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[JSP26]

Hi all,

A couple of months ago I started having connection issues on my wireless network.  On both my laptop and desktop PCs I would get connection failures randomly, even when I was getting an excellent signal strength.  Sometimes the connection would drop and reset, other times there was no sign of why the connection failure was occurring.  My speed tests all show a normal speed, and ping times are normal (when I can connect to the site at all that is).
Wired connections seem to work fine, either directly to the modem or through the router, but the router placement makes extended testing... unpleasant.

After the ISP confirmed that the modem was working correctly, I upgraded my DIR-625 to a new DIR-860L, and the problem seems to have gotten worse. I reinstalled windows, checked that all my drivers were updated.  I made sure that power management settings were not shutting down the adapter.  I uninstalled AVG and replaced it with Avast.  The problem continues.

I have fixed my router on the best possible channel (after checking with an android app), and upgraded the firmware to 1.05.  The D-link phone tech support suggested that the router was faulty, but that is unlikely, since it occurred on a previous device as well (meaning the hardware upgrade was probably useless, but the improved range is nice).

I just cant seem to figure this problem out!  Anyone have any suggestions?  Is this router a brick?

Specs:

ISP: Cogeco Cable, Hamilton, ON, CA
Modem: Arris, TM602G/115
10 Mbps down, 1.5 Mbps up
Using 2.5 Ghz connection, 20/40 Mhz width, rate=auto
WPA2 only, TKIP & AES

Laptop: Windows 7, Home Premium, Atheros AR5B97 Wireless Network Adapter
Desktop: Windows 7, Ultimate, D-Link DWA 542 Wireless Network Adapter
I have two Android Phones and an Android tablet connected as well, they seem to be working ok (no complete signal drops/resets noticed with the tablet)

Let me know if any other info would be helpful, and I will add it.

Thanks!

[FurryNutz]

Link>Welcome!

• Has a Factory Reset been performed?
• Was a Factory Reset performed before and after any firmware updates then set up from scratch?

FW Update Process

• Was the router working before any firmware updates?

Internet Service Provider and Modem Configurations

• If this modem has a built in router, it's best to bridge the modem. Having 2 routers on the same line can cause connection problems: Link>Double NAT and How NAT Works. To tell if the modem is bridged or not, look at the routers web page, Status/Device Info/Wan Section, if there is a 192.168.0.# address in the WAN IP address field, then the modem is not bridged. If the modem can't be bridged then see if the modem has a DMZ option and input the IP address the router gets from the modem and put that into the modems DMZ. Also check the routers DHCP IP address maybe conflicting with the ISP modems IP address 192.168.0.1. Check to see if this is the same on the ISP modem and if modem can't be bridged. If so, change the DIR router to 192.168.1.1 or .0.254.
  Example of a D-Link router configured for PPPoE with ISP Modem bridged: PPPoE Configuration on Router

I believe your ISP modem has a built in router...

• Check ISP MTU requirements, Cable is usually 1500, DSL is around 1492 down to 1472. Call the ISP and ask. Link>Checking MTU Values

Wireless Configurations
Links>Wireless Installation Considerations and Managing Signal Congestion and Good Neighbour Policy

• Ensure the default (dlink) SSID name is changed. Can be anything and not something that's already in use by any neighboring WiFi routers. Under Setup/Wireless/Manual.
• What wireless modes are you using?
• 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz routers: Try single mode G or N or mixed G and N on 2.4Ghz and single mode N on 5Ghz?
• Try setting a manual Channel to a open or unused channel. 1, 6 or 11. 11 for single mode N if the channel is clear.
• What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/AES Only. Some WiFi adapters don't support AES, so you might want to try TPIK only or Auto TPIK and AES.
• Any 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz cordless house phones or WiFi APs near by?
• Any other WiFi routers in the area? Link> Use InSSIDer to find out. How many?
• If you have any of these options, Try turning OFF or ON Short GI, WLAN Partition, Extra Wireless Protection and HT 20/40 Co-existence if you have it. Also testing with HT20/40Mhz Co-existence enabled will impact results as well. I prefer to use this option OFF. Recommended settings are default. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

If this happened on the 1st router and now with this one, I presume this maybe an environmental condition with WiFi. Please review the Managing Wireless Congestion link for information.

• Try setting Medium or Low power output settings and test again Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

Router Placement
Forum User - "Well I feel really dumb. After moving the router away from other electronic devices my speeds are back to normal. Just a heads up for anyone experiencing slow speeds, you might want to move it away from other electronics and see if that helps."
6" minimum safe distance between devices.

[JSP26]

Just to address some of the points you have brought up here:

The router was not working before a firmware upgrade.  A factory reset was done prior to the firmware upgrade, but I haven't done one since.

The modem is apparently bridged, as the WAN IP is not of the 192.168.x.x variety.  I don't know much about this topic, if I am missing the point, please advise.

I tried changing the power output to medium (2.4 Ghz) and low (5 Ghz), and the problem remained unchanged.

As mentioned in the stats above, the security settings are WPA2, TKIP & AES, as advised.

The introduction of a Wireless AC protocol is also unlikely to be an issue, since my previous router was a wireless N, and had the same issues recently.

I doubt that the router placement is the issue.  Although it is in a terrible location (basement, between a water heater and electrical panel), the signal strength is excellent, and that location has not changed.  We do have several cordless phones in the house, but this is also not a new condition.  There are several other wireless networks in the area, but our signal is on a decent channel, and there are no new changes to "ecosystem" of WiFi networks.
So while interference may be an issue, I doubt it is the cause of our recent problems.

"If you have any of these options, Try turning OFF or ON Short GI, WLAN Partition, Extra Wireless Protection and HT 20/40 Co-existence if you have it. Also testing with HT20/40Mhz Co-existence enabled will impact results as well. I prefer to use this option OFF. Recommended settings are default. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless."
- I don't understand this bit.  Could anyone clarify please?

I will keep working through your suggestions, especially the MTU issue, and post if anything changes.  Until then, additional suggestions would be appreciated.  If the issue can't be resolved in a week or two I may exchange the router and see if that makes a difference.

Cheers.

[FurryNutz]

Are the cordless phones 2.4 or 5Ghz by chance?

Having the router in the basement is not an idea or recommended placement of the router. Placement should be on the main floor of the building and centrally located. Possible that the electrical box should be causing some interferences or noise on the power line that maybe effecting the power to the router and the radios.

I recommend testing the router in a different location away from any electrical and radio sources.

I would recommend a factory reset and a set up from scratch to test...after you move the router to the main floor if you can...

Any other WiFi routers in the area? Link> Use InSSIDer to find out. How many are there??

I use the 868L which has similar HW and have not issues with it dropping signals or WiFi.

Again, if this problem has been seen with the other router and has now been seen on the new router, there is something else in your building and or placement of this router that is causing interferences and WiFi problems for you. You need to identify the problem source as getting a different router may just present the problem again. I bet if you took this router to a friend or families place and tested it there, I bet the problem would not present itself...

Maybe someone can review your router settings with you using Link> teamviewer if your interested. Its safe and secure.

[JSP26]

Thanks for the reply FurryNutz

The phones are bluetooth, so I believe that means they operate at about 2.4 Ghz, however, I have had the phones for about a year and this issue is relatively new (It has only been bad for about a month or so).  The placement of the modem and router is terrible (right between a water heater and the electrical panel in the basement) but the ISP will not install to the main floor, and there isn't a power supply anywhere else in the basement but at the box.  So although moving the setup isn't really practical, they have both been in that location for 6 years!  That, combined with the excellent signal strength, makes it hard to understand how it could be interference, although I do plan on trying my laptop and router individually at a friends house this weekend and seeing if I can isolate the problem. 

