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Home wifi problems....

abillybob

By abillybob
in Wireless Networks

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abillybob

abillybob

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hey Guys

 

So I have an Asus DSL-N55U router and it's been working fine for years but suddenly the last 2 weeks it's been running like a dog. I have it setup so we have two separate SSID's, one for 2.4Ghz network and another for the 5.0Ghz network. We have a 3 story house so we use the 2.4Ghz connection a lot downstairs (The router has to be located on the top floor) because the 5.0Ghz just won't reach that far although most of the devices we try to keep on the 5.0Ghz network it's just not plausible to do it on a mobile device such as a mobile phone because as soon as you go downstairs you'll lose signal.

 

This setup has worked fine for years but suddenly the 2.4Ghz network is playing up, my MacBook just refuses to connect although it will connect to the 5.0Ghz fine. Phone's will connect to the 2.4Ghz network but when you're downstairs it goes incredibly slow taking 2 minutes to load a webpage and sometimes won't connect to the internet at all it will also drop connection at random intervals.

 

We haven't moved the router or changed anything so I don't understand why it's suddenly being such a pain. When your close to the router the 2.4Ghz seems to work fine. I though there might be some kind of interference from the neighbours so I've tried changing the channel to a less congested channel but it hasn't made any difference and I've tried to put it on 20Mhz and 40 Mhz with no difference to the experience either.

 

If anyone could help or point me in the right direction so that I can start diagnosing the issue I'd really appreciate it!

 

Thanks guys!!!

 

Edit: I should also mention that our phones and devices show the network signal strength as being "Good" with 3 bars out of 4!

Edited by abillybob
gsk

gsk

Posted
Posted
The built in diagnostics on the MacBook are decent too and it's likely that the interference from neighbors is exaggerated by the better antennae of the MacBook vs the phones.
mikeprice

mikeprice

Posted
Posted

Agreed 0 try to make sure that only channels 1 6 and 11 are in use - i.e. plenty of gap from your to any others

 

if there are no others you can go to channel 13 - which is normally free as US spec laptops can't use it (although these shouldn't be sold in the uK)

Guest WMITTech

Guest WMITTech

Posted
Posted
Hi I have the same router and I am also experiencing the same problems! Does the Internet go slow or disconnect from the Internet at random times ?
abillybob

abillybob

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Hi I have the same router and I am also experiencing the same problems! Does the Internet go slow or disconnect from the Internet at random times ?

 

The router doesn't disconnect from the Internet because if your connected to the 5ghz or via ethernet it's stable and perfectly fine. To be fair it's perfectly fine until you go downstairs on the 2.4Ghz which makes me think it's more a problem of interference.

 

Are you able to try a different router or an access point and piggy back the AP off it?

 

I could try and find a spare router although I'm not sure if I still have my older one. What would this mean if hooking up the other one works fine?

timbo343

timbo343

Posted
Posted (edited)

Ive just had a thought, have you tried connecting to the router via ethernet? Its not been mentioned. I realise you have wifi problems but first rule out the router first.

 

Edit.

Ignore what i've just put... what db level are you getting downstairs? Don't allow it to be lower than -70db, the higher the better so -40db is better.

 

Is the main phone point on the top floor? Seems unusual place to have the main socket. Its a pity you cant place it on the 1st floor so the signal is evenly spread and then use homeplug adapters for wired connections.

Edited by timbo343
abillybob

abillybob

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Ive just had a thought, have you tried connecting to the router via ethernet? Its not been mentioned. I realise you have wifi problems but first rule out the router first.

 

Edit.

Ignore what i've just put... what db level are you getting downstairs? Don't allow it to be lower than -70db, the higher the better so -40db is better.

 

Is the main phone point on the top floor? Seems unusual place to have the main socket. Its a pity you cant place it on the 1st floor so the signal is evenly spread and then use homeplug adapters for wired connections.

 

My Mac says around -62db is that too low?

 

There's two phone sockets but we decided to put it on the top floor as that's where most of our devices are and where our server needs to sit (yes I have a server at home because I'm sad 😄) the other phone socket is downstairs although if we put it down here the top level of our house wouldn't get any signal I'm presuming anyway.

 

I have tried the other router attached as a bridge and it's also having problems so I suppose that rules out issues with the Asus?

 

Does anyone have a link to the wifi analyser app? :)

 

Thanks for all your help by the way peeps!!!

timbo343

timbo343

Posted
Posted (edited)

Im keen to know what the problem is on this one so, what equipment have you got in your home which could be affecting

the 2.4ghz frequency... https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201542

 

-62db is fine, anything less than -70db (remember we are in neg values) do -74db, -80db is classed as too low.

 

If i were having these problems, i would do one of 2 things..

Go round ALL electrical sockets and turn them off barring the router's electrical socket. This way you are turning everything electrical off and see if the problem still occurs. If it doesn't, you know there's an electrical device interfering.

Or...

I would place the router downstairs for now and see if the 2.4ghz network works downstairs. All you need to do is to -t on a ping session and see if it drops out. Work your way up the floors and see what happens.

Then stick the router on the 1st floor, do the same.

