Broadband issues

[Annasfield]

I've been with BT for the last year and have to say I've been very disappointed with the service. For general internet browsing, etc it's fine - if you're in the room that the hub is. The rest of the (1 bedroom!) flat is attrocious. I've changed the frequency and have done all of their recommendations, yet 5 metres down the hallway the service is appalling.

Their hotspot service is better in my living room than the actual service in my flat. I can now renew my contract or take the business elsewhere but I'm wondering if this is just an issue I will continue have or if it's a BT thing. Their advert about it being the most far reaching braodband is quite frankly laughable!!

Does anyone else have a similar experience/any recommendations?

[DulwichFox]

Hi Annasfield..

You said you have changed the frequency..

BT Home Hub 5 settings guide - how to get more speed and make it less annoying..

We've seen some people advising to only use the 2.4GHz network, as it's faster, but this is poor advice and is not true.

If you have not already done so have a read here:-

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/networks/1403054/bt-home-hub-5-settings-guide-how-to-get-more-speed-and-make-it-less-annoying

Hope this article helps..

DulwichFox

[Annasfield]

Yes I've done that. It's a bit better but not good enough unfortunately

[red devil]

As there's been so many previous threads from people complaining about their poor broadband service in the area, be it BT, Virgin et al, I think you should speak to your neighbours and see what they have to say on the matter. I've got Virgin and on the whole I've had a very good service for over 8 years, but there have been numerous threads on here where people have cited appalling supply from them. So I'm thinking it may just come down to where you live as to who gives the best service...

[Sue]

I've got a similar problem. I'm with Plusnet.

It was fine until the main socket was moved upstairs from my kitchen when I had the kitchen renovated. Now I've got spots in the house where I can't get a WiFi signal at all, notably the place in my living room where I have my TV and music.

I haven't got round to it yet, but I'm intending getting one of those gadgets which carry broadband through the electrical circuit of your house, as they seem the most effective. They're also not that expensive.

A Plusnet person told me that was probably the best option (hmmm. Maybe providing a decent router might have been the best option).

Have you investigated that possibility?

Also, there are various things which can affect WiFi like having a landline phone too close to the router, having other electrical equipment too close etc, presumably you've eliminated all those?

ETA: I know you're not with Plusnet, but presumably some of the problems are the same with any provider, so does any of this help?:

https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/getting-the-best-wifi-signal/

[DulwichFox]

For the best optimum speed use a cable to connect to your Router..

It will be much faster..

Things that can affect your 'Wireless' speed..

Your neighbors, Wi-Fi Networks

Microwave ovens, Cordless phones, Baby monitors (yours or your neighbours)

DulwichFox.

[Sue]

This is the content of the Plusnet link I posted above:

Here's how to get the strongest signal possible from your wi-fi network. They're just some general suggestions, so if any don't work, stick with the ones that work best for you.

This can be a bit tricky, because there's two things you need to keep in mind. Where's best for both your broadband and your wi-fi signal. Here are some tips to help you decide.

Best for your broadband signal

First of all, find your master telephone socket. This is the best socket to connect your router to. It's usually closest to where the telephone line comes into your home or office. You don't have to connect your router to this one. But you'll get the best broadband performance from it, especially if you have a poor quality or long line.

If you find your broadband works just as well in other sockets, go ahead and use them instead. But if you're having problems, like connection dropping regularly, use the master socket whilst you're sorting it out.

Best for wi-fi signal

For the strongest connection, it's best to put your router:

out in an open space in your home or office, that's not on the floor

close to your computer (somewhere central in your home or office is best)

away from any thick walls, metal objects or electrical appliances

Don't worry if you can't do them all, but do as many as you can.

Your router uses radio signals, which can be interrupted by other electrical appliances in your home. Microwaves, Bluetooth devices, cordless phones, fridges and baby monitors are some of the most common culprits. So try and keep your router away from them.

If you're getting a lot of problems when you use a cordless phone, you might need to get one that broadcasts on a higher frequency. Before you buy one, tell the retailer about the problem you're having, so they can advise you on the best phone.

For 2.4GHz wi-fi routers there are 13 channels for wi-fi in the UK, each giving a slightly different frequency. You'll only be connected to one, so the others can sometimes disturb your connection.

So, how does your router decide which one to connect to? Well, it'll usually try to choose the one being used the least in the area.

The new Plusnet Hub One router is even cleverer. It uses dual-band wi-fi, which means it connects to two different frequencies, to give you an even stronger wi-fi signal.

