Wireless dropping intermittently - Channels? Interruptions?

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achieveit

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#151611 30-Aug-2014 13:47

My ISP is Voyager, I use a Zyxel VMG8324-B10a Router which hosts my VDSL connection.

I use a desktop which connects via ethernet cable to my router - no problems with connectivity

I use a laptop, 2x phones, 1x tablet and sometimes PS3 which connects via wifi. I noticed when using my laptop - it seems to drop Internet connectivity for 2 minutes or so, then connects - this happens intermittently throughout usage (quite frequently)

There are 8+ or so other wifi networks in the area (I can see when connecting from a wifi device). Could the dropouts be due to channels crossing over or interference on my channel etc...

Just wondering if anyone else has this issue or has resolved this?

sbiddle

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#1118549 30-Aug-2014 13:57

WiFi on those Zyxel devices isn't particularly great. Changing the channel is the first thing you could look at.

Also ensure it's set to 20Mhz, and not 40Mhz.

achieveit

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#1118596 30-Aug-2014 14:56

Channel is set to AUTO - currently on 13

Was set to 40MHZ in both bands

Do I set this to 20MHZ in both bands or 20MHZ in 2GHZ & 40MHZ in 5GHZ

sbiddle

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#1118610 30-Aug-2014 15:48

You can easily use 40Mhz at 5Ghz. 40Mhz in 2.4Ghz is problematic due to the heavy congestion in this band.

Is your problem that your router is selecting ch 13? A huge number of devices incl laptops and phones do not support this channel.

achieveit

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#1118641 30-Aug-2014 17:13

I was thinking of setting it manually maybe? When I login to the Router Control Panel it says set to Auto but channel 13 is selected.

I was thinking of running a Wifi Analyser to check neighboring wifi networks and then move the channel of Wifi to a not so populated one? would this be useful.

Changing my modem to 20HZ now.

achieveit

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#1118645 30-Aug-2014 17:22

I have changed my Wireless to 20Mhz in 2.4Ghz and 40Mhz in 5Ghz - the mode auto selected channel 2

Will these have any bandwidth effects for wifi devices, like decreased speed etc.. I run a speedtest.net from my wifi device and got Ping 14ms / Down: 13.41Mbps / Up: 6.27mbps
Although I am only on VDSL with Voyager.

sbiddle

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#1118649 30-Aug-2014 17:37

Will these have any bandwidth effects for wifi devices, like decreased speed etc

There isn't an answer to that. 20Mhz will theoretically halve the maximum throughout of 2.4Ghz, but as the 2.4Ghz band is so heavily congested running at 40Mhz can often deliver better speeds and reliability.

timmmay

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#1118651 30-Aug-2014 17:40

Cordless phones can interfere with wireless.

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sbiddle

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#1118665 30-Aug-2014 18:19

timmmay: Cordless phones can interfere with wireless.

They can, but there are fewer and fewer 2.4Ghz cordless phones around these days. Uniden were pretty much the only manufacturer who sold them in the NZ market, and most are so old now that they're on their last legs.

Bluetooth and microwave ovens are two of the worse causes of interference.

achieveit

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#1118854 31-Aug-2014 10:18

My cordless phone sits next to my router and the router is on the bench under my microwave :D Maybe it's time to consider moving it? My phone is a Uniden Digital

sbiddle

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#1118859 31-Aug-2014 10:35

Is it a 2.4Ghz cordless phone or a DECT one?

achieveit

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#1118918 31-Aug-2014 12:27

DECT 1015 phone