Wireless affected when wired PC switched on

JimmyTheWig

Hi,

We have BT broadband with a HomeHub (one of the new-looking black ones rather than the old white square ones).
Works when connected via a cable and wireless.

However, we often find that the wireless connection is significantly worse (i.e. often drops) when the PC that is connected to it via a cable is on. On days when the PC is off the wireless is much better.

Obviously there is only a finite amount of "internet" coming through to the router and if the PC is using some of that the wireless will have less to go around. But this is happening just when the PC is on regardless of whether it is doing anything internet related.

When the wireless is bad it works better if we bring the wireless device closer to the router.


Is this possible, or are we just imagining it?
Anything we can do about it?
[We're moving house shortly, so don't want to invest too much money in fixing a problem that might not be a problem when we move.]


Thanks,

Jim

skiptalker

try changing the wireless channel you will have to enter the router itself look for the ip address, google it for your router will be somthing like 192.168.1.1 enter this into your browse address bar when in change channel think they are from 1 to 6

macman

There are 13 legal channels in the UK. Use InSSIDer to establish the least crowded channel.

TimothyEBaldwin

Try unplugging the desktop PC at the router to rule out network traffic, if this fixes the problem look for malware on the computers.

Try moving the nearest wi-fi device (the router?) away from the desktop.

Try switching off the monitor.

Try unplugging cables from the desktop (except the power), if that fixes it a ferrite bead attached to the cable in question will probably solve the problem.

The_Magnificent_Spoon

Is it a significant drop in your connection? Is it a noticable connection speed drop or that you randomly, completely lose the connection from your wireless devices to your router?

Just out of curiosity, does the PC have a wireless keyboard/mouse? They often operate in the 2.4ghz band and can sometimes cause interference with wireless routers.

If so, try leaving PC on but disconnecting these (remove the transmitter from the PC) and/or swapping them for standard cabled USB devices.

Also, just because nobody is actively using the PC does not mean it is not generating network/internet traffic. There could be all sorts installed on it that could be generating internet traffic, torrents, dropbox, malware, application updates etc. You may want to try physically unplugging it from the router and see if you still experience issues to rule out any of these.

forgotmyname

The wired PC doing lots of upates and checking for updates when powered up?

Downloads queued?

JimmyTheWig

Good thinking about trying it with the PC switched on but not connected in case it is interference. Will give it a go.