Firmware upgrade for Wifi Hub

[John1901]

Hi

I was wondering if there was an update available to the firmware on my router.  The current version is showing as SG4K10002828t.  I think I have seen that there is an update available but am not sure.

I ask the question because I find I have to quite regularly reboot the router to get good performance (at least once per week) and was hoping an update may help.

Thanks

[KeithFrench]

There are no other networks using the 5GHz band, so that is fine. The signal strength is low, but that is to be expected if the router is downstairs & you are upstairs. The 5GHz band has about half the range of the 2.4GHz band & no wifi signal travels that well upstairs as a general rule. If you want a reasonable 5GHz WiFi signal upstairs, you will either have to move the router as high as possible position downstairs or consider purchasing a WiFi Extender kit like this one:-

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/powerline/tl-wpa8630-kit/ 

Please note that I am not recommending this unit as I have not tested it. Whilst I am sure it is very good, it is just an example of the type of equipment that you would need. These are normally sold as a "kit" with one unit connected to a LAN port on your router and that is connected to the WiFi extender unit over your mains electric wiring. The only drawback with these two unit "kits" is that they may not work as well as they might, if each one is on a different electrical ring circuit going back to your property's main electric consumer unit.

Do not get confused with cheaper single unit solutions as they are repeaters, not extenders & rarely give acceptable performance. 

[John1901]

Thanks Keith and Ferguson

I have changed the 2.4 channel to 1 and turned off the Wifi direct on the printer (it's still working from my laptop).  The signal may look weak as I am upstairs and the router downstairs.  The printer is within touching distance!.

Any suggestions for the 5GHz channel (I am no expert at this).

John

[ferguson]

Via the router.

[KeithFrench]

Does it print via the router or via the "Direct" SSID of the printer like that?

[ferguson]

With Apple no drivers or added apps are required, AirPrint does it all for you.  🙂

[KeithFrench]

Hi @ferguson yes, I thought you were. Windows PC's might have to have their drivers reinstalled to pick up the router's SSID rather than the printer's own SSID. Android's normally use an HP app to do it. As for Apple, well you're the expert there.

[ferguson]

@KeithFrench That is very much what I was driving at,  just wasn't sure how it copes with other devices. 

[KeithFrench]

Hi @John1901 

If an HP printer, I always turn WiFi Direct off on them, as you do not ususally need it. Then you send the print job via the router, this frees up a bit of the congestion.

[ferguson]

@John1901 Can I ask if you use any other devices apart from Apple ones to connect to the printer wirelessly?

[KeithFrench]

Your signal strength is very low, partly due to the printer's WiFi obliterating the router's 2.4GHz signal as it is of greater amplitude & using the same channel. Initially, I would move the router to channel 1 & see what happens. 

[John1901]

Hi Keith

I hope these make sense!

The 2 SSIDs beginning with Talktalk are me and the one beginning with Direct is my printer.

Thanks

John

[John1901]

Thanks Keith

I will have read through this later today.  I already have NetSpot installed.

I moved my router yesterday to the other end of the living room.  It had previously been behind the TV.

John

[KeithFrench]

Thanks @Debbie-TalkTalk 

@John1901 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), 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 just 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 as I can find it easily.

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi John and @KeithFrench

The WIFI optimisation has now been switched off.

Thanks

Debbie

[KeithFrench]

I'll ask TalkTalk to turn this off for you (may not be until after the weekend & when off, I'll send the other stuff over.

[John1901]

Hi Keith

I haven't had Talktalk's wi-fi optimisation disabled.  

Please could Talktalk switch this off and then we can follow your guide?

Thanks

John

[KeithFrench]

Thanks for that, I can help a lot with this. 

Slow speed, intermittent dropouts, breaks in the signal, or no signal on some or all devices, 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 by-product 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.

Have you had TalkTalk’s Wi-Fi optimisation disabled on your Sagemcom FAST5364 router? When this is enabled, as it is by default, it has the power to override any Wi-Fi configuration changes that I might suggest that you need to make. This will not help rectify this type of problem if Wi-Fi Optimisation is allowed to change my suggested settings. Only TalkTalk can do this for you, you cannot do it yourself. If not, just request they disable this for you in your reply.

The next stage involves sending out a guide to you to help you get me some important diagnostic results, so as 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.

[John1901]

Hi Keith

I see what you mean.  I believe the speed quoted when you log in to the Sagecom is always really good.  It is currently showing 69.0 and 20.0.  We only have a TV box plugged into router and that is always fine.  The problem only seems to be with the wifi.

John

[KeithFrench]

What I need to know is just before you reboot next time, what is the speed recorded by your Sagemcom? To find this out log into it & look at the speeds quoted in the initial dashboard area.

When you get the problem is it only over WiFi connected devices or wired (Ethernet) ones as well?

[John1901]

Thanks Keith

It's good to know that I am up to date as far as software goes.

It's hard to say what leads up to the router needing to be rebooted.  It seems worse when my daughters are home and there is more activity on the wifi.  I'll monitor and see if there is a pattern and report back.