Router Interference

[GraemeMcD]

Hi

Seem to be getting some kind of interference on the Router (Wifi Hub).

Generally Fibre35 gives me a solid 12-17 Ping with 30Mbps down 6Mbps up.

However I keep getting intermittent drops to 500+ Ping with single figure Mbps down and less than one Mbps up.  Particularly noticeable on XBox with online games dropping out or lagging badly.

Tried both Wifi and direct Ethernet connection between Xbox and Router and it seems to persist.

I may have narrowed it down to either or both of TV (older plasma) and/or Sky HD box but it's so intermittent its difficult to be certain. 

It also happened a couple of years ago and a replacement router seemed to fix it until now, could it be this replacement router has developed a similar issue?

Grateful for any ideas!

[GraemeMcD]

I do have already have a Sagecom router (FAST 5364-3T8), it's the one that kept repeatedly kicking devices off and wouldn't reset or regain its internet connection, so I went back to the old Huawei router to get going again.  Ideally I'd go back to it, but as there appears to be a problem with it I can't. I'd expect TalkTalk to replace this free of charge regardless of whether I'm on contract or not, I'm still paying for the service after all (more than if I was on contract!), the only reason I haven't re-contract is due to these ongoing issues,  as TalkTalk will be able to see I'm a longstanding on-contract customer. @Mandisa-TT maybe you can supply a replacement for the Sagecom?? and then I can look to get the booster and recontract.   

[Mandisa-TT]

Thank you so much @KeithFrench for your support. 

[KeithFrench]

Hi @GraemeMcD 

You have a Huawei router & that is a bit of the problem, inasmuch as it is old. If you have the current Sagemcom router (aka WiFi Hub 3), then you can turn it into a WiFi 6 mesh network with a Sagemcom WiFi Booster (FAST266), which is very good. It can connect back to the WiFi Hub 3 over WiFi or Ethernet. This being a mesh network, it will manage the interference, although you might be better off in your case, as you suggested, connecting them together via an Ethernet cable. However, to get this router for free, you would have to take out a new contract or at least be in the last four months of your existing one. The booster, if still on offer, is £30.

I have tested this scenario extensively & can provide any required technical support on it.

Your best bet here (if you are interested) is to contact the Better Value Team (old Legacy Dept), please call:  0345 1725157. 

Opening hours:-
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00
Saturday 09:00 to 18:00
Sunday Closed

If you don't want that, you could look at something like this:-

TP-Link TL-WPA7617 KIT AV1000 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender, WiFi 1200Mbps, Ethernet Ports, Powerl...TP-Link TL-WPA7617 KIT AV1000 Powerline Adapter WiFi Extender, WiFi 1200Mbps, Ethernet Ports, Powerl...

Please note: this is a bit old itself, as it only supports WiFi 5 and is more expensive than the Sagemcom mesh solution, based on getting a WiFi hub for free with a renewed contract & buying the Sagemcom booster. I have never tested this TP-Link product, so I don't know what it is like. It will require both units to be connected to the same electrical ring circuit, as it uses power line technology to connect them.

[Mandisa-TT]

@GraemeMcD 

It’s great to hear that unplugging the extender has already improved the reliability a bit. Once you’re able to disable the water softener’s Wi‑Fi broadcast, that should reduce interference further, especially on the 2.4GHz band.
 

Regarding extending coverage upstairs without causing interference — yes, there are alternatives that connect via Ethernet rather than rebroadcasting over Wi‑Fi. These usually work much more reliably because they avoid any wireless backhaul issues.

[Mandisa-TT]

Thank you getting back to us.

[GraemeMcD]

Ok - investigating with the supplier how to disable the water softener's wifi.

Have set the router to ch6 rather than auto.

Now we're back to having a wifi dead zone upstairs with the extender unplugged to avoid interference - is there an alternative extender that would ethernet cable to the TalkTalk router that we could put into the problem room, that way it would hopefully be far enough away to limit interference.  The extender I have, tp-link RE700X AX3000, doesn't do it.

