Vodafone Superfast 1 contract commenced today - Problems already!

brymbo76

My TalkTalk 38Mb Broadband ended last night and my Vodafone Superfast 1 contract started this morning in place of it. I connected the router up about 7:30am before I left for work.
I don't know why it is but I've always had problems with the 2.4GHz signal on any router I've had with whichever ISP I've been with. The 5GHz signal I've never had a problem with.
I was originally with BT and then went to TalkTalk and now Vodafone.
When I got home from work about 5pm to get my phone and laptop connected to my new router, I have found today that I can connect my phone to the 2.4GHz signal of my Wi-Fi router but the signal is so weak that it disappears if I go more than about 2 metres from the router. I live in a block of flats and when I look at a live list as to what other Wi-Fi signals I can receive, there's around 18 other 2.4GHz signals of varying signal strengths showing up in the live list so wondered if it's these other signals causing too much interference with the 2.4GHz signal on my router and diminishing the signal to only have a range of 2 metres or less?

I would sometimes find with both BT and TalkTalk that the 2.4GHz signal would appear to not transmit or would default to Channel 1 and my phone would be unable to connect to Wi-Fi on Channel 1, maybe the signal is too low or something. I would set it to Channel 6 or 11 and it connected to those channels fine but after several weeks of being on one of those channels, it would default back to Channel 1 and I would have to go into the router settings to manually change it back to Channel 6 or 11.

The 2.4GHz signal on BT and TalkTalk routers, despite occasionally changing frequency automatically, would always still be a strong signal.

I have already been on the phone to Vodafone today and first of all, wasn't expecting to speak to someone in a call centre in India.
Anyway the Indian woman I spoke to has carried out some tests but can't seem to find any problem with it and said I need to wait a couple more days for the line to settle down and signal to increase after switching to my new service.
I don't know if the 2.4GHz signal will eventually get stronger and how long I should wait or if I should contact someone else at Vodafone in a higher position.

If anyone can help me and advise me what I should do, I would much appreciate your assistance with my problem.

Many Thanks in advance.

Neil_Jones

As a general rule if the 2.4Ghz signal is poor now you can wait until the cows come home and it won't improve one iota.  Doesn't work like that.  The advisor is probably referring to line speed, which is relatively normal for 10 days or so to fluctuate, occasionally drop and generally adjust to the quality of the line.

https://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/2014/wifi-optimisation might be of interest.

Wireless congestion on 2.4Ghz is quite common.

brymbo76

So is it that the transmitting power of the 2.4GHz signal on my Vodafone router could be a lot less powerful than on the BT and TalkTalk routers?
Because as I said, the signal was good and quite strong on those routers.
Or would the signal be the same strength but other signals are interfering more with this for some reason?

Would a Wi-Fi signal booster resolve this problem?
Or could I request a different router from Vodafone?
Or buy a generic router that works with my Vodafone broadband?
Is it even possible to reconfigure my TalkTalk router to work with Vodafone and if so, how would I do this?

Hope again you can advise.
Thank you.

brymbo76

Also, does such a Wi-Fi booster plug exist where I can plug it it in another room away from the router and it can receive the 5GHz signal and convert the signal to a 2.4GHz signal?

flashg67

Downloading Inssider might help see if you can change the router channels and get better signal.

https://www.metageek.com/downloads/inssider-win/

brymbo76

I already had that downloaded prior to changing my ISP. And besides, there appears to be no way of changing Vodafone's router channel settings when accessing the router settings address when going to http://192.168.1.1

400ixl

Modern wifi router broadcast on both 2.4ghz and 5ghz at the same time under the same wifi SSID. you can usually go into the configuration and split them giving them separate SSID's so you can set your devices to use the 5ghz if you want to.

You can also check the router has been set up to with the radio signal strength on maximum.

brymbo76

I have split the two frequencies with different SSIDs and it hasn't made a difference.
There also doesn't appear to be anything to change the signal strength via http://192.168.1.1 on Vodafone's router settings site.

brymbo76

Well looks like the signal strength of the 2.4GHz band of my router is still !!!!!! poor tonight. I have submitted a complaint to Vodafone. I'll just have to see if and when they get back to me and what they can do to resolve the issue.
Again, if anyone can offer any help and advice, your advice will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

[Deleted User]

brymbo76 said:

I live in a block of flats and when I look at a live list as to what other Wi-Fi signals I can receive, there's around 18 other 2.4GHz signals of varying signal strengths showing up in the live list so wondered if it's these other signals causing too much interference with the 2.4GHz signal on my router and diminishing the signal to only have a range of 2 metres or less?

Yes, this is why 5Ghz is preferable, even though it doesn't transmit as far as 2.4Ghz, there is less likelihood of it interfering with neighbouring signals.

Is there any reason you are trying to connect your phone to 2.4? I'd just connect everything to 5Ghz unless it isn't compatible.

Screenshot of Inssider would be really useful if you can supply that?

glennevis

brymbo76 said:

Well looks like the signal strength of the 2.4GHz band of my router is still !!!!!! poor tonight. I have submitted a complaint to Vodafone. I'll just have to see if and when they get back to me and what they can do to resolve the issue.
Again, if anyone can offer any help and advice, your advice will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

I'm with Vodafone.
You should be able to change the 2.4GHz wifi to channel 13.
Less chance of clashing with your neighbours as most people don't know about the extra channels.