topic Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed in Broadband

Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

GJD1 — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 11:40:53 GMT

Hope someone can help.

I recently upgraded to Sky Ultrfast Plus - speeds are as expected (around 500mbs download) when checking with Ethernet cable into LAN port on SR203 hub - no issues.

My problem is Wi-Fi. I can do a speed test on iPhone on Wi-Fi and get 300mbs download, then do a test a few minutes later on same device, in same area of house and get 25mbs download.

My Wi-Fi signal strength when doing the checks is RSSI -40 dBm (very good).

I've tried all the usual things, like unplugging devices to try and identify if there is something using the bandwidth.

I contacted Sky and got a new router (another SR203) but same issue.

All very strange - anyway, if someone has come across this before I'd be pleased to know if their is a solution.

Thanks

Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

TimmyBGood — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 11:59:41 GMT

@GJD1

Do you have any Sky boosters or Q television boxes at the address?

Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

GJD1 — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:13:59 GMT

I'm on Sky Stream - so no Q box, no mini boxes or booster.

I do have TP Link powerline Wi-Fi extender - that is using the same SSID as the Sky Wi-Fi

Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

TimmyBGood — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:52:43 GMT

@GJD1 wrote:

I do have TP Link powerline Wi-Fi extender - that is using the same SSID as the Sky Wi-Fi

That could be causing the phenomenon you are observing, as it will be somewhat random whether a client device is using WiFi from the Hub or the extender at any particular moment, and the extender WiFi will be stronger/faster within its own local coverage than the Hub at a distance.

Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

GJD1 — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 13:29:46 GMT

Many thanks @TimmyBGood

Unplugged the tp-link devices and now consistently getting very good bandwidth throughout the house - a very easy fix.

What causes the issue - as I thought when the same SSID was used, both the Wi-Fi from the sky hub and the extenders were effectively the 'same' network?

Re: Excellent WiFi Signal but Widely Variable Wifi Speed

TimmyBGood — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 13:55:27 GMT

@GJD1 wrote:

What causes the issue - as I thought when the same SSID was used, both the Wi-Fi from the sky hub and the extenders were effectively the 'same' network?

Kind of, but they could also be competing for airspace. A 'real' mesh solution has quite a sophisticated management system running in the background to manage frequency, broadcast power and client device association with each node.