topic Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem in Full Fibre

Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 12:56:13 GMT

Had Fibre 150 installed a couple of hours ago. Mostly everything is ok. But I have found one big problem. I don't know how to change Wifi Channels 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz.

Is this possible on an Erro 6?

But another big problem is not being able to choose between 2.4 ghz and 5ghz, for different devices. I can see from the app that my son's PS5 is really struggling upstairs stuck on 5 ghz.

I have ordered another Erro 6 from Amazon, to see if this helps. It will go in his bedroom.

But to be fair...

Using Wifi Analyzer, I can already see that my old Netgear D6400 had way better Wifi than the Erro 6.

I do think it is sad that we can't use our own routers if we have VOIP.

Please can someone help me with the Wifi Channel problem?

Thanks In Advance!

Nita

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:07:36 GMT

Update!

So, I can see my sons PS5 has changed it's mind and connected to 2.4 ghz.

But I would still like some help...

1) Finding out if I can change Wifi Channels. ( Example... 1, 6, 11 for 2.4 ghz & 36, 40, 44, 48 for 5 ghz )

I would like my 5 Ghz to be on channel 44

2) Finding out if it is possible for devices to pick between 2.4 ghz or 5 ghz.

There is nothing worse than a device deciding to connect to the wrong ghz channel. My son is not going to be happy if he constantly has to wait for his PS5 to decide it's better off on 2.4 ghz.

Thanks Again!

Nita

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 13:17:05 GMT

Hi Nita,

The Eeros do not allow the user to change the channels at all, a lot of people feel the same as you, but TalkTalk are in the hands of Amazon.

Choosing the band to connect to, is perhaps a bit complex. The device, if dual-band, will look at each Wi-Fi band & examine the signal quality on each. Signal quality is not quite the same as Signal strength. Signal Quality takes into account a combination of the WiFi interference & signal strength. The older 2.4GHz band has the largest range, but suffers a lot from Wi-Fi interference, the 5GHz band has a shorter range, manages interference better and supports faster speeds. Then once connected there is a feature of nearly all dual-band routers called "Band steering". This aims to move all devices over to the 5GHz band that supports it. This in doing so, tries to get the fastest speed for each device.

Your best bet is to look at the location of the Eero that you have now, plus the location of this other one you have ordered to get the best WiFi coverage. I can give you my recommendations on this if you want.

If you want to share screenshots from the WiFi Analyser, I will see if there is anything else I can recommend. I would need to see a minimum of these:-

AP view
Signal strength graph
Channels 2.4GHz
Channels 5GHz

I would also need to know the WiFi network Name (SSID) of your Eero. Please PM me them to protect your privacy.

The information below is provided by TalkTalk, for confirmation please contact @Debbie-TalkTalk or@Michelle-TalkTalk.

KeithFrench is one of our valued Community Stars and can help with a range of issues related to wireless and networking. At times he may ask you to send him test results via a Private Message to help analyse/diagnose an issue. Although Keith does not work for TalkTalk, he very kindly shares his time and knowledge to help with others.

If you need further help or, if we need to take any details such as personal information about your account like phone numbers, account numbers etc. one of the TalkTalk team will jump in and help out.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:20:28 GMT

Hi Keith,

I had a feeling it was not going to be good news.

It's crazy! All these ISP's put people on default channels. And everyone ends up on the same channel. my old router used channel 44. Now I'm on the same channel as the entire neighborhood. Channel 36.

I'm going to see how things go when I've got this other Erro 6 set up. There is only one place it can go really. In his bedroom. It's the next available plug socket nearest his gadgets. if it doesn't work out. I'll be back!

I just wanted to say something that might help someone else.

Now I don't know how long the copper stays active. So, I really could be wrong about this.

But I have a through floor lift. I push my wheelchair in and it takes me through the ceiling to my bedroom. I've had one for about 24 years. But the one I have now is almost 5 years old. And when they installed this one they put a phone in it. Don't ask me how!

We really thought it would not work after the change to VOIP. But when I tried phoning the house phone from my mobile. The lift still rings. Will it go quiet at some point. Don't know! We will wait and see.

Thank You!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:57:15 GMT

Hi Nita,

Don't worry much about channels 36 & 44, it is all about how different the 5GHz band handles WiFi interference. When a router uses say channel 36, it is actually using a complete group of channels 36 to 48. Using the default channel bandwidth of 80MHz would actually use all four of these channels at once, if it behaved like the 2.4GHz band. However, a router will only use one channel until such time as the data being passed over the channel increases past a threshold, where it will start to use a second channel. Often only one channel is ever used, so a router will look & pick the least congested channel out of 36 to 48. So one day it might be using 36 and another it might use 48 etc.

However, as you have no control over which channel your Eero is using, you also have no control over how it decides which channel to use.

As far as the phone in your stair lift, this works because the VOIP section of the call is only from the Grandstream ATA to the internet, on the phone side of the ATA, is the same technology as it always was.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 17:13:32 GMT

Hi Keith,

I'm not so bothered about the 2.4 ghz. As all the channels are as busy as each other. Plus the Erro picked channel 1, the number I was going to pick anyway. But the 5 ghz is really annoying. The only channel being used by anyone at all is 36. And the whole neighborhood is on channel 36. My old channel of 44 is completely empty, the same as all the other channels.

I'm not sure I understand about the lift.

All I do know is...

When I look just above the phone in the lift. Sticking out of the lift is something that looks like an antenna. it's a little wire with a bar about 10 cm long at the end. Like an upside down T. Perhaps this is how the lift phone continues to work. If the phone is still working by the time an engineer next comes out to it. I will ask them to explain how it works.

Thanks Again!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:00:59 GMT

Let's see what happens with the extra Eero.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:32:11 GMT

Hi Kieth

Extra Erro 6 arrived yesterday afternoon. Did the trick. Son loves it. And my phone seems to like it as well. Every time I go upstairs my phone switches to the new Erro in his room. Happy for now. But I would still like to see the Erro 6 updated to include user control over channels.

Thank You!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:38:22 GMT

Hi @NitaRoze

I am very glad to hear that all is well now.

As to whether Eero will ever allow the user to manually select their own channels, that is obviously out of my hands. I would point out though, several other manufacturers of mesh systems, do not allow this either.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

Chris-TalkTalk — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:51:05 GMT

Hi NitaRoze,

Thanks for the update, glad to hear that you've seen an improvement with the additional eero 🙂

Chris

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 14:55:11 GMT

Hi Keith,

I'm using a Chromebook today. And I noticed browsing not being as smooth as it should be. Speeds are fine. But I felt something was wrong. Because I'm not on my laptop, I don't have the proper Wifi Analyzer. But after a You Tube Video took forever to get going. I downloaded a different Wifi Analyzer from the Play store. Channel 149. That isn't normal. I thought we could only use... 36, 40, 44, 48.

I'm wondering if this crazy channel number is why my Wifi keeps dropping on my Chromebook. And browsing is getting slower and slower.

Not Normal

Thanks In Advance!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:04:30 GMT

Hi @NitaRoze

The Eero in the 5GHz band can use any channel from 36 to about 155. However, some of these have restrictions applied to them by Ofcom over the frequency spectrum some of the channels use.

For instance, there is a band from 52 to 140 where another service has priority over WiFi & if detected, the router must move off this band of channels. Not all WiFi adapters have the electronics in them to use this channel group. Above that from 149 upwards, this restriction does not apply. However, only higher-specification WiFi adapters can use these channels. If the Eero starts using 149 & your adapter does not support this, then it will have no choice but to use the 2.4GHz band.

Perhaps this change happened whilst you were using YouTube? As you have only just started using two Eero's, see what it is like tomorrow. If this is the case, then I will ask TalkTalk to raise this with Eero, there was a problem recently, where the Eeros were stuck on channel 155.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:38:37 GMT

Hi Keith,

I will keep a close eye on things over the next few days. I have one laptop two Chromebooks and my phone. So, I will be switching between them. The Chromebooks are almost the same. ( Long story how I ended up with two ). My son has many devices but he isn't here all the time because he works all over the country. He left for work last night. While he's away I'm hoping things will settle down. And maybe I can iron out any problems. I can see from Googling. People have been asking for erro's to have user channel selection for at least a couple of years. Why aren't they listening? Perhaps Talk Talk should change to a different mesh router brand.

If I didn't need VOIP, I'd have just bought a different router. Probably a TP Link.

Thanks Again!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:50:16 GMT

Hi @NitaRoze

Most people now who get Fibre 150, get the Sagemcom WiFi Hub 2 where Digital Voice is concerned, that is what I have. It is far more configurable than the Eero & can form a mesh with a new product called the Sagemcom FAST 266 WiFi Booster.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

ferguson — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:57:14 GMT

Just to concur with m'learned friend @KeithFrench I too use a Hub 2 in preference to an eero with my Fill Fibre 150 connection.

I don't see why having a VoIP service should prevent you from using a third-party router if you wish, although some tweaking and twiddling will probably need to be done with the settings on the Grandstream ATA.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:08:49 GMT

Hi Keith,

I did know about the Sagemcom WiFi Hub 2. I just didn't get the choice to have one.

It would also have cut down on the horrible wire mess that the Erro and the Granstream make together.

Now that I've bought a second erro 6. I think I'm going to at least have to give them a go. But the Sagemcom WiFi Hub 2 will never be far from my mind. Especially if I keep having days like today.

Thanks Again!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:22:45 GMT

Hi Ferguson,

Not sure I have the knowledge needed to twiddle with the Granstream settings.

In the beginning I thought it would just be a case of, buy a router and connect it to the Grandstream ATA box. Or buy a router that is VOIP capable and get the VOIP settings off this forum.

But after a conversation with someone at broadband Buyer - broadbandbuyer.com

I now realise it is not that simple. And that UK ISP's don't give out the VOIP settings.

Like I said to Keith. I've just bought another erro. So I'm going to have to at least give things a go now. It will probably be when my son starts having problems, I'll be after a Hub 2. I'm quite a light internet user. But he loves his XBox, PS5, Computer, Laptop. etc. Good job he does work away. Can you imagine the Electric Bill if he was always home.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

ferguson — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:32:58 GMT

Ha! As you say, see how it goes. The eero system is very much intended to work best as a mesh and the practice of sending just the one out to many customers has highlighted the pitfalls of using a solitary unit. Hopefully things will remain improved now you have two.

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

NitaRoze — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 17:06:49 GMT

Hi Keith,

I have only just realised that my Chromebook has connected itself to my sons erro 6 in his bedroom. Rather than the Talk Talk supplied erro 6 . That is just a few meters away in the hall. My Chromebook hasn't even been upstairs.

Now What?

Should I just turn his erro off while he is away working?

Thanks In Advance!

Re: Erro 6 Wifi Channel Problem

KeithFrench — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:37:14 GMT

Hi @NitaRoze

This is always the first thing I check with mesh networks, is which mesh node are you connected to. This is down to how well the roam facility works in the network adapter in your Chromebook. I have not used a Chromebook, are any wireless properties of the adapter exposed to the UI in the Chrome OS? Some adapters in Windows PCs have a property called "Roaming Aggressiveness" that can help.

Obviously turning the unit off in his bedroom will solve this, only you can really make that choice.