WIFI OPTIMISATION

[Chris1012]

I recently switched to Talktalk broadband and I'm having issues with WIFI optimisation and channel hopping causing certain devices to disconnect from the WIFI network. From reading these pages I understand that a Talktalk employee can disable this feature on my router? Please can this be actioned?

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for confirming. Unfortunately we no longer have the option to switch wifi optimisation off as the team has advised that by switching this off it will cause more overall connection problems. Would it be possible to provide a few specific dates and times when this is happening and we can refer back to the logs on our side.

Michelle

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

Within a few meters. The engineer didn't do anything at all with the router wifi, he only worked on the Openreach line. As I said previously in this post (see message 47 here), once you had disabled wifi optimisation on the old router ALL of my wifi connection issues with the 3D printer went away. They only returned when I plugged in the replacement router to try to solve the VDSL dropouts.

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

How far away is the router from the laptop and 3D printer?

Since the engineers have completed the work on the line have there been any improvements with the connection to these 2 devices in particular?

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

My 3D printer, which was the whole reason I started this post! I also had a problem with a computer (Macbook pro) that was 'kicked off' the network, despite the router showing it as connected (the same issue I had with the 3D printer). Restarting the wifi on the Macbook solved the connection, but it happened again when the wifi optimisation did its channel hopping thing. I've also been getting the 'WiFi security settings have been successfully saved' message in the router log that has been linked to devices being 'kicked off' the network (just to be clear I haven't made any changes to the wifi to cause this line in the log). When the 'WiFi security settings have been successfully saved' message appears multiple devices are forced to disconnect/reconnect to the wifi and it seems to be this behaviour that causes some devices to not connect correctly (I never had any of these issues with my devices and previous ISP routers, so it's not the devices causing the problem, it's the Talktalk router). 

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

I can check but it may have switched back on again.

What wifi devices are experiencing issues?

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

Yes, I have a return bag and label.

If I switch back to the first router (where you disabled wifi optimisation) will the wifi optimisation still be disabled? I've had wifi connection issues over the past ~week with the second router due to the wifi optimisation being turned on (the same issues I had with the first router before you turned wifi optimisation off).

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

Thanks for letting us know.

Did you receive a returns bag to return the older router?

We can no longer switch off wifi optimisation on the line.

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

The engineer came yesterday afternoon. He replaced the master socket and also found problems in a junction box in the road (corroded connections) and at the street cabinet (my 'profile' had been setup incorrectly, presumably when I joined Talktalk). He corrected both of these problems and said that because of the profile reset I'm now on a 2 week stabilisation protocol. Hopefully fixing these problems will correct the VDSL dropout issue, but I won't know for sure until at least several days have passed since they were intermittent.

Since the second router didn't solve the VDSL dropouts I presume you would like one of the routers returned? If so, please could you disable wifi optimisation on the router that is currently connected so that I don't have to switch over routers and interrupt the connection whilst it is stabilising? I can then return the first router.

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

Thank you. I will check in again with you after the engineer visit.

Debbie

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

Thanks for letting me know, I'll be sure to be in! I've just received this email from Talktalk - I assume this is related to tomorrow's appointment, but no date is given. It just says 'Repair_Engineer_VisitDateRepair_Engineer_VisitDate'!

Engineer appointment confirmation

Hello,

Your engineer will visit you on Repair_Engineer_VisitDateRepair_Engineer_VisitDate between 1:00pm and 6:00pm. If your issue is fixed, or you need to rearrange or cancel your appointment, please contact us 12:00pm, one working day before your appointment date to avoid a missed appointment fee of £75.00.You can chat to us via here. Don't forget to keep an eye on any updates via 'My Active Faults' in My Connection, here.

Your TalkTalk team

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

The engineer visit has been arranged for 21/05/2024 PM (1pm - 6pm)

Please let us know how you get on following this visit.

Thanks

[Chris1012]

Hi Michelle,

I don't see that I have a choice! I either have to live with the VDSL dropouts most days for the next 17 months (my remaining contract) or the possibility of a £75 charge if no fault is found (there must be a fault or else why does the VDSL keep dropping?). I would like to reiterate that the VDSL dropouts are intermittent, the chances of one happening during the engineer visit are very unlikely. Please note, I am keeping records of everything in case this needs to go to the ombudsman.

So, since I have no choice, please book an engineer visit.

[Michelle-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris,

Engineer charges would not apply if the fault is located on Openreach maintained equipment. It would only apply if the connection is working fine when the engineer visits/unable to find a fault or if they located a fault with your own equipment. If all testing has been completed at the test socket with 2 different routers, cables and microfilters then this should rule this out.

Are you happy for us to go ahead and book the visit for you?

Thanks

Michelle

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

I can be available AM or PM.

I do not see why I should have to pay for an engineer visit. The phone line and master socket belong to Openreach and the router belongs to Talktalk. There is absolutely nothing else connected to the phone line, not even a phone! Since the VDSL dropouts are intermittent (5 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, none on Sunday) I will be very unhappy if a charge is applied because the engineer says he can't find a fault!

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

Apologies for this.

Please can you provide your availability for an engineer visit AM and PM?

Can you also confirm potential engineer charges Engineer charges

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

This is my second attempt at this post, the first disappeared somewhere! The new router has been plugged in to the test socket for about 24 hours. I've had one VDSL dropout yesterday and two so far today. Hence, the new router hasn't solved the VDSL dropout issue.

16.05.2024 14:22:11	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is down port 1
16.05.2024 14:22:41	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is up port 1
17.05.2024 14:07:48	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is down port 1
17.05.2024 14:08:18	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is up port 1
17.05.2024 14:13:38	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is down port 1
17.05.2024 14:14:08	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is up port 1

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

I'm so glad to hear that the router has arrived.

Please let us know how you get on.

Debbie 🙂

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

The new router arrived this morning. I have used the new router, power supply, internet cable and microfilter (everything new) and plugged the new router in to the test socket. I will monitor for VDSL dropouts over the coming days and let you know what happens. Since Monday, when I had ~10 VDSL dropouts in a short period of time, I've 'only' had 2-3 dropouts per day and yesterday I had zero dropouts, so it may take a few days to see if the dropouts go away. 

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Chris

Apologies again, we will manage this fault for you on the Community.

It hasn't been raised with Openreach, it's currently with our tech/faults team.

If the same fault is still happening with the new router at the test socket then I will arrange the engineer visit for you.

[Chris1012]

Hi Debbie,

OK, I'll wait and test the new router. If the VDSL drops continue that will rule out everything after the master socket, leaving just the master socket/phone line/cabinet/exchange. Just to be clear, I never reported the fault (REP-14310214). I used your online connection tool and that automatically reported the fault and raised the reference number, although it gives absolutely no information as to what the fault is!