DG8041W ROUTER CONSTANTLY DROPPING INTERNET CONNECTION

[Bobziz1]

Hi, I'm having trouble with my router frequently dropping internet connect to various devices at random times. Turning the router off provides a short-term fix, but the problem always returns. 

I'm on software version v1.05t and wonder whether an upgrade to v1.06t might help. Connection is good once established. I've tried separating out the 2.4 & 5 bands and choosing specific low traffic channels via a wifi analyzer. Neither of these have fixed the problem. 

Any help that you can provide would be much appreciated. 

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Bobziz1

I'm so glad to hear this, thanks for letting us know 🙂

I have sent you a Private Message with a link to a short survey for the Community.

Thanks again.

Debbie

[Bobziz1]

Hi Debbie,

Having tested the new router for two weeks now, I'm very pleased to report that it appears to have solved my issues completely. No drop outs at all and good stable speed on both 2.4 & 5ghz. 

Thanks again for your help, and yours too @KeithFrench 

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Bobziz1

Thanks for your reply 🙂

The router is on its way, please allow 24-48hrs for this to arrive.

Let us know how the connection compares with this router.

Thanks again.

Debbie

[Bobziz1]

Hi Debbie,

No problem. Yes please.

Many thanks,

Bobziz1

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Bobziz1

Sorry for the delay. Are you happy for me to send a replacement router for testing?

Thanks

Debbie

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Bobziz1 

There is nothing really wrong with your WiFi network other than the 5GHz band signal is a bit weak. However, that only has about half the range of the 2.4GHz band, so this may be correct.

In light of this, I think a replacement router should be tried next. I will ask TalkTalk to consider doing this for you.

[Bobziz1]

Great, thanks Keith, I'll take a look tonight.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Bobziz1 

I have sent you the PM now. Thanks @Karl-TalkTalk 

[Karl-TalkTalk]

Hi

PM's are enabled on your profile.

Karl.

[Bobziz1]

Hi TalkTalk, please could you enable PM's on my account. Thanks.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Bobziz1 

You do not have PMs enabled. Please request in your reply asking TalkTalk to enabled them for you & then I will send you the guide.

[KeithFrench]

I will PM you a link for a guide of mine on Wi-Fi interference & initially look at the section called "Are you suffering from interference – prove it first". This section includes full details of Wi-Fi analysers that I recommend for Windows, Windows phone, Android and Apple operating systems. However, I have no way of testing the Apple product. Do not worry about interpreting the results, I will do that for you.

Please post the screenshots that I have requested in my guide (no photos please they can be difficult to read as text can get out of focus when zoomed in), from the analyser you are using (also in my attached guide). Please ensure that the analyser window is maximised (if Windows) before taking the screenshots & upload them via the "Insert Photos" button (in a mobile browser it's the picture icon) on the post editor's toolbar with the Size parameter set to Large. If they are too small, I will not be able to read them & although I can enlarge them, this puts the text out of focus. If you prefer PM them to me. If you do PM me, then please add a link in there to this thread, so that I can find it easily.

[KeithFrench]

I will PM this to you tomorrow afternoon.

[Bobziz1]

Hi Keith, thanks for your help, yes please do send me the guide. Do you have access to my email address ?

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Bobziz1 

Just changing channels is unlikely to help, without first checking the level of Wi-Fi interference on each. Slow speed, intermittent dropouts, breaks in the signal or no signal on some or all devices or no internet access might be caused by Wi-Fi interference from other local networks, which can also lead to a permanent reduction in speed. No ISP can be responsible for your local environment, this is mainly a byproduct of the popularity of Wi-Fi.

Generally speaking, the 2.4GHz band suffers much more from interference than the 5GHz band, but the 2.4GHz one can sometimes have a better range, but this all depends on your local area.

The next stage involves sending out a guide to you to help you get me some important diagnostic results so that I can analyse them for you and recommend changes to your router configuration to solve them.

I only send this out to people who request it.

[Bobziz1]

Seems entirely random and no better whichever channel I choose.

[Skynet_TX]

Yeah, if the white LED is staying on then it is probably not the issue that is fixed in firmware 1.06t.

When you have tried different Wi-Fi channels have you seen any change of behaviour, i.e. with some channels the connection is more reliable, and with others it is worse, or do you just get the same level of disconnections regardless of channels you choose.

The support team here probably won't be around until Monday, but they should be able to pick this up early next week to help. If they did think that the router might be at fault they may suggest that they send you a different router to test with.

[Bobziz1]

Thanks for your reply. Ok I have no wired connections but I do think that all WiFi connected devices lose connection at the same time, although the white light stays on, so I don't think the router is resetting.

[Skynet_TX]

Hi @Bobziz1,

If only some wireless devices lose connection at a time then a firmware upgrade is unlikely to help. The only difference in that new version of firmware is a fix to a problem that can cause the router to reboot, when this happens the white light would go out, and then flash amber, then amber/white as is starts up again, and all of your devices (wired and wireless) would lose connection until the white light came back.

Do you have any wired devices, if so do they lose connection at all ?