TalkTalk Router Issues

gravitytolls

Hi guys,

We've been with TalkTalk since August, and despite the range not being as good as BT's, the connection has been relatively stable. However, in the last 48 hours, it constantly drops, connectivity is low, and only works if you're within a few feet of the router.

I'm presuming this is a router issue, as the teens have laptops and phones, and they are all experiencing the same issues.

Can I test the router, should I be doing something, or should I just contact TalkTalk?

Thanks

Figment

At a guess, one of your neighbours has a new router using the same channel as yours. This you can check using inSSIDer and if this is the cause, log into your router's admin pages and select a different channel.

gravitytolls

Thanks figment. I may need a little advice on how to use it, but I'm having a go now.

gravitytolls

As I thought, I don't understand it. Can you talk me through it please, sorry to be such a dimbo.

System

If you contact talktalk via their forums, an administrator will help you, but be sure to follow any replies via a continuation thread, rather than start a new one.

Figment

gravitytolls wrote: »

As I thought, I don't understand it. Can you talk me through it please, sorry to be such a dimbo.

I'll have to let one of the other's talk you through it, as I don't have a Windows machine with wifi available right now and I'd prefer to try an operation for myself before suggesting it to you.

Simplistik

This is a very basic quick '101 guide' to assist, then Figment can interpret your results..

First of all open the program called inSSIDer
at the top, click on 'View' -> Full Screen
The top half of the screen lists horizontally all the local WiFi networks it finds when it scans.
The bottom half , Click on the 2.4 GHz Channels Tab

The little button right in the centre is a drag UP or down to increase or decrease the size of the bottom window.
Now assuming you have clicked on the 2.4 GHz Channels Tab, then what you will be seeing is graphical representations of yours and other very local WiFi

They will look like rectangular boxes
The pulsing up and down is indicating their relative signal strengths
The higher they go, the stronger the signal
If you look at the centre of the boxes, then directly below will indicate the Channel number.
As you walk around your house, running this program, you can see the relative signal levels as you go from room to room and get closer to your own router.

It will be obvious from that which one is yours.
When you see the name of yours above the box, you can then look for your name in the top menu (under SSID heading) and read horizontally, all the relevant information,
particularly the Channel number and Privacy (type of encryption)

One thing to look for in the bottom menu is to see if there is another wifi superimposed over yours, meaning it is on the same channel.
If there is how do the signal levels compare?
If the other is very low, then shouldn't be a problem.
Have a walk around the house to see what your neighbours are on, hopefully they are on a different channel..

gravitytolls

Thanks Simplistik, will have a bash tomorrow, and that will hopefully sort it out.

Thanks to all, will update on the morrow.

patman99

Depending on the age of your router, it may be wireless 'N' in which case you need to also look at the 5 Ghz tab as these routers use both frequency ranges to boost speed and range.

gravitytolls

There is no other wifi signal anywhere near ours, so presumably it isn't a channel problem.

Do I need a new router d'you think? Does it have to be aTlkTalk router, or should I get a stronger one?

Sorry if the question's stupid, I'm a total novice.

Figment

It could well be the router.

Next logical step is to contact Talk Talk support, tell them the router keeps losing connections. They will probably go through some troubleshooting steps with you, and on the assumption it does not improve they should send you a replacement.