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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 29, 2021 18:33:48 GMT
Sorry to butt in, I was trying to stay out of this as it seems to be going in ever decreasing circles, but something has just occurred to me. Mike have you checked how many web tabs you have open in your web browsers on each PC? I know it sounds silly but I have seem machines with 50 or more and then the WiFi/pc will run like a dead dog, and anything else requiring WiFi will be buggered. The other thing to check is how many emails do you have in your inbox(s) on your emails, if it’s thousands, and I have seen a computer with over 100k, then the email app will be trying synchronise every time mail in the inbox and will hog the WiFi and slow everything down. This applies to the iPad as well. If you have loads in the inbox you need to clear them out. More web tabs open on the slower result Gmail open too but on both. Yes 1000s I tend to open a tab to sort fully later then I have a lot to come back to Testing with the system as I use it No, no, no you are swamping it with crap, it’s like trying to put porridge down your pipes and expecting it not to clog up. Do as we advise not as you think, is my best advise. I have been in IT many years and giving you best advice as are others on here. You need to be very methodical when dealing with this get rid of all the rubbish and then test with a level playing field, you may be pleasantly surprised and then decide you do not need to do anything afterall, otherwise your just wasting your time and effort. Sorry to be so blunt but that is the way it is. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 29, 2021 19:35:48 GMT
I'll give it a go
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 10, 2021 11:15:48 GMT
Update
Plusnet is gone. Three mobile broadband in place.
Broadband speeds
Variable. All over the place but from higher base level
Today from 5Mbps to 11Mbps
Router is on a South facing window ledge.
Not massively different from most other window sills. North, East fine. West can be problem depending on the window.
Three router varies, showing 1-5 bars of signal strength which has no bearing on the speeds we get on the devices.
Wifi slightly faster than a cable connection direct to the router. 1-2Mbps
Rebooted laptop. Only Speedtest running
Cheap Bingfu aerials slightly faster when connected than not - 1-2Mbps
My 2 laptops on wifi
One connects all the time. This is the 'upstairs' laptop with a dodgy screen. This didn't used to matter as it was connected to a docking station and 2 22" screens.
The other hardly ever connects unless I am next to the router.
The boss's Ipad. Still loses wifi but less often than with the Plusnet router
Three router is on the ground floor.
Assumed I would struggle on wifi on the top floor as 2 floors up
Same speed as next to the router. Signal going through a solid wall as well as a plasterboard one.
May have some more tests
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Post by MartinT on Oct 13, 2021 18:23:52 GMT
I had a rethink and moved the Three (Huawei) router upstairs to the study together with the BT master disc. That way it gets a better signal from the transmitter.
In line with the vagaries of signal strength, it gives a steady 4 bars rather than the 4-5 bars of before. However, the throughout is now peaking at 65Mbps. Result!
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2021 19:07:43 GMT
My next test is upstairs with my super long mains extension lead
The amount of bars seems irrelevant on my ZTE router
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Post by MartinT on Oct 13, 2021 19:11:26 GMT
It's to do with reflections. More can give you apparently more signal strength but the quality is somewhat ballsed up.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2021 19:12:44 GMT
Aaaaah
With all the trees we have that might be the reflections
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Post by MartinT on Oct 18, 2021 16:53:21 GMT
Got 105Mbps from Three just now. That's the best yet.
