UPDATED: Does This Sound Like I Need A New Router Please?

catz747 · 17 February 2010 at 9:30AM

Update on post #21

Hi hope someone can help me please

The problem is our internet has been running so slowly lately, (not download speeds but browsing) & so we've been on with the technical help to find out why & they changed our port at their end, & we changed the adsl filter at our end (because it seemed to work really fast when we were on the phone) - but they made no difference.

Sometimes it's really fast but mostly slow & barely useable but we don't know what makes the difference. The main sites I use are this one and facebook & general browsing - google, bbc etc. Also the apps on facebook but I can't use some of those now so I don't bother.

We also changed channel on the router & also they did a line test which was fine but said our upstream was a little slow but this doesn't affect browsing or something.

Basically it's like something unknown is interferring with our connection which makes the whole computer slow & locked up but there's no evidence except this upstream thing & my word that it's all slow & sometimes fast especially when on the phone.

Anyway, they said next to try an ethernet cable (need to get one) in case something interferes within the house between the laptop & router???, to change the channel again and to try another router.

Does it sound like a need a new router please or can anyone think of something else first?

busenbust · 17 February 2010 at 9:47AM

Anyway, they said next to try an ethernet cable (need to get one) in case something interferes within the house between the laptop & router???, to change the channel again and to try another router.

Indeed, like I always say here, forget, for a second, about strictly any wireless issues; how does the router cope with a fixed wired Ethernet connection...same issues, better, worse, only marginally better...;)

catz747 · 17 February 2010 at 9:56AM

Thanks I'll get onto it, sorry to sound a bit thick but if it works better with the cable - what does that mean that I need? & if it doesn't?

2196899 · 17 February 2010 at 10:00AM

You must have used an ethernet cable to correctly set up the laptop and router initially.
I would suggest trying 2 things to start with If possible, borrow a laptop and check how the router performs with it.This will help to eliminate your laptop. With the ethernet cable connected to the router access the router settings and make sure the encryption is in place in case someone else is using your wifi. Your instructions with the router should show you how to do this by entering an address in your browser. If you have lost the instructions a quick search on google will give you the information.

busenbust · 17 February 2010 at 10:03AM

catz747 wrote: »

Thanks I'll get onto it, sorry to sound a bit thick but if it works better with the cable - what does that mean that I need? & if it doesn't?

Cat, can I merely suggest the following: let's see what happens first with the fixed wired connection (get back to us asap). If you experience no problems with that then this is clearly a wireless specific issue and we can concentrate on fighting that. For example, the wireless client software versus Windows wireless zero configuration. Don't expend your energy on this thread as yet, I am merely offering it as a way forward (as it has solved previous similar problems).

I am slightly confused by this:

Basically it's like something unknown is interferring with our connection which makes the whole computer slow & locked up but there's no evidence except this upstream thing & my word that it's all slow & sometimes fast especially when on the phone.

^^
Edit: understand now

fiddiwebb · 17 February 2010 at 10:04AM

Hi Catz

You say your download speeds are okay but your browsing is slow?

What router are you using (make & model)?

Have you scanned your computer for malware/viruses?

catz747 · 17 February 2010 at 10:07AM

Thanks, it's not the laptop as it's affecting both laptops & xbox, also I'm sure no-one else is using our wifi as you can only connect if the mac address is allowed & if anyone tries to connect, it would show their mac address in the router settings. - We know this because we've come accross it when we've got something new & tried connecting without allowing the mac address.

We're using a Netgear DG834GSP & the computer has had so many scans & clean ups that it's really fast - definitely no viruses etc.

busenbust - when the internet goes slow, everything internet is slow to load, right click menus barely work & then sometimes all of a sudden it might go fast as if something has freed up, or the other way around it is fast & then goes slow as if something has locked up..

OH is picking up an ethernet cable later today so shall try that & let you know.

Thanks for your help so far

busenbust · 17 February 2010 at 10:14AM

Thanks, it's not the laptop as it's affecting both laptops & xbox

Excellent; now we are beginning to rule out particular issues: the fact that it affects all devices and not just one. Excellent; next stop the fixed Ethernet connection.

Just edited my previous post too

fiddiwebb · 17 February 2010 at 10:38AM

I would check what your line stats are in your router first........

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php#27

And then run bts speedtester to find out what your IP profile has been set at....

http://speedtester.bt.com/

You will need to go into your router and find your broadband user name to use speedtester.

kwikbreaks · 17 February 2010 at 11:07AM

Checking the sync rate and IP profile is certainly a very good starting point.

Then checking how it performs via ethernet.

If all that turns out good and you want to see what other WiFi signals are around so that you can pick the best channel then I recommend InSSIDer - free download from metageek.net http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

It is very unlikely that buying a differnent router will have any significant impact (unless you swap all your kit over to 802.11n and even then there is no guarantee)

catz747 · 17 February 2010 at 3:13PM

Hi I'm connected now with an ethernet cable. For maybe a minute after connecting it was really fast but just the same as before now

I changed the channel again too - made no difference.

UPDATED: Does This Sound Like I Need A New Router Please?

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