Interference? Or something else?

Simple_Steve · 23 May 2011 at 22:54

Basically 4 days ago my connection started playing up. I could load certain sites and then no sites at all and then all of a sudden i could load everything. Once again it cut out and the cycle has faltered between certain sites and no sites ever since. Today I called up my ISP and they have run line tests from their end and it's as I expected, all is fine. It's the strangest problem!
I eventually decided to play around with all my settings. Changed to WPA encryption (not that it should make a difference) reset the netlog and changed the channel to 11 from auto. It's working better now but there are still shannanigans afoot. Speed is pretty ok too 48ms ping, 5.3mbs/d and .75mbs/u
It is only a 802.11b/g router. Can anybody give me clue as to how to solve or make this better? Or could some1 just say what the deal is?
Cheers
Steve

Dist · 24 May 2011 at 00:13

First thing I would do is try and isolate the problem. If possible connect through a wired connection rather than wireless, if the problems persist then its not a wireless issue. If the problems stop with a wired connection then all I can suggest is to check what SNR (signal to noise ratio) you have with a wireless connection (if your router provides that info), and try and change channel (do a wireless survey if your router offers it to see what is operating on what channel).

CSA · 24 May 2011 at 09:03

Im not overly clued up on networking but it sounds like it could be a DNS issue,what DNS address are you using ?

if you happen to be on o2 it might be an idea to change your dns as theirs have had major problems in the past,try google or open dns

Simple_Steve · 24 May 2011 at 11:02

My router offers none of those utils. I will wire it up when I get my cables back from the girlfriends house and report back. I'm on talk talk and I've never had issues quite like this before, and to be honest they don't follow a pattern or make sense in any way which lead me to believe it was interference. My DNS is on auto at the moment. Is google 8.8.8.8? or something similar?

CSA · 24 May 2011 at 11:52

i believe it is yeah,secondary being 8.8.4.4

its worth a try,you can always go back to talk talks its it doesnt cure it

Participant · 24 May 2011 at 12:19

As above, first verify that the problem is the wireless connection and not DNS or something.

Download and run InSSIDer.

Check who's using what channels in your area, and set channel manually to the least used of 1, 6, or 11.

Try giving the wireless client a static local IP to rule out DHCP issues.

Check wireless reception levels and move router as necessary.

Simple_Steve · 24 May 2011 at 12:58

All clients (apart from visitors) have static ip's from 61 upward, channel is on 11, signal is apparently good according to my computer. and there are only 3 wireless routers in range of my house (1 detectable from inside the house that is my direct neighbour, but i took a walk around with a lappy to see what is around my house ) they are all on auto for channel selection. I believe they are on channel 6 and channel 1. there has been roadworks at the end of the road which is why I didn't call talk talk for four days. I assumed the tools they were using were interfering with ssignal. But they don't work at 11pm and i'm still having the same problem thhen. I have noticed the signal has got weaker recently as i used to be able to use the internet with this lappy in the garden, but it won't work at all now. Thanks for all the input guys, it's good to know im ticking off the right things. I'll hardwire the lappy to the router when i get back. I've also ordered a D-link 2740b which might help.

Simple_Steve · 24 May 2011 at 22:47

No trouble with the connection at all when i got back today... The roadworks are still there so it's not that. didn't change the DNS so maybe it was the DNS?

CSA · 25 May 2011 at 08:29

I has similar problems last year , my gaming pc is hardwired to the router but laptop is wireless and both of them had trouble loading some webpages and wouldnt load any sometimes,the router showed no signs of disconnections and the SN margin was quite stable

on the rare occasion i could load up pages i headed to the o2 forums and found similar issues,the fix mentioned was changing DNS,once i did this the problems went away

zack1uk · 25 May 2011 at 14:11

Don't rely too much on the line test results. I had an issue very similar to yours a few years back. I had intermittent crackling on voice calls as well. Both the ISP and BT were adamant that the line was fine and only conceded that their may be an issue when, on the call that they told me the linetest was OK, the crackling started and they couldn't hear a word I was saying. It turned out that my incoming BT line needed relaying all the way back to the exchange as the sheathing had failed.

Did the issues get resolved when you connected via a wired connection to your router. If it is a wireless issue it does sound like someone else is either overlapping your wireless channel, or has bought a new higher powered router that is knocking your signal out. When I bought my Linksys 320 one of my neighbour's lost his wireless connection in parts of his house as our channels overlapped (my previous wireless router didn't have a strong enough signal to interfere with his).