Home/office network troubleshooter needed Lower Hutt area

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bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#150467 23-Jul-2014 21:15

I am having ongoing problems with connectivity, and its getting way out of my knowledge zone. Tonight I just have to give up after weeks of patient tinkering, as I'm pulling my hair out and I'm too young to be completely bald. Excuse me if some terminology is not quite correct.

Our ISP is Vodafone, VDSL unlimited data service, speed measured today at 9.1mps down, and 9.5 mps upload. Sometimes its as good as 30 mps down.

Our modem is a Huawei HG 659. I also have a TP link extender in another part of the house.

In our home/office we have two desktop PCs running Windows 7 using Wifi. One computer is a Toshiba all-in-one and gets uninterrupted wifi. The other is PBTech built computer with an ASUS wifi USB dongle which always loses connection (signal strength is great, they are all in the same room). One android tablet, which has good solid coverage around the house. Then we have two Apple ipads and an Apple TV trying to stream Netflix, which generally have patchy connectivity. As well we have two x iphone 4, which have Ok connectivity.

We often seem to lose connectivity even if signal strength appears good.

I realise we need to have ethernet from the modem to the Apple Tv and we are working on this, but its a very tricky thing to wire in our house.

I am trying out an ASUS DSL-N66U modem after talking to PBTech, this is the one that has been recommended. After hours of trying to connect it unsuccessfully, I rang Vodafone who checked my settings, and their conclusion was that as there was a DSL light showing on the modem, the problem was with "the Asus modem not authenticating correctly". So I spent half an hour on the phone to ASUS, and I got cut off before speaking with anyone.

I then rang PBTech who went through my settings and decided it must be a faulty unit, so I have changed it over only to get the same problem occurring. I go through the setup program, and it does its thing for a few minutes before giving an "unable to connect to the internet" warning.

Is there anyone in my area who specialises in troubleshooting this kind of networking issue? I'm happy to pay the right person to sort this out.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

antoniosk

2358 posts

Uber Geek

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#1094537 23-Jul-2014 21:42

Call GeeksonWheels or NeedaNerd.

But you may want to do some basic checks before you do....

1. Take WIFI out the picture and start with the basics:

- Can you connect your two computers directly to the modem using an ethernet cable?
- If yes - and a desktop should be able to do the above - does the internet connection remain stable, consistent, no dropouts and so on.

This will help isolate whether you have a network problem - VDSL line - or a router problem.

You'll need to operate for more than 2 mins this way to determine whether there is a network issue, and check performance during different times in the day. When the schools come home.... copper network still loads up with users and everyone's service degrades - and thats a physics reality of DSL :-)

2. If you find you're still losing network connection on this most simple setup, then call Vodafone for help troubleshooting your copper connection - they have a good crew and experience in dealing with average networks. Shame you're not on cable as that's really robust compared to DSL.

3. Assuming your DSL and modem prove stable, you can then slowly start isolating and adding back connections.

- What is your primary modem? is it the HG-659, or is there another device you connect all your widgets too?
- You say desktops with WIFI.... I have found most are supplied with really poor aerials that are just cosmetic
- Positioning of the WIFI router relative to widgets (is it on the floor? is it on a metal cabinet? is it in the roof space? is it next to the microwave? etc etc etc
- Size and construction of building? is it lots of steel? concrete reinforced walls? modern office nightmare? industrial zone? Queensgate shopping centre, where mobile coverage doesnt exist??

________

Antoniosk

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#1094552 23-Jul-2014 22:05

Thanks for your suggestions. The house was constructed in 1961 and is built on a concrete pad with steel beams. The signal strength appears Ok on the devices, but cuts in and out.
I will give one of the companies you suggest a call in the morning.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

Mattmannz

471 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1095057 24-Jul-2014 16:44

If you still need someone I can suggest IT Works in Lower Hutt. They specialise in small business and home office support and have two guys with significant experience.

Cheers
Matt.