Wifi issues with HG630b

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Wifi issues with HG630b

BiggusDoggus

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#153663 3-Oct-2014 23:16

Hi

I realise some of this has already been covered in http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumId=39&topicId=147452.

However, the issue I have is not just with Apple products - it's with our laptop/Android phone and tablet as well.

I changed to VDSL a month or so back. Before then I had a 2Wire router on ADSL2 which I had very few issues with.

With the new HG630b, however, the kindest term I can us about the wifi performance is "sub-optimal".

If I have the device within 4m of the router, it's great. Connection to the PC via LAN cable is superb.

Go to one of the bedrooms less than 15m away, though, and the wifi dies completely. In fact, even in the next "room", which has no wall between it and the router (although it is just around a corner) the wifi keeps dropping out. Not as bad as the bedroom, but very dodgy nonetheless. And the signal seems to fluctuate drastically - standing still, it can vary between up to 3-4 bars to none at all.

It doesn't matter if only one device, or multiple devices, are connected. Same performance.

Now, I have not yet contacted Spark (although I have sent on online request for help, response time 5 days). The concern I have is some previous posters have said they have received replacement routers with no improvement.

So - any tips? Change any of the wifi settings maybe?

Is it worth getting a replacement router?

I'm seriously looking at going back to ADSL2+ with the 2Wire - I am very reliant on wireless, so the benefit of faster VDSL speed is completely negated by the wireless issues.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

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#1147015 3-Oct-2014 23:16

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

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DarkShadow

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#1147031 3-Oct-2014 23:58

You can always buy an AP, no need to go back to ADSL

hio77

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#1147032 4-Oct-2014 00:03

how about configuring your 2wire as a dumb AP?

then it will handle the wireless, and the HG630 will do everything else.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

BiggusDoggus

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#1147034 4-Oct-2014 00:07

DarkShadow: You can always buy an AP, no need to go back to ADSL

Thanks - can you recommend a "good value" one at all please? Is that the same as a WiFi repeater?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

BiggusDoggus

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#1147035 4-Oct-2014 00:11

hio77: how about configuring your 2wire as a dumb AP?

then it will handle the wireless, and the HG630 will do everything else.

Okay - that sounds promising - is that relatively simple to set up, for someone who has never done it before but is kinda geeky?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

hio77

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#1147036 4-Oct-2014 00:14

BiggusDoggus:
hio77: how about configuring your 2wire as a dumb AP?

then it will handle the wireless, and the HG630 will do everything else.

Okay - that sounds promising - is that relatively simple to set up, for someone who has never done it before but is kinda geeky?

Yes.

essentially what you want to do is, enable wireless, set a static ip on the device (say 192.168.1.250 - im assuming 192.168.1.0/24 is your network range.)

after that disable DHCP, DNS etc and plug it direct into your HG630. (as a Lan device not the WAN port assume it has one.)

9 times outta 10, this is an excellent way to re-purpose your old routers (being mindful of potentially older wireless standards etc ofcourse.)

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

BiggusDoggus

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#1147037 4-Oct-2014 00:19

hio77:
BiggusDoggus:
hio77: how about configuring your 2wire as a dumb AP?

then it will handle the wireless, and the HG630 will do everything else.

Okay - that sounds promising - is that relatively simple to set up, for someone who has never done it before but is kinda geeky?

Yes.

essentially what you want to do is, enable wireless, set a static ip on the device (say 192.168.1.250 - im assuming 192.168.1.0/24 is your network range.)

after that disable DHCP, DNS etc and plug it direct into your HG630. (as a Lan device not the WAN port assume it has one.)

9 times outta 10, this is an excellent way to re-purpose your old routers (being mindful of potentially older wireless standards etc ofcourse.)

Thanks - so not this way then? http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/3494655/how-set-up-router-as-repeater/

Edit - actually, I think it is the full process for what you have said. Other than a small point about what channel to set it on - the HG630 is set to auto, so do I change that to a set channel?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

BiggusDoggus

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#1147047 4-Oct-2014 00:36

BiggusDoggus:
hio77:
BiggusDoggus:
hio77: how about configuring your 2wire as a dumb AP?

then it will handle the wireless, and the HG630 will do everything else.

Okay - that sounds promising - is that relatively simple to set up, for someone who has never done it before but is kinda geeky?

Yes.

essentially what you want to do is, enable wireless, set a static ip on the device (say 192.168.1.250 - im assuming 192.168.1.0/24 is your network range.)

after that disable DHCP, DNS etc and plug it direct into your HG630. (as a Lan device not the WAN port assume it has one.)

9 times outta 10, this is an excellent way to re-purpose your old routers (being mindful of potentially older wireless standards etc ofcourse.)

Thanks - so not this way then? http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/3494655/how-set-up-router-as-repeater/

Edit - actually, I think it is the full process for what you have said. Other than a small point about what channel to set it on - the HG630 is set to auto, so do I change that to a set channel?

And sorry, the IP address for the HG630 is 192.168.1.254 - shall I make the static 192.168.1.20?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

hio77

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#1147048 4-Oct-2014 00:54

yes. make it something outside of your DHCP range.

that guide looks to be the full process in steps yes.

as for the channel, have a look around your area, a wireless analyzer will help you with this. try to pick 1,6 and 11. 13 is likely to cause issues with apple devices.

using auto is asking for trouble, not to mention a PITA for your neighbours..