 

Its interesting another router is giving the same result.

 

I have 2 routers at my house, one sits behind the shoe rack and is connected to the main BT socket. Cat6 is channeled in the wall which goes to our 3rd bedroom where the airing cuoboard is to a patch panel and switch. Theres another router (acting as an AP) which wireless devices connect to. Both of these are on the 2.4ghz frequency and different channels. Yes we have other networks around us on the same channel but they are far enough away without causing and problems.

Edited by timbo343
kearton

kearton

Posted
Posted
Thanks guys I've moved our wifi to channel 13 but it hasn't helped!? 😞 All the other channels are either 1, 6 and 11! Anything else I could try?

 

13 is no good if there are other strong signals nearby using 11... Parts of their range of frequencies overlap! Use WiFi Analyzer (or similar app) and find which of the three is clear or has weak competition. e.g Two of my neighbours are using 1 and three are using 6, but 11 is clear so I use that. Refer attached.

If there is too much strong interference, you might need to talk to your neighbours and see if any of them can swap channel? (The app can help identify which neighbour has which ssid too)

1454829573134.jpg

abillybob

abillybob

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Android or iOS?

If the former, this is the one I use...

 

Thank you have downloaded it. Had a play and it looks good.

 

Im keen to know what the problem is on this one so, what equipment have you got in your home which could be affecting

the 2.4ghz frequency... https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201542

 

-62db is fine, anything less than -70db (remember we are in neg values) do -74db, -80db is classed as too low.

 

If i were having these problems, i would do one of 2 things..

Go round ALL electrical sockets and turn them off barring the router's electrical socket. This way you are turning everything electrical off and see if the problem still occurs. If it doesn't, you know there's an electrical device interfering.

Or...

I would place the router downstairs for now and see if the 2.4ghz network works downstairs. All you need to do is to -t on a ping session and see if it drops out. Work your way up the floors and see what happens.

Then stick the router on the 1st floor, do the same.

 

Its interesting another router is giving the same result.

 

I have 2 routers at my house, one sits behind the shoe rack and is connected to the main BT socket. Cat6 is channeled in the wall which goes to our 3rd bedroom where the airing cuoboard is to a patch panel and switch. Theres another router (acting as an AP) which wireless devices connect to. Both of these are on the 2.4ghz frequency and different channels. Yes we have other networks around us on the same channel but they are far enough away without causing and problems.

 

Hmmm according to the Apple Support page you showed me we do have quite a few things on that list that I suppose could interfere. I will give everything you mentioned a go tonight, unfortunately I'm not home today as I'm with the girlfriend at her house today! I'll keep the thread updated though if anything fixes it! :)

 

I was thinking about buying a second router and using a homeplug to link to my current router downstairs in bridge mode to see if that would help things do you reckon it would? I live on a very congested estate and we have around 12 wireless networks around us that I can see on my Mac.

 

13 is no good if there are other strong signals nearby using 11... Parts of their range of frequencies overlap! Use WiFi Analyzer (or similar app) and find which of the three is clear or has weak competition. e.g Two of my neighbours are using 1 and three are using 6, but 11 is clear so I use that. Refer attached.

If there is too much strong interference, you might need to talk to your neighbours and see if any of them can swap channel? (The app can help identify which neighbour has which ssid too)

 

The app you recommended seems to show a graph where it will sort the best channels to be on via a star rating. I may use this to see what channel I should set my router too, my router also asks about an 'Extension Channel' and when I set the Main Channel to say 3 the extension channel shows "Above" not sure what on earth this means!

 

Cheers peeps :)

timbo343

timbo343

Posted
Posted

Maybe if you set it to 3 and select above, it wil use 4 and 5??

 

As for a second router, all you need to do is set it in LAN or AP mode, give it an IP address and the gateway is the main router, thats how ive got my setup :).

abillybob

abillybob

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks :). Will have a think.

 

Quick question here's my girlfriends wifi where I'm sitting and it's around 70db but hers is very fast with no problems?

 

Would this be because there's not many wifi connections around her compared to mine?

1454848134986.jpg

kearton

kearton

Posted
Posted
Quick question here's my girlfriends wifi where I'm sitting and it's around 70db but hers is very fast with no problems?

Neg 70 isn't brilliant... How far away is the AP and/or what sort of obstructions are between you and it? (Walls, floors?)

abillybob

abillybob

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Just to keep the thread updated I have now bought one of these ASUS RT-AC51U Wireless Cable & Fibre Router Deals | PC World I'm going to put it in Bridge mode and make it an AP downstairs using a homeplug to connect the two routers together.

 

I have also since changed the 2.4Ghz back to channel 13 with use of that app. It's pretty congested in regards to wireless around here but the app shows that 11-13 where the best channels to have it on so we will have to see how it performs tomorrow.

 

Here's my graph if you'd like to have a ponder mine is bill network. It's pretty weak downstairs anyway so I think the additional AP will help when I'm upstairs I get close to 30db :)

 

Screenshot_2016-02-07-23-32-52.jpg

 

My router won't allow me to choose a channel 14 it only goes to 13!!

Edited by abillybob

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