TP-Link TD8960N Weak Wireless Signal

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › TP-Link TD8960N Weak Wireless Signal

uncinqsix

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 124599 13-Jul-2013 11:46

I've just bought myself the above router to replace my elderly Dynalink RTA1025W. The main reason for getting the new one was for the extra range/signal strength of the N wireless.

I've finally managed to get the thing set up with my slingshot broadband (tricky enough in itself), but the wireless is worse than it was on the old G router!

I've got it set to 802.11n only, and my computer says it's receiving N, but the signal strength is no better (actually slightly worse) than the Dynalink, and the internet speed is down too (13Mb/s wired, about 9 wireless, whereas the Dynalink is 12-13 for both).

I've set it to the same channel as the Dynalink was on, and there is nothing else around to interfere only one other wifi signal).

Any ideas what I can do to fix this? Or do I have a faulty unit?

Spyware

2042 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 336

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 854915 13-Jul-2013 12:16

You don't even tell us the distance involved and the obstacles involved.

Ross

Spark FibreMAX using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+

Speed Test

uncinqsix

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 854920 13-Jul-2013 12:22

Runs out of steam at about 12m, 1 wall. As I said, it's slightly worse than what the wireless g signal on the old router.

cyril7

6311 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 292

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 854926 13-Jul-2013 12:39

whats on the wall, if its a book shelf full of books it may as well be a steel lined concrete wall for wifi..

Cyril

tdgeek

13429 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2428

Trusted

Reply # 854927 13-Jul-2013 12:41

I am on this in Advanced

Channel: 1
Mode: 11bgn
Bandwidth: 20MHz
Control Sideband: Lower
Fragmentation Threshold: 2346
RTS Threshold: 2347
DTIM Interval: 1
Beacon Interval: 100
Transmit Power: 100%
WMM(Wi-Fi Multimedia): Enabled

I get pretty much full internet speed an my Acer laptop 14mbit. All bars about 5m, around a chimney and open archway. iPhone 5 is just wifi at the rear of my property where picnic table is, 30m. iPad 3 gets better wifi there. Acer laptop is 3 bars there. iPhone 5 loses wifi in closed sleepout at 24m, iPad gets 2 bars, laptop 3 bars. Modem is on top of my tower case, height is good

Try using my settings as a base, note that I use channel 1 as inSSider shows no one else is using that nearby. 40 Mhz B/W is faster but I found it unstable

Hope that helps as a starting point

uncinqsix

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 854935 13-Jul-2013 14:07

tdgeek: I am on this in Advanced

Channel: 1
Mode: 11bgn
Bandwidth: 20MHz
Control Sideband: Lower
Fragmentation Threshold: 2346
RTS Threshold: 2347
DTIM Interval: 1
Beacon Interval: 100
Transmit Power: 100%
WMM(Wi-Fi Multimedia): Enabled

I get pretty much full internet speed an my Acer laptop 14mbit. All bars about 5m, around a chimney and open archway. iPhone 5 is just wifi at the rear of my property where picnic table is, 30m. iPad 3 gets better wifi there. Acer laptop is 3 bars there. iPhone 5 loses wifi in closed sleepout at 24m, iPad gets 2 bars, laptop 3 bars. Modem is on top of my tower case, height is good

Try using my settings as a base, note that I use channel 1 as inSSider shows no one else is using that nearby. 40 Mhz B/W is faster but I found it unstable

Hope that helps as a starting point

That's helped a bit (switching from 20/40MHz to 20). I at least have full speed now.

Good point about the wall too - the line of sight is not directly through, but on a pretty acute angle, so it would be going through a couple of studs. Still, I was expecting a little better from switching to N. I may need to experiment with using the old router as a second access point.

cyril7

6311 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 292

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 855014 13-Jul-2013 18:02

Hi, 100mm thick timber framed wall that you send a signal through at even 30deg now appears as a 2m thick wall, the gib now becomes very deep.

Can you not site the new AP closer to where you are, run a cat5e/6 cable under the house or what ever to connect the too together. Place each AP on a different channel (use 1, 6, or 11). Also have you placed the TPlink in AP mode, or probably easier to turn the DHCP server off in the TPlink and connect via one of the TPlinks LAN ports (yellow), that way you avoid double natting.

Cyril

robjg63

2716 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 537

Reply # 855038 13-Jul-2013 19:02

I have the same model and found that having it set for 20/40 caused it be a bit unstable.
When it worked it was very quick - but then seemed to stutter quite a lot (streaming media over internal network).
I ended up setting it to 20mhz only and it seems to be very stable on that (evn if it shows slightly slower connection speed.
I seem to have left the channel as Auto - I suppose that helps if something else nearby uses the same channel - I assume it changes the channel.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler