Smart router with bandwidth management

[jakesmith]

I’ve just switched to Vodafone broadband after several years with Sky and I’m getting buffering issues on one device now which is hard-wired to my switch.

I’d like to get a way of monitoring the bandwidth usage so I can troubleshoot this issue and hit on the idea of a new router with a traffic monitoring / bandwidth allocation console built in

I have set the whole house up with wired Ethernet and various access points and it’s worked for several years trouble free but I’ve no knowledge of TCP/IP or network design / engineering, everything is just plug and play, so I need a consumer friendly console rather than something that requires a lot of configuration

Can anyone recommend a suitable device or way forward please?

[mattley]

On the grounds that this has gone unanswered all day I'll say it.

Sky are pretty good, vodafone are rubbish, you've just found that out, there really isn't much to add.

This https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYDaZgAP2M is a really good guide to using a cheap piece of kit to prove the point.

[Murph7355]

What's it buffering doing? Do other devices buffer doing the exact same thing?

[dmsims]

Asus RT-AC86U with Merlin firmware

[Gluggy]

Might sound silly and rather obvious but have you tried using the same device in a different port on the switch or as a first step just rebooting everything. Had a TiVo box that worked fine until we unplugged it to move some stuff around and then despite being in the same wall point / switch port it couldn't connect to the internet - rebooted the switch and it started working again.

[jakesmith]

So ... don't laugh ... for example if I use TikTok, often the comment section takes 5-10 seconds to load up. I know this isn't a major issue but it is annoying when it was perfect before & I use TT a lot

Then my Ring cameras won't stream unless they are connected directly to the Wifi Router - I have AP's all round the house and the camera at the back is quite far from the router so not ideal, but that's the only way it works

Then the buffering on the PC I use for Peleton... that is embarassing, the RJ45 plug was actually not properly seated in the switch! Embarassing as should ahve been the first thing I checked

He other thing is general - clearly the network doesn't cope as well with say 2 simultaneous streams youtube, netflix, Deezer. we don't stream in HD, and we don't stream more than 2 at a time so I'd have thought it would be fine

Vodafone app & speedtest report 80Mmps so should be fine really

The problem for me is there is a perceived massive step between wiring up lots of plug and play devices, and the knowledge needed to troubleshhot & fix the issues I'm facing.

[dmsims]

You are unlikely to be utilising all the download bandwidth

Things go pear shaped when the upload fills - you need to manage that

[FunkyGibbon]

dmsims said:

Asus RT-AC86U with Merlin firmware

Yep. This allows you to monitor each device and also allows QoS to improve or limit each device.

[jakesmith]

FunkyGibbon said:

dmsims said:

Asus RT-AC86U with Merlin firmware

Yep. This allows you to monitor each device and also allows QoS to improve or limit each device.

Thanks I'll get one of these & see how I get on. Not afraid to learn new stuff & work in tech so am hopeful I'll be able to do this

[Mr E]

jakesmith said:

Then my Ring cameras won't stream unless they are connected directly to the Wifi Router - I have AP's all round the house and the camera at the back is quite far from the router so not ideal, but that's the only way it works

Do you have access points to extend coverage, or are you using routers with built in WiFi

If the latter, I suspect the multicast that the cameras use to connect isn’t getting through the NAT.