Internet drops 20 times an hour

M25

Is this FTTP, FTTC or VDSL? What are your speeds? What speeds were you promised when you moved to Vodafone? Have the speeds altered since you've had the service?

Why can't you move the router into a better place in the house whilst testing? You must stop using that booster for the moment and only use the router because you need a clean route to test for a problem. Even for 1 full day. Does the signal drop with ethernet to the TV or some other device?

If it really is dropping 20 times [using the router only via ethernet or wi-fi] then either the router is broke (which Vodafone would see) or there's a serious line fault (which Openreach would see or at least test for).

Have Vodafone offered a new router? Would you be able to buy a router to test if not?

Do you have a good 5G signal? You could consider a 5G router which would be an excellent backup in future if you get Vodafone sorted.

It sounds like you're going around in circles so you need to do a bit more self-testing without the so-called 'booster'. When testing also make sure there's only 1 or 2 devices connected (how many devices in total do you have connected in a day?).

Start with putting the router temporarily in the very best place possible (for the wi-fi testing) anything else is pointless. 

If you have ethernet connected to the router you'll get quicker and accurate answers you can report to Vodafone.

If you do not get the help from Vodafone make another complaint to them.

Finally, if you have a really poor signal speed on wi-fi and there's 10 devices (mobiles, smart plugs, TV etc) trying to use it then you'll get virtually no signal on those devices (it could present as lost signal (ie drop out)).

I have 15 smart items dotted around the house (all using a 5G router over wi-fi) and if there's every a big drop in signal quality they can all go haywire and lose the connection. The connection is still there but obviously just not good enough = seemingly loss of connection.

M25

Also: try and connect 2 separate things at the same time with ethernet (ie with 2 separate cables you know for a fact are 'patch' cables).

Alex9384

400ixl said:

Vodafone as an ISP are pretty much bottom dwellers so I wouldn't out much hope for decent tech support from them.

Which providers do you consider best? Especially in terms of connection stability.

I don't mind if speeds are not super fast as long as it can play a HD youtube video without interruption, but I don't want the internet dropping just when I'm buying/selling stock, or making a card payment, etc.

cjdew

Switched providers, no problems experienced. About £1 a month more, far better service. All technical seem to be in Hull or Scotland.

No idea what happened before, but new provider, new equipment including 1 booster/extender and it's not dropped, and also reaches all around house.

Fingers crossed it continues. 

QrizB

cjdew said:

Switched providers, no problems experienced. About £1 a month more, far better service. All technical seem to be in Hull or Scotland.
No idea what happened before, but new provider, new equipment including 1 booster/extender and it's not dropped, and also reaches all around house.
Fingers crossed it continues. 

Glad you got everything working, albeit with a new supplier.

I suspect it was a fault in Vodafone's router, and that it's the replacement router from your new supplier that fixed it. But I doubt you'll ever know for certain.