If the problem persists I will try a factory reset.  Would you recommend upgrading the firmware right away, or leaving it alone at first and upgrading only if the problem continues?

InSSIDer failed to install repeatedly for me, so I used an android app on my tablet to check the relative signal strength on different channels.  Here is a sample of the results, which I take to mean that I have an adequate strength, and that the best channel option is 3.




I will try out different configurations at another location and see if I can clarify the issue.  If I am still stuck I will post a request for a teamviewer review.  Thanks for the suggestion!

I will post again with an update soon.

[FurryNutz]

Ok keep us posted.

After testing of router at different location depending on results, fw could be needed.
Also i would highly consider moving the router from basement area, would entail just getting a long LAN cable between middm and new location for router.

Lets us know results of test first and will go from there.

[JSP26]

So I tried my hardware at a friends house (my laptop on both his WiFi, and with my router set up), and it worked flawlessly.  In dozens of clicks over 2+ hours I couldn't find a single dropped connection.

I suppose that leaves the problem conclusively at local interference (or as my friend suggested, a poltergeist).  Is there any way to detect potential sources of interference?  I can't think of anything in my house that could be causing significant interference other than my cordless bluetooth phones.  I don't even use my microwave.  I do live in a town-house complex, maybe my neighbours have added some device recently that is causing this interference - if so, how can I track it?

I can try to run some LAN cables up through the vents and set up the router on the main floor, but I am not sure if that will fix the problem, since I still get this issue when I am within 15 feet of the router on the same floor.

Thanks again for the input.

[FurryNutz]

Ok then, so the router is good in a different location.

Going back and looking at your posted pics, what SSID name is yours?
What are all those BELL names? Those your devices?

I would recommend moving that router up to the main floor in a central location if possible or you could try at a location where most of your connections might be. You can always add on a extender later on if you choose a location on one side of the house. Let try on the main floor for now and see what happens.

I think channel 4 as a test would be ok, however we need to know your SSID name and what those other names are...

[JSP26]

Just OzzieNet (in red) is mine, all of the others belong to neighbours, somewhere.  I will try to move the router upstairs - I just need to figure out how and where to drill through the floor...

I had the router on channel 1 previously and moved it to 3 recently to try to minimize interference.  SSID's at channel 1 and 4-6 pop up irregularly, then disappear.  I took the screen grab above to capture a couple of them while they were on the screen, but I think anything below 5 should be pretty open.  Given the seriousness of the interference I think what I am looking at is broad band interference across the spectrum, and I probably can't get away from it on these channels.  I wish I knew where the hell it was coming from.

[FurryNutz]

Id try channel 4 or 1 and see after you get the router moved...might be different once you move the router as well...you want to use mainly 1, 4, 6, 8 or 11 as sometimes the other channels are side bad channels...see what it's like after you move it...try 4 or 1 again...

[JSP26]

I moved my router up on top of the vents in the basement ceiling and dropped the power output to medium, and that seems to have done the trick! I think the signal will improve when I get it to the main floor, but for now connection drops seem to be done 

I think what happened is our neighbours got a new router, and they were competing to top each other in power, creating a whole lot of wide band interference. Since the change of location the neighbours WiFi signal has dropped in power and looked more stable.  I think if anything the 860L is too powerful, and only made matters worse until I turned the power down.

Thank for your help FurryNutz!

[FurryNutz]

Glad is working better now.

What is the vent material made of? Any metal by chance?

[JSP26]

Yup, all metal.  Although nothing changed up there to start these problems, and my old 625 never had issues with it until recently, that certainly must have been a big part of it.  It must have had the power just cranked to get through the interference, which must have caused all kinds of problems for the router on the other side of the shared townhouse wall in my neighbours basements (the only local ISP does not install anywhere else).

[FurryNutz]

metal structures and material can impact router WiFi as well...

[FurryNutz]

http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=58550.0