the last years, today, Apple finally approved it.
Apart from an advice on which channel to use, WiFi Help also has a button that takes you to your router login page (useful if you have no idea what the address of your router is) and a button to what we think is the best Speed Test site. Although WiFi Help cannot perform miracles, it can help you get some insight on what’s going on and how you can get the most out of your network.