Any WIFI experts out there?

[Vicky the Viking]

A bit long-winded & complicated I'm afraid...

I have an intermittent problem connecting via WIFI - sometimes it just won't - and also another problem with the speed of the connection. I think the two are related. Can't establish a definite cause for this, so can't resolve it.

I have the wireless connection set up for both my lappy & a netbook, and both **can** connect OK, so its not a problem with the setup. I can usually connect very easily during the evening & early morning, but during the day its a lot more hit-and-miss. Sometimes won't connect at all (diagnostic message - Windows did not receive a response from the router) or drops the line a lot. Sometimes it connects & the speed is just abysmal (typically about 350kps). This has been an ongoing problem for a couple of months now, and I have just had a new router which hasn't made any difference.

I don't think its an ISP problem...
When I can't connect wirelessly I have resorted to using an ethernet connection, and this gets me onto t'internet with no problem. It is also giving me a much faster connection when the wireless speed is abysmal - typically about 10 times faster (usually around 3.5Mps). Strangely, I can often get this faster speed via wireless too, so its not as though its the positioning of my lappy that's the problem. (Almost always on my desk, which is about 20ft away from the router, through 1 stud partition wall and 2 doors that are usually open) In this position, both the the lappy & netbook show the signal strength from the router as Excellent.

I've tried all the usual things like trying to establish if anything is interfering with the wireless signal, and I've draw a blank. Not the digital phone, mobil phone, fridge, radios, doorbell, kettle, CH boiler....

Its a standard phone connection, not fibre optic/cable or anything.

As it only seems to be a problem during the day, could it possibly be LIGHT interfering with the router? Its in a fairly light spot by the front door, but never in direct sunlight.

Any other ideas?

[dave pusey]

It's certainly not light related.

It sounds to me like you're getting a poor signal strength during the day, but it's fine during the evening and night. Speed decreases as the signal gets worse, because it takes more attempts to get the data sent/received.

1. What signal strength does it say when you get a poor connection?

2. Are there any metalic objects between router and laptop?

3. It could also be something a neighbour has that is causing interference. It's also possible he has wifi and if you are both running on channel numbers very close to each other they will interfere with each other.

[Vicky the Viking]

It's certainly not light related.

It sounds to me like you're getting a poor signal strength during the day, but it's fine during the evening and night. Speed decreases as the signal gets worse, because it takes more attempts to get the data sent/received.

1. What signal strength does it say when you get a poor connection?

2. Are there any metalic objects between router and laptop?

<snip>

signal strength is always v good or excellent when I'm connected, and also when I CAN'T connect. However, there are also times when it can't detect a signal at all, and I haven't managed to find out why. Sometimes only for 5 mins, sometimes for over half an hour (by which time I've usually given up trying)

The fridge & microwave are very close to, but not immediately between, the direct path between router & lappy. In any case, they don't move about, so can't be causing an intermittent fault. Using the microwave during the evening isn't causing the line to drop.

<snip>
3. It could also be something a neighbour has that is causing interference. It's also possible he has wifi and if you are both running on channel numbers very close to each other they will interfere with each other.

I did wonder about this... my router is approx in the middle of a direct line between his router & my lappy. However
1. he is out all day
2. I can "see" his connection, and he switches it off during the day. (In fact doesn't use it much at all)
he's on a different ISP - I'm the only one in the immediate area on Plusnet.

Could it be his burglar alarm or something else like that?

[kenw55]

Vicky

I think you possibly hit the nail on the head. You said your neighbor was out all day , do you have the connection problems when they are home and switched on ?

If so it could be what Dave Pussey said , there is a clash of channels between you and your neighbor.

There are 13 channels and you ideally need a gap of 3 to stop interference.

You have to log into your router and look at Wlan settings to see which one you are on and try changing to another channel.

Ken

[Vicky the Viking]

I have no problems connecting when my neighbours are in of an evening, but they are not usually connected either. Can't say it gets worse when he does, because its very rare I can "see" his router switched on. His signal to my lappy is very weak.
My neighbour the other side is also wireless, and usually in all day. He does leave his router on a lot more, but has been away for 2 weeks & nothing has changed re my connection difficulties, so I've ruled him out.

I am wondering whether to investigate the channel thingy & change it anyway.

[kenw55]

Make a note of the channel you are on now and try 1 , 3, 6, 9 , 11 .

It might be the answer to your problem.

Wireless is becoming more of a problem , I can some time see 7 other wireless signals .

Ken

[Guy]

You seem to have ruled out the common causes.

Do you have problems when your laptop and router are in the same room?


It is very difficult to help in this type of situation and is not made any easier by not knowing your location.


Is the router on the floor or higher up? If on the floor try raising to a higher level.

It seems your problems are mainly in the daytime. This possibly rules out fluorescent lights but not interference from your fridge.

Rare causes-
Are you located near any industrial premises? If they are taking high quantities of power from the grid you could have interference from the mains in the road.
Similar and often more common are interference problems caused by someone on the same electrical phase as your house.
The mains is split into three phases with each the houses taking one phase each until the fourth house which is on the same phase as the first etc.
Cheers
Guy

[Vicky the Viking]

Guy, I've tried having the laptop right next to the router & it still won't connect.

What's bugging me about all this is that the connection was fine when it was first set up last year, these problems have been happening for about 3/4 months now, and I'm really struggling to find out what's changed. The router is (and always has been) on top of a bookcase.

I ruled out the fridge because the connection is fine at night, and the fridge is still on...

I'm not near any industrial area, just residential, though there is a primary school about 300 yards away. I do have problems at weekends too, so I don't think its anything to do with the school.
I don't know anything about electricity phasing. I live in a small close with 10 houses, 3 on each side and 4 including mine at the head of the close. So its not obvious who I'd be in phase with. When Plusnet were monitoring the line, we noticed a few temporary disconnections occurring just after 1pm which I thought was suspicious, but they didn't happen every day (and no, it didn't coincide with anything I was doing). I'm wondering now if I need to check what time my neighbours 3 doors away have lunch!
Plusnet didn't seem to think the disconnections were related to the electricity supply.

I can see up to 5 other WIFI networks at times, none are very strong, and they are not all in my road, one or two are in the houses whose gardens back onto mine. I don't think the signals are strong enough to interfere with mine.


Plusnet got back to me earlier this afternoon & also suggested changing the channel, so I've done that & will monitor it for a couple of days to see if it makes a difference.

[Guy]

I thought you had tried changing channels as Dave suggested.

If it happens with the laptop in the same room as the router the most obvious answer is a failing router, or problems on the laptop side (but as it affects the netbook as well most likely the router).

P,S don't forget a fridge may be on but the compressor may not be running, it is only when the compressor is drawing current the interference occurs.
Cheers
Guy

[Vicky the Viking]

Guy, its too soon to tell yet whether changing the channel helps or not, but I'd still like to get to the root cause both for interest & also future avoidance.

Plusnet gave me a new router a month ago, so I'm thinking its not that (what's the chances of 2 faulty ones?)
In any case, the timing of the connection issues suggests an external cause. Just wish I could work out what it was.