Losing signal from wireless/slow downloads - CCTV interference?

DevCoder

Then your router is probably broadcasting a G signal and a N signal on 2.4Ghz.

G is 54Mb/s max theoretical
N is 54 to 600Mb/s max theoretical

booter

krisdorey wrote: »

Then your router is probably broadcasting a G signal and a N signal on 2.4Ghz.

G is 54Mb/s max theoretical
N is 54 to 600Mb/s max theoretical

:rotfl:If you say so - sorry, losing it a bit here - it's been a long day!
:rotfl:

DevCoder

If you are interested then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

which explains wireless (or more accurately the 802.11 standard that most wifi uses), its a bit techie in places but you can get the gist.

booter

Thanks for the link krisdorey. I've had a look - but TBH, it's all just blah blah to me
Well, I've moved the router as much as I can (probably about 4 feet) and adjusted the aerial. It's still in the attic, but I can now just about get connection in the dining room. It's a bit patchy (hit & miss) and download speeds are still pitiful. What's interesting now is that although I've done nothing else, the channels are now 1 & 5 (yesterday they were 5 & 9). Does anyone know why? Do they change on their own if the automatic selection tab is selected? Does it change randomly to suit the volume of traffic on other channels? Does this make sense? :undecided
I'm still perplexed why suddenly I go from great signal, great speeds, great connection, to zero overnight.

GunJack

yes, they will change if auto is selected - you need to untick that box and manually select your optimal channel

booter

Quick update - after a very trying few days of hit & miss connectivity, I spent another hour on the phone on Saturday to Virgin. After a number of attempts to connect, I was finally told that it looks like it's a problem with the router, so they're sending me another. So no need to spend on a wireless booster then :cool:. I'll let you know how I get on!

booter

Ok, so the new router is up & running - but the problem is still there I can go from having "excellent" signal to "fair" to "no connections available" then back to "good" all within the space of a minute or two! I haven't a clue what's going on!

GunJack

it's still the wifi, the issue hasn't changed.....and if the location of the router is still the loft, then you need a cheapie wifi access point to give your networked range a boost, probably on the first floor somewhere

kwikbreaks

krisdorey wrote: »

If you have a dual band (ie 2.4 and 5ghz) router then it will broadcast on two channels.

The two channels reported will both be in the 2.4GHz range. It is using 2 channels because it has been set to 300Mbps N standard. This can give higher top speeds by bonding two channels but is more susceptible to interference from other APs.

IMO it's worth setting the wifi to 150Mbps maximum which will only use a single channel. Despite the channels in the 2.4GHz band being labelled 1-13 there are in fact only 3 true channels 1, 6, and 11 - for instance channel 3 overlaps both 1 and 6 to some extent. It may be no better of course.

booter

kwikbreaks wrote: »

The two channels reported will both be in the 2.4GHz range. It is using 2 channels because it has been set to 300Mbps N standard. This can give higher top speeds by bonding two channels but is more susceptible to interference from other APs.

You lost me with the 2nd sentence I'm afraid but I didn't know that it's more susceptible to interference - thanks!

kwikbreaks wrote: »

IMO it's worth setting the wifi to 150Mbps maximum which will only use a single channel.

How would I do this? (Is it as easy to do as changing channels?)

kwikbreaks wrote: »

It may be no better of course.

No, I appreciate that, but I'll give anything a go!

GunJack wrote: »

it's still the wifi, the issue hasn't changed.....and if the location of the router is still the loft, then you need a cheapie wifi access point to give your networked range a boost, probably on the first floor somewhere

Yep, it's still the wifi - wishful thinking I suppose that the router had fried - simple solution . Ok, so if I need a "cheapie wifi access point" what exactly would I be looking for (make/model/price?)

Thanks again for your advice (and patience!!):D