[nambuso-TT]

Thanks for helping out @KeithFrench.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @GraemeMcD 

Anything that broadcasts an SSID in the 2.4GHz WiFi band that is unnecessary is very bad news. I would turn it off if possible. You cannot use channel 2 on your router; only 1, 6 or 11 should ever be selected.

[mandisa1-TT]

Hi there @GraemeMcD Thank you for the reply.


@KeithFrench will offer more support when he sees this.

[GraemeMcD]

Keith - apologies - completely missed this reply!

The extender is the former type. It's now unplugged!

The SSID named H2O is, bizarrely, our water softener which is wifi enabled, although we don't use that feature and we have no devices connected to it, it merely broadcasts its SSID.  Could it still be causing a problem? Particularly if I force the router to ch2?

Overall I'd say the wifi is a little more reliable after unplugging the extender, with occasional ping surges and speed drops, the online gaming through XBox live is still very laggy (but that's likely the separate issue which you've already highlighted back to TalkTalk).

[Mandisa-TT]

I appreciate your assistance @KeithFrench 

[KeithFrench]

Yes, the extender is causing the problem. Not knowing the model number of it, is it the type that connects back to the router over the router's WiFi, or is it using Power Line Technology to connect back to a LAN port on the router? If it is the former, then its interference will cause all devices connected to it at the time to intermittently drop out, because it not only transmits a fresh signal out from it, but it acts as a client to the router's WiFi and the router's WiFi signal gets cancelled out by this, causing mayhem for all wireless devices.

Yes, lock the router's 2.4GHz WiFi to channel 11, as that looks the best. There is a network whose SSID starts with H2 on channel 3, which will interfere with both channels 1 & 6, not leaving you much choice.

[GraemeMcD]

Current router (my old one) is a DG8041W-2.5T - the newer one which i had to switch out due to the devices dropping out is a FAST 5346-3.T8 (see message #24).

Interesting point about the extender! it's on the landing upstairs so nowhere near the router, got it to extend the signal into the  bedrooms furthest from the router - ironic that it may be a problem!  The only way to get them further apart would be to put the extender into the rooms I'm trying to extend to - so would seem pointless having it!!  Could the interference with the extender have caused the issue with the FAST5346??

I'll switch it off and monitor.

Shall I force the router onto 1,6 or 11?

[mandisa1-TT]

Thank you for the support @KeithFrench 

[KeithFrench]

Hi @GraemeMcD @mandisa1-TT 

There are a couple of issues here:-

1. Your router (Is it a Huawei HG633/635 or DG8041W), is using channel 8 in the 2.4GHz band. That is an overlapping channel which should not be used. The only ones that can be used within the 2.4GHz band are channels 1, 6 or 11).
2. There is not enough of a gap in signal strength between the router and your TP-Link extender, as they both use the same channel group 36 - 48. This will lead to Wi-Fi dropouts. The router's SSID is only 5dBm higher than that of the TP-Link where your PC is. There needs to be a 20dB gap in signal strength between the two. Is the TP-Link extender in the same room as the router or nearby? They need to be further apart. 

Have you tried this with the TP-Link turned off? If I find anyother problems from further investigation, I will let you know.

[mandisa1-TT]

Thank you so much @KeithFrench, I will have to note this on our end. Please do keep us updated on the findings

[KeithFrench]

Hi @mandisa1-TT

The problems are unlikely to be a TalkTalk responsibility (unless I prove that the router is faulty). I will hopefully start work on the WiFi analysis this afternoon.

[mandisa1-TT]

Hi there @KeithFrench I have escalated this, however still required to complete diagnostics checks.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @siphosethu-TT 

You do not need to do anything. 

@GraemeMcD has just sent me some diagnostic info with regards to the WiFi problem. 

@Mandisa-TT has escalated the other problem (an internet backbone router beyond the TalkTalk network) to you networks department in her post #26.

[siphosethu-TT]

Hi there @GraemeMcD, please confirm if the support provided by @KeithFrench might have helped? If not please respond back so we can run checks on this for you.