Regularly need to reboot my router

[SuzChris]

Hi,

I am regularly needing to reboot my Sky router after the connection freezes. Sometimes it will be OK for a few days, sometimes I will nee to do it twice a day.

Plus we get a fair bit of blocking when watching programmes from a streaming channel. Its worts with Amazon Prime.

I have attached stats but I'm not sure this shows much as I recently had to reboot.

Any thoughts?

Or, is there an alternative router I could replace the Sky one with that is more reliable/stable? I didn't have this issue when I was with BT broadband previously.

[jamesn123]

@SuzChris 

There is two noteworthy things from your stats;

1. LAN interface has 8 collision packets. This isnt a problem in itself but it could be a sign there is an underlying issue. What do you have connected via ethernet to your hub?

2. Your using around 10mbps across your WiFi & Ethernet interfaces, if you are also trying to stream from Amazon Prime at the same time as this other bandwidth is in use & its attempting to go into 4K quality you may be suffering a bottleneck as the recommended bandwidth for UHD streaming is around 25mbps. 25mbps + 10mbps is 35mbps, your line is currently synced at 40mbps and you have to allow a few mbps network overhead. Therefore you may only have around 2-3mbps left under demand & you also have to keep in mind that you may not get the full 40mbps over WiFi if your streaming device is connected via WiFi. 

This of course is all speculation, its just an observation I made from your router stats and your actual situation could be suffering other issues.

[SuzChris]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

With a little more investigation I'm now thinking the issue may be wifi related rather than the connection. I lost connection on my phone late yesterday and checked the laptop I have connected to the router and it was still online. Its possible the connection came back between checking but that could be the issue. Although, I didn't excperience this with the previous BT router.

As for LAN I have our main Sky HD box connected to the router, an ethernet switch which feeds a Philips Hue bridge and our smart TV,  plus a Devolo 500 powerline plug which feeds three or four other powerline plugs. 

Here is the status popup from wehen I chgecked following the failed connection yesterday afternoon.

[jamesn123]

@SuzChris 

Hmm more collisions now. I would recommend you try to temporarily eliminate ethernet connected devices and see if you experience another drop out.

[SuzChris]

Thanks @jamesn123 

I can try. But I need those devices served by the ehthernet connections and the dropouts could be every couple of days. So it will be tricky.

If there is an Ethernet issue, what would the solution be?

Chris

[jamesn123]

@SuzChris 

Its often caused by older devices not negotiating properly, switches or 'smart' devices. The usual fix is ensuring that a 'dumb' ethernet switched is used rather than a 'smart' or 'managed' one and ensuring the cables are all Cat5e or above.

[SuzChris]

Thanks @jamesn123 , that's helpful.

So I am using a switch. Would upgrading to a new one be worthwhile?

Chris

[jamesn123]

@SuzChris 

Whats the model num?

[SuzChris]

Hi,

The switch is a Netgear GS205v2

The Philips Hue Hub is Model #3241312018A

The Poweline plug is a Devolo dLAN 500 duo

There are two other dLAN 500 duos elsewhere, connecting to other computers, and one dLAN 500 Wifi in a shed/workshop

Chris

[SuzChris]

Hi,

The switch is a Netgear GS205v2

The poweline adaptors are Devolo dLAN 500s, one is a Wifi version

The Philips Hue Hub is about three years old.

Chris

[jamesn123]

@SuzChris 

The switch is 'dumb' and gigabit so shouldnt need replacing.

Your powerline adapters are older and slower speed. Also if ones a WiFi model it could be producing a WiFi signal that the Sky hub doesnt like. Is it set to the same SSID and password as your Sky hub or is it separate?

I would try disconnecting the powerline temporarily and see if your disconnecting/streaming experience improves.

[SuzChris]

Hi,

I'm pretty sure it is the same SSID etc. I set it up quite a while ago. 

It is in a shed outside, so quite a way from the bmain router. But I will disconnect it and see if it makes a difference.

It did all work without issue when we had a BT routher though.

Thanks for all your help. I'll try out your suggestion this evening and report back tomorrow.

[jamesn123]

---

@SuzChris wrote:

It is in a shed outside, so quite a way from the bmain router. But I will disconnect it and see if it makes a difference.

---

This could possibly be the reason if its trying to pull your devices to using that signal instead

[SuzChris]

Hi @jamesn123,

I tried to isolate the collision packets yesterday, but it seems that all connected devices are causing them. The Sky box caused 51 in 45 mins, the TV 70 in an hour, the Hue Hub 100 in 1.5hrs and the Powerlines 120 in 1.5hrs. So I'n not sure there is much I can do about those.

The wifi connection has been OK so far, but as said before it can be for a couple of days. So I will keep an eye on that. Would it be worth getting a wifi scanning app to see if there are channels clashing with neighbours? If so is there one that's recommended for IOS/MacOS?

I am going to want to extend the wifi yto the shed that I've diconnected for now, though. Is there a better alternaqtive than the Devolo wifi powerline plugs?

Cheers.

Chris

[jamesn123 · Accepted solution]

@SuzChris 

WiFiMan by Ubiquiti is good. I think its available on iOS

As for your shed, the most ideal solution would be an ethernet cable run to it then plug in an AP.