Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


sewsable

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3


#268142 2-Mar-2020 08:01
Send private message

We've had this issue with a number of routers now; originally assumed it was the not very good router that Spark provided us with (Huawei dual band modem/router), but we now have a very good Netgear Nighthawk AX8 which has just started doing the same thing.  It'll drop connection for some devices but not others, usually starts with the mobile devices and then moves onto the rest.  It happened when we were on VDSL and is happening again now that we're on fibre, this tells me it's not the internal wiring of the house since the fibre doesn't use what was already here.  The wi-fi signal is still fine, but no connectivity.  Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you fix it?   It seems to start happening about 6 months after a new router goes in.





Into Xbox, knitting, spinning yarn, and my family. Love my Android smartphone!


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2 | 3
Goosey
3014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 867

Subscriber

  #2429886 2-Mar-2020 09:30
Send private message

How many devices are using the router... include printers...everything connecting...




cyril7
9073 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2499

ID Verified
Trusted
Subscriber

  #2429915 2-Mar-2020 10:13
Send private message

Hi, so you say during this drop out the WiFi is fine, so during this issue on an affected devices can you ping the router, and can you ping a public IP ie 8.8.8.8

 

Cyril


sewsable

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3


  #2429925 2-Mar-2020 10:30
Send private message

Goosey:

 

How many devices are using the router... include printers...everything connecting...

 

 

 

 

16 if I've calculated correctly, but they're not all on at the same time.  That includes the following:

 

Range extender (necessary for my husband's work PC which has never been able to find the main router)

 

printer

 

2 cellphones

 

2 ipads

 

tablet

 

2 kindles (only one usually has wi-fi enabled)

 

chromebook

 

2 laptops (plus husband's work one on the extender; one laptop is never turned on though)

 

2 PC

 

Xbox One S and Xbox 360

 

I made sure that when I bought the new router that it was able to cope with the expected load





Into Xbox, knitting, spinning yarn, and my family. Love my Android smartphone!




sewsable

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3


  #2429927 2-Mar-2020 10:32
Send private message

cyril7:

 

Hi, so you say during this drop out the WiFi is fine, so during this issue on an affected devices can you ping the router, and can you ping a public IP ie 8.8.8.8

 

Cyril

 

 

 

 

I'll have to check that next time it happens; didn't think to check that this morning when the PC lost connectivity; I turned the router off at the wall instead.  If it happens on the iPad tonight I'll try that with the iPad

 

 





Into Xbox, knitting, spinning yarn, and my family. Love my Android smartphone!


frankv
5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

  #2429983 2-Mar-2020 11:03
Send private message

My guess... the connection to the Internet is dropped. You only notice on the various devices when you actually try to use the Internet, hence being noticed first on WiFi devices and later on others.

 

FWIW, I'm seeing occasional (once a week to once a fortnight?) Internet connection loss on my StuffFibre connection via a newly-supplied Asus router. :( Turning the router off and on fixes the issue. It appears to be a router issue... when it happens, I can't browse to the router.

 

Hoping that a patch will come out soon to fix this.

 

 


Technofreak
6656 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3474

Trusted

  #2429986 2-Mar-2020 11:05
Send private message

It could be another signal interfering with your WiFi signal. Use a WiFi Analyser app to see what other WiFi signals are about.. You may find another signal on same channel as your WiFi. A lot of routers come pre configured on the same channel.

It also could be a device like a a landline mobile handset, either one you may have or one nearby, especially if someone has imported a "juiced up" one for better range and also infringes on the WiFi bandwidth

Either way go into the router settings and choose another channel, especially if there is someone else with a strong signal on the same channel as you.




Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS 
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5


 
 
 
 

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).
noroad
1025 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 675

Trusted

  #2430065 2-Mar-2020 12:25
Send private message

sewsable:

 

We've had this issue with a number of routers now; originally assumed it was the not very good router that Spark provided us with (Huawei dual band modem/router), but we now have a very good Netgear Nighthawk AX8 which has just started doing the same thing.  It'll drop connection for some devices but not others, usually starts with the mobile devices and then moves onto the rest.  It happened when we were on VDSL and is happening again now that we're on fibre, this tells me it's not the internal wiring of the house since the fibre doesn't use what was already here.  The wi-fi signal is still fine, but no connectivity.  Has anyone else had this problem and if so how did you fix it?   It seems to start happening about 6 months after a new router goes in.

