Wi-Fi coverage issues for fibre broadband
Discussion
Had the excitement of having my new FTTP connection activated yesterday, 300mb down connection (line supports up to 1gb down but 300 will do be fine for now).
I’ve connected my Netgear orbi router (and satellite) to the fibre router which is distributing the Wi-Fi, but I’m finding the coverage drops off quite drastically by simply turning a corner and moving to a different room.
The main orbi router is in a room at one end of the house, reads 300mb on Wi-Fi. Move to the landing with some walls and an airing cupboard in the way, still 300mb. Step into the bedroom, it drops to 30mb!
Equally downstairs, reads 300mb in the hall, walk a few steps into the lounge and down to 50/60mb.
Might be hard to answer, and obviously I know walls etc. will create a drop off, I’m not expecting 100% bandwidth everywhere but to go from 300-30mb with one wall in the way seems quite a lot.
Obviously hard wiring is the answer, but not everything can be. Any insights on what can cause such a drastic drop off? It’s an 80s build house so no foil backed insulation as far as I’m aware.
Thanks!
I’ve connected my Netgear orbi router (and satellite) to the fibre router which is distributing the Wi-Fi, but I’m finding the coverage drops off quite drastically by simply turning a corner and moving to a different room.
The main orbi router is in a room at one end of the house, reads 300mb on Wi-Fi. Move to the landing with some walls and an airing cupboard in the way, still 300mb. Step into the bedroom, it drops to 30mb!
Equally downstairs, reads 300mb in the hall, walk a few steps into the lounge and down to 50/60mb.
Might be hard to answer, and obviously I know walls etc. will create a drop off, I’m not expecting 100% bandwidth everywhere but to go from 300-30mb with one wall in the way seems quite a lot.
Obviously hard wiring is the answer, but not everything can be. Any insights on what can cause such a drastic drop off? It’s an 80s build house so no foil backed insulation as far as I’m aware.
Thanks!
xeny said:
Interference from neighbours perhaps?
Can you hardware the connection between the Orbi units, as that would presumably help somewhat, and maybe get another satellite?
Neighbours are too far away and the rooms with the biggest issues aren’t near anything.Can you hardware the connection between the Orbi units, as that would presumably help somewhat, and maybe get another satellite?
Another orbi is an option, I just didn’t want to go down that route until I had some theories of why the sudden drop-off. Hardwiring is more of a faff due to their locations, but the satellite itself gets 300mb (ie when I check the speed when connected to the satellite), so isn’t likely to solve my problem.
Bit of a head scratcher.
Thinking you could potentially relocate the satellite, and if (don't know if these are dual band or tri band?) the satellite is using the 5Ghz to talk to the master node, it is going to go downhill faster than if it is wired, as the one radio is having to flip between client and backhaul.
More retries/less throughput to the client, and corresponding less time to talk to the master node.
More retries/less throughput to the client, and corresponding less time to talk to the master node.
xeny said:
Thinking you could potentially relocate the satellite, and if (don't know if these are dual band or tri band?) the satellite is using the 5Ghz to talk to the master node, it is going to go downhill faster than if it is wired, as the one radio is having to flip between client and backhaul.
More retries/less throughput to the client, and corresponding less time to talk to the master node.
Cheers, they are tri-band with a dedicated radio for the wireless backhaul comms.More retries/less throughput to the client, and corresponding less time to talk to the master node.
Also I was doing some testing yesterday, was sat in bed not moving and one test would get 50mb, then the next test immediately would get up to 300mb, then the next 100mb. Something is interfering with the signal, I just can’t figure it out and whether it’s environmental/structural/electronic as the variation is also big.
Mesh networks with the little satellites are OK, but you’re never going to get your house covered in line speed Wi-Fi everywhere. To get closer, you need a wireless access points with an Ethernet backhaul, which is precisely what I did in my house last week and ran Cat6 through the walls and floors and dotted Unifi APs everywhere with a UDM Dream Machine pro and POE switch.
devnull said:
Mesh networks with the little satellites are OK, but you’re never going to get your house covered in line speed Wi-Fi everywhere. To get closer, you need a wireless access points with an Ethernet backhaul, which is precisely what I did in my house last week and ran Cat6 through the walls and floors and dotted Unifi APs everywhere with a UDM Dream Machine pro and POE switch.
Yeah I’m aware it’s not going to be perfect with the mesh systems/satellites and im not looking to get 100% speed everywhere, but I’m just trying to figure out why the drop off is so drastic by simply walking through a doorway into another room (300-30mb). I expected a stepped decrease but 90%?! And as per my previous post, I could be sitting in the same spot without moving, one test is 200mb, the next is 30mb. Clearly I can get the speeds in the problem room, but what is causing such a major variation? Unless we do some major renovations in the future, wiring the whole house with cat6 isn’t going to be an easy option.
aquarianone said:
If you've got an Android phone you could download one of the many "wifi detector" apps,
you can then see what's happening across what channels / ranges
Quite handy to see if it's "busy" or "quiet" on certain channels..(because of neighbours / other devices / ghosts)...
I tried to find an apple equivalent to no avail (they just do Speedtest.net style tests), but open to any recommendations!you can then see what's happening across what channels / ranges
Quite handy to see if it's "busy" or "quiet" on certain channels..(because of neighbours / other devices / ghosts)...
Even if it was easy, wiring CAT6 is becoming less relevant in the home now. It's not like many devices come with ethernet ports these days.
Hardwiring AP's usually does have some benefit, but even that is getting questionable in standard size properties - particularly newish builds with plasterboard. It's also less of an issue with tri-band or Wi-Fi 6 based mesh.
It sounds like band steering isn't working correctly on the Orbi's. Are you on the 2.4 Ghz channel when you're getting the low readings?
Hardwiring AP's usually does have some benefit, but even that is getting questionable in standard size properties - particularly newish builds with plasterboard. It's also less of an issue with tri-band or Wi-Fi 6 based mesh.
It sounds like band steering isn't working correctly on the Orbi's. Are you on the 2.4 Ghz channel when you're getting the low readings?
Bikerjon said:
Even if it was easy, wiring CAT6 is becoming less relevant in the home now. It's not like many devices come with ethernet ports these days.
Hardwiring AP's usually does have some benefit, but even that is getting questionable in standard size properties - particularly newish builds with plasterboard. It's also less of an issue with tri-band or Wi-Fi 6 based mesh.
It sounds like band steering isn't working correctly on the Orbi's. Are you on the 2.4 Ghz channel when you're getting the low readings?
Thanks for this, I’m on the 5Ghz band, and tested on both the satellite and the main router.Hardwiring AP's usually does have some benefit, but even that is getting questionable in standard size properties - particularly newish builds with plasterboard. It's also less of an issue with tri-band or Wi-Fi 6 based mesh.
It sounds like band steering isn't working correctly on the Orbi's. Are you on the 2.4 Ghz channel when you're getting the low readings?
Bikerjon said:
Possibly 5Ghz channel interference then, maybe on the backhaul channel? I can't remember what Orbi allows you to change, but I'd start by using some different 5Ghz channels and retest.
If that were the case, why would a bedroom location make a difference (not located near other buildings). I’d assume 5Ghz interference would be caused by hardware/devices etc of which they are none?juggsy said:
If that were the case, why would a bedroom location make a difference (not located near other buildings). I’d assume 5Ghz interference would be caused by hardware/devices etc of which they are none?
It's hard to say without knowing the layout or running a channel scan. Maybe it's the client switching between the satellite unit and main Orbi? Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff