Losing signal from wireless/slow downloads - CCTV interference?

booter

Hi Techie bods! Total technophobe here but I have a problem with connectivity, and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions.

I have a D Link wireless router in an upstairs room. Until last week, the signal strength on my laptop (downstairs) was excellent, great download speeds and no problems. Then the local authority installed a CCTV camera in the street. Now, I have "dead" zones downstairs - areas where I cannot connect at all. In some areas downstairs it will connect, but downloads etc are so slow! Neighbours also say they've slowed down somewhat. So, I've spoken to Virgin. Their answer - "well, it's wireless, so you can get problems - we don't know why it happens, but it's unlikely to be the CCTV so you need to buy a booster". Anyone got any ideas, before I fork out for a booster that may or may not work? Any recommendations for an inexpensive booster? Do local authority CCTV cameras interfere with routers? Anyone got a new brain?

closed

unless the cctv is using 2.4Ghz wireless (unlikely), then it's probably unconnected. Run inssider to see what channels other routers are using. Microwaves and video senders can cause interference.

Notmyrealname

Even if it is the CCTV there is nothing you can do as wifi is what is called a "Secondary User" on the 13cm band which means you must accept interference from Industrial, scientific and medical users - the CCTV being classed as industrial.

booter

closed wrote: »

unless the cctv is using 2.4Ghz wireless (unlikely), then it's probably unconnected. Run inssider to see what channels other routers are using. Microwaves and video senders can cause interference.

I've run inssider, and as a result of this, changed channel. Microwaves and video senders from what? I'm assuming you don't mean domestic?

closed

yes domestic

wireless channels overlap slightly, (as demonstrated by inssider) which is why they default to 1,6 and 11, so bear that in mind when choosing a different channel

booter

Well, I have no interference from the microwave or video sender (not even too sure what a video sender is, but I'm sure I'd know if I'd got one:)). What exactly should I bear in mind when when choosing a different channel? If the channel I'm on has good speeds etc, and is different from others in the locality, then it's all good, yes?? (Told you I was a technophobe )

closed

Interference can come from other houses too. A video sender (or wireless domestic cctv sender) is something that transmits video from one room to another, many use the same frequency as a wireless router.

Choose a channel as far away from others as you can, the best one will depend on what else is out there, and how strong the signal is inside your house.

Has you router got an aerial?

Experimenting with inssider in the rooms with the dead spot and adjusting the router position/aerial/channel should give you a clue as to the cause.

DevCoder

Also be aware of new copper cabling which can create faraday cage style issues, have had that on a few installs where cabling runs over the door frame (to the consumer unit, so a lot of cables) in the void and this meant a wireless signal was perfect one side of the door and non-existant the other.

booter

But wouldn't interference from equipment from other houses only arise if there were other houses close and they'd had new equipment (since there wasn't a problem before)? I've only got 1 close neighbour who's in their 80's and I know she's had nothing new!

Looking at inssider, there are 4 routers locally (dunno where!) 1 on channel 1, 2 on channel 11, and mine appears to be on channels 5 & 9. I'm not sure why it's on 2 channels, but it was on 11 & 7 before (both times have been automatically chosen). Looking at the inssider time graph, mine appears to have a steady consistent amplitude, and the others are "sketchy"(?)

The router does have an aerial, so I'll try adjustments (cheap workout up & down the stairs, then!)

Thanks for your patience, closed - I really have no idea what I'm talking about here, you know!

Thanks for your input too krisdorey - but sorry, no new copper cabling!

DevCoder

If you have a dual band (ie 2.4 and 5ghz) router then it will broadcast on two channels. If this is the case (I dont know your router model number, just its a dlink) then the 5ghz channel has extremely limited range through walls etc (although better throughput).

Other routers use one channel for the Wireless G and one for Wireless N networks so would also show up as two channels.

booter

Ok, so whilst I don't know what it means, I'm learning! No, I don't think it's a dual band - when I look at the 5ghz tab on inssider, the router doesn't appear - only on 2.4ghz