 

 

 

 

Use a UPS, I bet you have a power interference problem.


1101
3141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1143


  #2430071 2-Mar-2020 12:34
Send private message

sewsable:

 

We've had this issue with a number of routers now

 

 

Perhaps your wifi signal isnt as good as you thought (interference , poor signal strength etc)

 


Look at where the wifi router is, and where the devices that drop off are.
Are they connection via 2.4 or 5.8 ?
Is the router somewhere that allows reasonable cooling, and not in a metal box ?
Is a local device swamping the wifi (eg with a big movie download/upload etc) ?

 

Login to the router when this next happens , see whats actually connected

 

 


tripper1000
1648 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1176


  #2430074 2-Mar-2020 12:39
Send private message

Ask a silly question but did you swap out the wifi extender when you got a new router? If the extender was causing problems it would explain why all devices don't loose the connection at the same time and why 2 different routers and 2 different internet connections (vdsl/fibre) have the same symptoms. 

 

Also is there good air circulation around the router? It's not sitting on a towel/in a cupboard/under clutter or something else that restricts the air vents?


sewsable

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3


  #2430090 2-Mar-2020 13:12
Send private message

The router is on top of a tea trolley so plenty of air flow, I'm careful with that for all electronics since I know they tend to heat up.  I'll check the channels shortly; can't change it at the moment as I'm gaming and don't want to fiddle with that till I've finished, lol.  

 

I'll look into a UPS, suspect it's not in the budget right now though; have to pay for a new bed and for Dh's motorbike registration; not a cheap time!  

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys, if anything else occurs to you let me know and I'll follow these leads in the meantime and see what I can find.





Into Xbox, knitting, spinning yarn, and my family. Love my Android smartphone!


noroad
1025 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 675

Trusted

  #2430104 2-Mar-2020 13:32
Send private message

sewsable:

 

 

 

I'll look into a UPS, suspect it's not in the budget right now though; have to pay for a new bed and for Dh's motorbike registration; not a cheap time!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSPWR2555987/Eaton-5E-Tower-UPS--650VA--360W--2-ANZ-Outlets--Li

 

Its worth the hundred bucks.


 
 
 
 

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).
sewsable

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 3


  #2430134 2-Mar-2020 14:58
Send private message

I've just changed channels, it was set to auto but seemed to be on 9, as was one of our neighbours.  When I changed it the extender automatically changed to the same channel; not sure if that's meant to do that or not.  Wish the work laptop would detect the main router, but it never has and since it's a work one we can't play with settings anyway, even if I knew what to change to find it.





Into Xbox, knitting, spinning yarn, and my family. Love my Android smartphone!


michaelmurfy
meow
13579 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10910

Moderator
ID Verified
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2430137 2-Mar-2020 15:06
Send private message

The Extender is likely your problem - do not use these. They make your WiFi utterly rubbish. Try unplugging it and go without for a while.

 

Ideally, you want to replace your system with a mesh solution. Since you're on Spark you should phone up and ask for the Smart Modem + Smart Mesh extender. It is superior than your current router even if on paper it doesn't seem that way. Also this is the supported router with Spark.

 

@hio77 may be able to help here.





Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.


Gordy7
gordy7
2001 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 505

ID Verified
Lifetime subscriber

  #2430151 2-Mar-2020 15:52
Send private message

sewsable:

 

Goosey:

 

How many devices are using the router... include printers...everything connecting...

 

 

 

 

16 if I've calculated correctly, but they're not all on at the same time.  That includes the following:

 

Range extender (necessary for my husband's work PC which has never been able to find the main router)

 

printer

 

2 cellphones

 

2 ipads

 

tablet

 

2 kindles (only one usually has wi-fi enabled)

 

chromebook

 

2 laptops (plus husband's work one on the extender; one laptop is never turned on though)

 

2 PC

 

Xbox One S and Xbox 360

 

I made sure that when I bought the new router that it was able to cope with the expected load

 

 

Any other devices using WiFi or 2.4GHz band: TV, Set top Box, Sky TV, TV home theatre, security cameras, Blue tooth devices, wireless keyboards and mice ? 





Gordy

 

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.


Goosey
3014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 867

Subscriber

  #2430153 2-Mar-2020 15:56
Send private message

Could the issue with a particular laptop be due to encryption AKA, might be an issue with WPA/PSK, etc etc

 1 | 2 | 3
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic








Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.