Orange broadband / Netgear router

melbury

I have been trying to phone Orange broadband support all week and always get the same recorded message saying they are experiencing high volumes of calls at the moment , please call back later.

Our wifi is absolutely awful and I am wondering if it is due to the router that they supplied, quite a few years ago now. I don't connect to the internet via wifi on my PC, but my OH does try to browse Amazon for his kindle books and if he is more than about 6 feet away from the router he just can't connect. My son was home last week and had his laptop with him which he hoped to use downstairs and although he initially got online, it very quickly lost the connection.

I have heard about wifi boosters, but are these any good?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

jadziad

If it's just wifi & wired is okay, then the problem could be...

- faultly router, or faulty power supply for it
- congested airwaves with other nearby routers using the same frequencies. You may be able to change the channel used by the router.
- interference from other equiment - power supplies, microwaves, treadmills, xmas lights, wireless CCTV cameras, baby monitors, etc.

Most/all of these problems will not be resolved by a "wifi booster".

forgotmyname

Change the channel on the router and see if that helps?

What other devices do you have on the 2.4Ghz bandwidth? I notice
my download speeds plummet when the missues uses the microwave in
the kitchen.

melbury

forgotmyname wrote: »

Change the channel on the router and see if that helps?

What other devices do you have on the 2.4Ghz bandwidth? I notice
my download speeds plummet when the missues uses the microwave in
the kitchen.

Thanks for your reply, can't think of any devices in particular - just fridge and freezer that are always on.

Is it easy to change the channel on the router?

melbury

jadziad wrote: »

If it's just wifi & wired is okay, then the problem could be...

- faultly router, or faulty power supply for it
- congested airwaves with other nearby routers using the same frequencies. You may be able to change the channel used by the router.
- interference from other equiment - power supplies, microwaves, treadmills, xmas lights, wireless CCTV cameras, baby monitors, etc.

Most/all of these problems will not be resolved by a "wifi booster".

Thanks, I won't bother to buy a booster then.

AndyPK

To change the channel you type this into the web address bar.

http://192.168.1.1/

password will be admin if it hasn't been changed.

The channel will be in there, in the wireless section.

I've recently had a new router (brightbox) from EE and don't like it. It doesn't seam to completely load the webpages and is generally pants.

melbury

AndyPK wrote: »

To change the channel you type this into the web address bar.

http://192.168.1.1/

password will be admin if it hasn't been changed.

The channel will be in there, in the wireless section.

I've recently had a new router (brightbox) from EE and don't like it. It doesn't seam to completely load the webpages and is generally pants.

Thank you, I have done this and it is set on Auto, so presumably that means it goes to the strongest signal doesn't it?

I would like to speak to Orange to see if they will provide a new router, but as previously mentioned, I can't get through by phone.

AndyPK

Yes it was a bit difficult to get through. I just tried at a different time of day (and from an EE mobile phone which is free) and got though ok then.

You will get one of these: (although it takes EE some time to dispatch)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-EE-Bright-Box-Wireless-Router-/281831850840?hash=item419e7cc358:g:iHgAAOSwhcJWI5VY

Getting it from EE will mean its setup with your account info and password and work straight away.

Is this your old one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Netgear-DGN1000SP-Orange-Black-Wireless-N150-ADSL-Router-Fast-Free-Delivery-/331671691924?hash=item4d392c6294:g:PGQAAOSwKIpWD7hh

melbury

AndyPK wrote: »

Yes it was a bit difficult to get through. I just tried at a different time of day (and from an EE mobile phone which is free) and got though ok then.

You will get one of these: (although it takes EE some time to dispatch)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-EE-Bright-Box-Wireless-Router-/281831850840?hash=item419e7cc358:g:iHgAAOSwhcJWI5VY

Getting it from EE will mean its setup with your account info and password and work straight away.

Is this your old one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Netgear-DGN1000SP-Orange-Black-Wireless-N150-ADSL-Router-Fast-Free-Delivery-/331671691924?hash=item4d392c6294:g:PGQAAOSwKIpWD7hh

I get a bit confused with the EE / Orange thing. I have Orange broadband and an Orange PAYG mobile phone, so would I be able to phone EE free of charge from that phone on 150?

Yes that is exactly what my router is, the Netgear N150. Do you think if I can persuade Orange to let have the Bright Box router it would make a difference?

AndyPK

I rang them on 150 using an EE mobile phone. Took 9 minutes in all.

And then about a week before I got the router !


EE took over Orange some (years?) ago.

Yes it should work from an orange phone, but i'm only 90% sure.

You shouldn't have to persuade them. If the router is faulty, they should replace it for free. Although they like to try and fix it over the phone first !

melbury

Just to say that they have sent me a new Brightbox router, which we set up this morning.

Trouble is the wifi is just as bad downstairs, so presumably this would be a problem if we bought a smart tv.

I was also very concerned to read that Brightbox routers can be hacked, has anyone else heard this?