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

BiggusDoggus

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#1147049 4-Oct-2014 01:38

hio77: yes. make it something outside of your DHCP range.

that guide looks to be the full process in steps yes.

as for the channel, have a look around your area, a wireless analyzer will help you with this. try to pick 1,6 and 11. 13 is likely to cause issues with apple devices.

using auto is asking for trouble, not to mention a PITA for your neighbours..

Thanks for your help on this!

So, I think it's all done. I set the IP address to 192.168.1.20, the channel on the HG630b to 6, and to 1 on the 2Wire. Made sure DHCP wasn't enabled.

I've connected the 2Wire to a LAN port on the HG630b.

Is that it? No changes required to the HG630b (other than setting the channel)? I've checked the wireless connection to the laptop, and it's connecting okay. But excuse the ignorance here - wont it still be connected to the HG630b wireless, not the 2Wire? How does it "know"?

Edit: Unless I disable the WiFi on the HG, of course. Duh!

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

hio77

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#1147052 4-Oct-2014 02:28

BiggusDoggus:
hio77: yes. make it something outside of your DHCP range.

that guide looks to be the full process in steps yes.

as for the channel, have a look around your area, a wireless analyzer will help you with this. try to pick 1,6 and 11. 13 is likely to cause issues with apple devices.

using auto is asking for trouble, not to mention a PITA for your neighbours..

Thanks for your help on this!

So, I think it's all done. I set the IP address to 192.168.1.20, the channel on the HG630b to 6, and to 1 on the 2Wire. Made sure DHCP wasn't enabled.

I've connected the 2Wire to a LAN port on the HG630b.

Is that it? No changes required to the HG630b (other than setting the channel)? I've checked the wireless connection to the laptop, and it's connecting okay. But excuse the ignorance here - wont it still be connected to the HG630b wireless, not the 2Wire? How does it "know"?

Edit: Unless I disable the WiFi on the HG, of course. Duh!

Ild turn wireless off on the HG unless you have a reason to keep it on, complicates things a tad though.

i do this in situations such as my parents place, where the dsl jackpoint is towards the back, and being a large house the signal isnt great out front. an old modem which was dying was replaced and re-purposed to somewhere that its workload is halfed - only proving wireless signal.
With the same SSID, devices move between APs semi-fluidly - there is a slight pause and such ofcourse would be better with a proper wireless management to make it seemless, but that simply wasnt an option.

If both devices are next to eachother, you may aswell just turn wireless completely off on your HG, no point to it.

just adding another access point to the already cluttered 2.4ghz band.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

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BiggusDoggus

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#1147061 4-Oct-2014 08:42

hio77:
BiggusDoggus:
hio77: yes. make it something outside of your DHCP range.

that guide looks to be the full process in steps yes.

as for the channel, have a look around your area, a wireless analyzer will help you with this. try to pick 1,6 and 11. 13 is likely to cause issues with apple devices.

using auto is asking for trouble, not to mention a PITA for your neighbours..

Thanks for your help on this!

So, I think it's all done. I set the IP address to 192.168.1.20, the channel on the HG630b to 6, and to 1 on the 2Wire. Made sure DHCP wasn't enabled.

I've connected the 2Wire to a LAN port on the HG630b.

Is that it? No changes required to the HG630b (other than setting the channel)? I've checked the wireless connection to the laptop, and it's connecting okay. But excuse the ignorance here - wont it still be connected to the HG630b wireless, not the 2Wire? How does it "know"?

Edit: Unless I disable the WiFi on the HG, of course. Duh!

Ild turn wireless off on the HG unless you have a reason to keep it on, complicates things a tad though.

i do this in situations such as my parents place, where the dsl jackpoint is towards the back, and being a large house the signal isnt great out front. an old modem which was dying was replaced and re-purposed to somewhere that its workload is halfed - only proving wireless signal.
With the same SSID, devices move between APs semi-fluidly - there is a slight pause and such ofcourse would be better with a proper wireless management to make it seemless, but that simply wasnt an option.

If both devices are next to eachother, you may aswell just turn wireless completely off on your HG, no point to it.

just adding another access point to the already cluttered 2.4ghz band.

Thank you so much for your help - testing it out today: problem solved!

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

sbiddle

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#1147062 4-Oct-2014 08:51

One other thing is to switch your device to 20Mhz channels.

In a noisy RF environment (ie your average urban environment these days) 40Mhz channels on 2.4Ghz will typically result in degraded performance.

BiggusDoggus

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#1147070 4-Oct-2014 09:29

sbiddle: One other thing is to switch your device to 20Mhz channels.

In a noisy RF environment (ie your average urban environment these days) 40Mhz channels on 2.4Ghz will typically result in degraded performance.

Hi - how do you that please? I can only find the option to change the Ghz channel, as below:

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

michaelmurfy

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#1147120 4-Oct-2014 11:44

Under "Guard Interval" change this to Long. I assume it is referring to short/long preamble and Apple devices only really work with long preamble.

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