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 18, 2021 17:47:35 GMT
My next test is upstairs with my super long mains extension lead The amount of bars seems irrelevant on my ZTE router The amount of bars on a receiving device? That's telling you cock all, other than the strength of the analogue carrier band. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 18, 2021 18:09:42 GMT
My next test is upstairs with my super long mains extension lead The amount of bars seems irrelevant on my ZTE router The amount of bars on a receiving device? That's telling you cock all, other than the strength of the analogue carrier band. This is what I had surmised Tried upstairs Unfortunately no connection for my dearly beloved in the converted garage so no go upstairs. |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 18, 2021 18:38:37 GMT
The amount of bars on a receiving device? That's telling you cock all, other than the strength of the analogue carrier band. Agreed. As if to prove that point, I got 105Mbps today with 4/5 bars. The SINR (Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio) is far more important. |
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 18, 2021 19:42:35 GMT
This is what I had surmised Tried upstairs Unfortunately no connection for my dearly beloved in the converted garage so no go upstairs. Never mind the connection for dearly beloved! Do you get decent carrier band strength, and better internet speeds from upstairs? You need to pick the stuff up properly before considering the distribution of it. Get that sorted out and then look towards getting the service from that location to where it needs to be used. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 18, 2021 20:05:36 GMT
This is what I had surmised Tried upstairs Unfortunately no connection for my dearly beloved in the converted garage so no go upstairs. Never mind the connection for dearly beloved! Do you get decent carrier band strength, and better internet speeds from upstairs? You need to pick the stuff up properly before considering the distribution of it. Get that sorted out and then look towards getting the service from that location to where it needs to be used. The results vary so much I'm glad to have what we have, which is better than previous Plusnet Upthread I think I mentioned that direct connection was a little slower than wifi sitting next to the router. Seems to have a mind of its own |
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Post by MartinT on Oct 18, 2021 20:14:20 GMT
You need to pick the stuff up properly before considering the distribution of it. Get that sorted out and then look towards getting the service from that location to where it needs to be used. Spot on, and I've been trying to say that. The 4G connection and wi-fi distribution are two completely separate things. Place the router where you get absolutely the best throughput using a laptop wired to the router using Speedtest. The app is available free in the Microsoft Store in Windows. If you can, browse to the router and look at the stats. You want the highest RSSI (I get -73dB) and the highest SINR (I get 20dB). Then LEAVE IT THERE! Now concentrate on wi-fi distribution. Buy a 2 or 3 access point mesh setup. Connect one to the router and place the two others at strategic points in the house to give the best coverage. You can disable wi-fi in the router and use just the mesh, which is better. |
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Post by Stratmangler on Oct 18, 2021 22:52:50 GMT
You need to pick the stuff up properly before considering the distribution of it. Get that sorted out and then look towards getting the service from that location to where it needs to be used. Spot on, and I've been trying to say that. The 4G connection and wi-fi distribution are two completely separate things. Place the router where you get absolutely the best throughput using a laptop wired to the router using Speedtest. The app is available free in the Microsoft Store in Windows. If you can, browse to the router and look at the stats. You want the highest RSSI (I get -73dB) and the highest SINR (I get 20dB). Then LEAVE IT THERE! Now concentrate on wi-fi distribution. Buy a 2 or 3 access point mesh setup. Connect one to the router and place the two others at strategic points in the house to give the best coverage. You can disable wi-fi in the router and use just the mesh, which is better. The issues of 4G and WiFi are most definitely separate things. Stepping outside of the barely serviceable kit provided by ISPs would improve things considerably. Domestic users generally have unrealistic expectations regarding the performance ISP supplied kit, and they're not usually prepared to invest in kit that actually does what they want. They're not prepared to pay what it costs to put appropriate infrastructure in place, which is part of the problem. They get what they're prepared to pay for  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 19, 2021 8:46:19 GMT
I'll do a longer test on the upstairs locations when the boss is away next and take average readings.
Currently I'm ok at one end of the house and she has Zoom in the converted garage.
This is good. Objective 1 completed
Today I have a glorious 21Mbps on my laptop and she has Zoom
Ipad has been put aside and she is using her laptop.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 19, 2021 9:26:45 GMT
Have you browsed into the router interface? The Huawei is at 192.168.8.1 but yours may be different. RTFM. The stats will tell you a LOT about connection quality, much more than signal strength. Then you have a baseline to work with.
I still suggest you buy a mesh Wi-Fi to get coverage as your house is big.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 19, 2021 12:14:08 GMT
Thanks Will do. This is a journey for me and correction to above Objective 1 was to replace the Plusnet router and be no worse off Objective 2 was to have the boss connected over there Objective 3 was to have a connection for me here at the same time Another objective is to find the best place for the router/aerial. Work in progress. Speed in as high as possible Wifi as high as possible Would be good to have the boss's ipad connecting all the time. (Not so important though as it serves as a reminder that Apple really isn't the best kit)  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 23, 2021 13:50:39 GMT
Speedtest download speeds from router in South facing window, current default
Varies up to 20 odd Mbps.
Moved to South East window.
Download speeds over a few minutes at 2.45pm Saturday
7 Mbps
20 Mbps
4 Mbps
42 Mbps yes 42. Fastest I have ever seen
How mental is that
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Post by MartinT on Oct 23, 2021 14:31:47 GMT
When you have the RSSI and SINR figures we'll get an idea of whether your signal is poor or whether there is a lot of interference going on. Or both.
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