Get the best from your new Hub One router by using devices alongside it which work on 5GHz. Newer computers should work fine, but older machines might need a bit of upgrading. You can do this easily using a dual-band USB dongle. Have a look at our Router guides for a bit more on this.

If you're having problems with any router, you should check it's connected to a channel that's as free as possible. There are ways to check how many routers are using the same channel as you, have a look on our forums for more info. If, when you look, your router is using a channel with a lot of routers on it, you'll be better off changing to a less common one. Channel one, six or eleven will usually give you the best speed.

[ruffers]

Is it OK wired to the router? In other words is this a broadband problem, or a wireless problem..?

[Sue]

If it's OK in the room where the hub/router is, it must be a wireless problem??

Presumably you could run a cable through the flat to wherever you wanted to use the broadband, but that would be a pain.

ETA: I'm assuming you've asked BT for advice?

Plusnet were pretty useless, they just said the broadband was OK and the wireless wasn't their problem (even though it's their router!!!!)

[jaywalker]

Definitely do what Foxy suggests and connect via Ethernet. I gave up trying to 'fix' my BT Wi-Fi. Was down to 1 mb/sec, and tried everything (including advanced router settings and band selection) to no avail. now with cable connection up to 75-80. May be the hub, but more often just lots of interference from other signals. Unlikely to be the feed itself but if you ring them they will check that. (btw the reviews of the new bt hub 6 say its significantly faster than the hub 5).

[DaveR]

This:

"I haven't got round to it yet, but I'm intending getting one of those gadgets which carry broadband through the electrical circuit of your house, as they seem the most effective. They're also not that expensive."

The generic name for these products is Powerline and there are various brands available.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/network-wifi/18-best-powerline-adapters-2016-uk-3490638/

I have Netgear ones which are the same brand as my router, but they should all work with any router.

[Annasfield]

I just feel as though it's yet more expense on something that should be able to travel 5 metres down the hallway or in to the room above. I will invest if the extenders to see it improves.

I've nothing to plug an Ethernet cable in to.

[Sue]

DaveR Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This:

>

> "I haven't got round to it yet, but I'm intending

> getting one of those gadgets which carry broadband

> through the electrical circuit of your house, as

> they seem the most effective. They're also not

> that expensive."

>

> The generic name for these products is Powerline

> and there are various brands available.

>

> http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/test-centre/network-wif

> i/18-best-powerline-adapters-2016-uk-3490638/

>

> I have Netgear ones which are the same brand as my

> router, but they should all work with any router.

Yes, thanks, I did quite a bit of research on it a while back, but other things intervened so I never actually got round to buying one.

I deffo don't want cables running all over the place - unsightly and a potential trip hazard unless they're all affixed permanently to the skirting and run round door frames etc :(

ETA: Annasfield, let us know how you get on as I have been reminded I really must sort mine out too.

[DaveR]

"I just feel as though it's yet more expense on something that should be able to travel 5 metres down the hallway or in to the room above. I will invest if the extenders to see it improves."

I get the frustration, but if it's fine in the room with the router, the problem is either being caused by interference or structural barriers i.e. it's not any defect in the service you're paying for. The problem with extenders is they only pick up whatever wifi signal you've got and throw it a bit further.

[pipsky2008]

red devil Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> As there's been so many previous threads from

> people complaining about their poor broadband

> service in the area, be it BT, Virgin et al, I

> think you should speak to your neighbours and see

> what they have to say on the matter. I've got

> Virgin and on the whole I've had a very good

> service for over 8 years, but there have been

> numerous threads on here where people have cited

> appalling supply from them. So I'm thinking it may

> just come down to where you live as to who gives

> the best service...

Hi Red Devil

have you had call to contact Virgin media technical services? Do you use their 0845 number or another?

Thanks

[Frenchpolisher]

I was under the impression that all routers supplied by the major suppliers had ethernet ports. I work from home and plug my Mac into my Sky hub with an Ethernet cable. This offers me the best connectivity in the house, although as we aren't on superfast cable the performance is only serviceable.

Our Sky hub is also pretty poor when it comes to supplying WiFi to the whole maisonette. Some wireless routers seem better at this than others. For instance the BT hub that the guys upstairs have seems better as they have let us connect in the past when ours has gone down.

I'd suggest that on the whole though using Wifi once you get more than a room away from the hub is always likely to be pretty flakey. As a result we ended up buying some Powerline adaptors. These have worked well, although we could do with an extra set to extend the signal even further.

Anyway, as others have said, you need to work out whether it's a broadband or WiFi signal issue and for that you really need at least one device wired in.