Wireless routers (1 Viewer)

[Vectis Birder]

I am currently using BT Broadband, which I've had for about three and a half years now, and the internet has started to become erratic and drop out, meaning I have to reset the router two or three times a day. It's a real pain in the neck and I'm wondering if the router is a bit past it and in need of replacing.
BT themselves have not been a lot of help in this regard, getting me to check sockets and filters (all of which are ok, as I've switched them round) and doing line checks (again ok) but avoiding the issue when I mention that the router may need replacing.

So, if I buy a new router from Maplins or PC World, will that work with BT Broadband or should I just change ISPs?

Cheers

 

[socksitis]

I am with BT broadband, on a business package. i had trouble a few weeks ago. Had noise on the line which I find interferes with the signal and broadband will cut out, another problem we have can be when it is windy.
I phoned BT, did all the testing stuff, reported the noise on the line fault as well. tries pluging computer into router - using yellow cable, still interemittent. Phoned BT again - they sent new router. Had one dodgy day with it so back on the phone and now all sorted.
have you done a speed test? BT speed test into google and see what you get, if it is ridiculously low, get on the phone again - seems to work eventually.
Good luck, but get onto BT, they should try a new router before you go and buy.
Forgot to say my router was coming up to it's second or third year?

 

[Vectis Birder]

Thanks Socksitis. Usually there are three lights on the router illuminated all the time - wireless, broadband and internet status lights. When the dropouts occur the wireless and broadband lights remain on, while the internet light goes out. When I reset the router all three lights - after about five minutes - come back on.
However, since my post I phoned them again and there was a recorded message on the line saying that there were problems with the internet in some parts of the south of England, so I would guess (am hoping) that this is the reason for the intermittent internet and that it isn't just a co-incidence, as the problems have been happening since Wednesday evening.

 

[Duke Leto]

If you were thinking of getting a new router, get the BT Black hub, the newest one, i found it to be far more stable to line conditions and noise that the older white one and the wi-fi has better coverage.
As for the fault, if the wireless and broadband stay on, theres a good chance that the connection from you to the local exchange is sound, if the internet goes out its the connection into BT thats the problem so would occur what ever router you had.

If you go to the BT Yahoo website and look for service issues you'll get the following, looks like theres been issues in Southampton and Faraday, not sure if Faraday is a PoP site, if it is it could effect quite a large chunk of the south of the UK

Internet Connection

There are currently 2 open and 3 closed issues. Fri 29/01/2010 at 09amOngoing

Problem in the Inverness area Dialling codes affected: 01479, 01540 and 01808 (20C)
Estimated time to resolve: 2 hours

We're aware of a temporary problem in the Inverness area that's causing some people trouble accessing the Internet. We're sorry if you've been affected. Our engineers are now working to fix the problem, and we expect to have the service back to normal in 2 hours. Fri 29/01/2010 at 09amOngoing
Problem in the Faraday area
Dialling codes affected: TBC (21CN)
Estimated time to resolve: 2hrs
[FONT='Tahoma','sans-serif']We are aware of a temporary problem in the Faraday area that may be causing some users difficulties accessing the Internet. Our engineers are working to resolve this problem and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.[/font]
Fri 29/01/2010 at 12pmResolved
Problem in the Derby area
Dialling codes affected: TBC (21CN)
Estimated time to resolve: 2hrs
We are aware of a temporary problem in the Derby area that may be causing some users difficulties accessing the Internet. Our engineers are working to resolve this problem and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.[/font]
Fri 29/01/2010 at 06amResolved
Problem in the Southampton area Dialling codes affected: 0238021, 0238022, 0238023, 0238031, 0238032, 0238033, 0238034, 0238036, 0238038, 0238039, 0238049, 0238057, 0238063, 0238071, 0238082, 0238083, 0238090 and 0238094 (20C)
Estimated time to resolve: 2 hours

We're aware of a temporary problem in the Southampton area that's causing some people trouble accessing the Internet. We're sorry if you've been affected. Our engineers are now working to fix the problem, and we expect to have the service back to normal in 2 hours. Fri 29/01/2010 at 04pm
Resolved
Problem in the Manchester Area

 

[Vectis Birder]

It's still ongoing, despite BT's claims to the contrary. I have just spent an aggravating half hour talking so some tech bloke who claims it's my wireless connection when it patently obviously is not.

 

[apbarr]

Next time you're on the phone, ask for a MAC code as you have had enough and are going elsewhere, if there's a reluctance to give you one ask for their supervisor. Hopefully a new router should then be forthcoming

 

[socksitis]

Most definately ask for the Mac code. as if you don't and you get stroppy like I did with AOL and say ' that's it, I'm off!' They will cut you off as quick as a flash and you cannot get internet connection for what I think was two weeks!!

 

[Vectis Birder]

The problem seems to be resolved, it disappeared at the same time as the BT.com broadband status page said the problems were resolved. And I am now using an ethernet cable instead of the slow wireless. 18Mbps vs 100Mbps? No contest, except for the annoying cable trailing through the house.

 

[hollis_f]

The problem seems to be resolved, it disappeared at the same time as the BT.com broadband status page said the problems were resolved. And I am now using an ethernet cable instead of the slow wireless. 18Mbps vs 100Mbps? No contest, except for the annoying cable trailing through the house.

Have you thought about using ethernet over mains? We've got it set up for use where the wireless signal is poor and it works really well.

 

[Vectis Birder]

Have you thought about using ethernet over mains?

I am going to betray my total ignorance here and ask what that means...

 

[Duke Leto]

18Mbps vs 100Mbps? No contest, except for the annoying cable trailing through the house.

Except your broadband has a sync speed of less that 8Mps (probably, unless your one of the lucky people that runs ADSL2+ at up to 20Mbps) and the IP throughput can only be 7Mbps max so I wonder why people want super fast router access??
Unless you have a home network that streams video but even that wouldn't need anywhere near that bandwidth

 

[miketoll]

I am going to betray my total ignorance here and ask what that means...

Called Home Plug, here is a crib off Broadband buyer:
HomePlug Networking

Internet & PC networking via the household power circuit
HomePlug technology is now firmly established as a home-networking alternative for interconnecting computers and gaming consoles via the existing household power circuit.

The HomePlug standard turns ordinary power wiring into a data and multimedia network! Surf the Internet and share data up to 200/s transfer rates and distances of up to 200 metres over existing electrical wiring in the home, office, or factory.

*
The easiest broadband extension into any room and onto any floor in the building, simply by getting a pair of Homeplugs, often referred to as 'starter kits'. Connect one HomePlug Ethernet adapter to an Internet enabled ADSL / Cable Broadband Router and plug that it into a power socket, then plug the other adapter into another socket in the building! If you find you then want internet access in multiple rooms without moving the adapters from one socket to another, simply add additional ones where you need them! Homplugs can be bought in pairs or as a single adapter.
*
Perfect for connecting games consoles to the Internet
*
No new cables, no drilling, no mess! Just use any power socket to access the Internet or home network throughout the whole house.
*
Installation? Childs play! Simply plug the HomePlug into the power socket and connect it the PC's Ethernet Interface; install the supplied software and go!

Works well but not cheap, do not use with an extension lead which has surge protection as it will cut out the signal. It was the only sensible way to get broadband up to one of my rooms which was out of wireless range.

 

[Duke Leto]

If you take BT Vision you get a pr for free, you'll find loads of these on eBay Comtrend Powerline adapters