Using another router/modem - BT Infinity

slipd · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:21

Hi guys,

A friend is having no end of bother with their connection... the router (Smart Hub 6) is rock solid, no connection drops for weeks on end but the connection between there and her devices (wired/wireless) is a nightmare! It is always dropping in and out. Particularly annoying for them when they want to Skype, send an email etc. Things like iPlayer/Netlfix are basically unusable.

BT have 'sent engineers out' who report back that the line is solid etc., which we know, but aren't interested in replacing their kit, which is what I suspect is at fault. To prove once and for all are there any cheap bits of kit out there that wee can buy and try, to establish for sure that it's their Hub at fault?

Thanks.

Iron-man · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:23

I had the same issue and it turned out to be cordless phone plugged in near router, I also bought a tp link router to try which I still use now

slipd · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:26

Interesting... they might actually have a cordless phone of top, as in right next to their Hub. Will advise.

Can I ask which TP Link you're using and confirm it's compatible with BT/Infinity? I think they get about 50mb download.

bremen1874 · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:29

What's cheap? Any worthwhile wireless router/access point is going to be over £50.

Have you tried changing wireless channels?

Have you tried one of the wireless analyser apps such as inSSIDer to check that they're on the best channels for their location.

Iron-man · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:29

slipd said:
Interesting... they might actually have a cordless phone of top, as in right next to their Hub. Will advise.

Can I ask which TP Link you're using and confirm it's compatible with BT/Infinity? I think they get about 50mb download.

I have a TP link AC1600 which works fine. I had all the same issues had engineers out changed smart hub in the end I think I had 3 but it still kept doing it, then changed for tp link and seemed ok and then started doing it again, That's when someone said about the cordless phone and since I have unplugged and gone back to a corded 1 which I never use anyway to be honest it has been spot on

Rroff · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:36

bremen1874 said:
What's cheap? Any worthwhile wireless router/access point is going to be over £50.

Yeah I tried a couple of cheaper ones like the Netgear DM200 or something like that as I wanted a backup device incase my main modem/router setup failed and they all had issues and glitches

slipd · 8 Jul 2018 at 18:57

So the TP Link vdsl kit is the order of the day? Is it quite easy to get your login details? I remember with Sky I had to use Wire Shark I think it was, to effectively sniff out my own details

bremen1874 · 8 Jul 2018 at 19:01

For BT domestic connections I don't think you need any login details.

You sometimes have to enter junk credentials if the router insists.

slipd · 8 Jul 2018 at 21:13

bremen1874 said:
What's cheap? Any worthwhile wireless router/access point is going to be over £50.

Have you tried changing wireless channels?

Have you tried one of the wireless analyser apps such as inSSIDer to check that they're on the best channels for their location.

Yeah, I don't wan them to spend a lot ideally. Changing wireless channel has made no difference, the wired connections drop in and out too.

I've asked them to unplug or move their cordless phone like Iron-man suggested, see if that makes any difference.

Rroff · 8 Jul 2018 at 21:15

bremen1874 said:
For BT domestic connections I don't think you need any login details.

You sometimes have to enter junk credentials if the router insists.

I've occasionally had to put in a valid BT email address not sure why - doesn't seem to care if it is your one or not or what the password is. Most of the time the auto config just works and/or you might need to stick something in the fields just to keep it happy.