WiFi lag/interference?

[andy0306]

Hi,

First post so be gentle.

I've searched for this subject and there's pages and pages of people reporting the same/similar issues, but not one answer that really solves it.

I changed to Sky BB and Stream after being with Virgin for over 20 years (fancied a change). I work from home most of the time, connected through Zscaler VPN to my works servers. During my time with Virgin, I never had a single issue with Teams calls, with Sky it's terrible. The screen freezes saying poor network quality, it hangs for 4 or 5 seconds and reconnects. This is then repeated several times during all calls. Unfortunately I wasn't aware that the others on the calls could hear me swearing at the crappy Sky WiFi, which was a little embarassing when they told me they could hear everything lol.

I purchased a TPLink extender to boost the WiFi signal to my office room, which sort of works. I don't seem to get the poor quality message, however I now get to hear broken words every minute or so. Norman Collier comes to mind for those old enough to remember his act of a broken microphone (Google it). The extender is a sort of fix, but by no means ideal. I've no idea if the Sky boosters are better, but I don't want to pay extra per month for something that seems to be a router issue.

The router is located in exactly the same place as the Virgin router was, so  it's a like for like comparisson in terms of distance and we have the same equipment connected to it.  This leads me to believe that the Sky router is putting out a weaker or more unstable signal than the Virign router.  

I'm not sure what the answer is, as connection via ethernet is not an option at the moment. Unfortunately I'm stuck with the Sky BB until next year, so really need to find a solution that works.

Another issue that ocurred tonight whihc may also be internet related, is whilst watching BBC 1, ITV, Channel 4 etc, the screen kept pixelating until it froze and then went black. The Steaming Puck is connected  via ethernet, so no WiFi involved. Also, we end up not using the Sky Netflix app as it eventually buffers and gets stuck. Strangely, switching to the TV app works fine over WiFi, but the router is only a few feet away from the TV. Everything else connected to the router works fine.

Thanks in advance for any answers/suggestions.

[JimM1]

@andy0306 What sky router do you have and the service from sky you purchased? Tp-Link extender model would be good to know also.

[andy0306]

Hi Jim,

I have the Sky Max hub (HomeHub6) with the 150mb speed. The TPLink extender is the TP-Link RE300 AC1200Mbps.

In total there's usually somewhere in the region of 10 devices connecting to the hub. Most connect through the 5g signal and a couple on the 2.4g.

[JimM1]

@andy0306 So upfront i have no experience of the Sky Max Router as i would not entertain such, but as you have sky max have linked the info you need below, will take a quick look at your Tp-Link shortly, been a while since i used one Asus user myself.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-max

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-booster-what-do-you-need-help-with

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/enhanced-wall-to-wall-wifi-guarantee

[JimM1]

@andy0306 The extender looks reasonable spec although not had anything done to it for a few years, if you have found that it is paired ok to the Max router the test would be to ethernet connect to that extender and see what the wireless performance is like, with both a speed test and a ping test over a 10 minute period. If you need help wit that let me know.

There may have been better TP-Links out there, but by now, hopefully you have started to read the links, and worked out you get FREE pods...

[andy0306]

Hi Jim,

I have the max hub, but not WiFi max package which gives the free boosters. With my package it's an extra £4/month. I''m not sure what they do with the router if you opt for the WiFi max?

The WiFi guarantee promises 25mb in every room which I get, hence why I think it's more of an unstable signal. I guess it could be interference, but I'm not sure where from.

The extender doesn't have any way to connect with a enthernet cable unfortunately.

[JimM1]

@andy0306 Well you live and learn, everyday is a new day, did not know you could get the max Hub and had to not pay anymore for that privilege, and have to stump up even more to get max Package, but i will go read closely, anyway your TP-Link is going downhill a lot quicker now that it does not even have a single ethernet port, so test's are going to ping on the Max router, just switch the extender off for the period, and then repeated back in your office extender off then on and that assumes that your extender is functioning which only you can tell.

Edit:- Question, you have the white SR213 router from Sky, is this correct?

[andy0306]

@JimM1 

The router does have SR213 printed on the underside.

Strangely, the Teams meeting I had this morning was perfectly fine without the extender. I checked the WiFi channels & local SSID's (WiFi Analyzer App) and mine currently seems to be the only one using channels 50 - 65 on the 5g band.

Speed tests with and without the extender were in the region of 130 down and 27 up, although on previous tests (without the extender), i've seen the download speed as low as 36mb/s and my laptop drop onto the 2.4g network. Pinging the BBC website returned all the packets with around 10 -16ms, again with and without .

I'm starting to wonder if my issue is down to neighbouring networks causing interference. My understanding is that Teams doesn't need massive bandwidth, but does require a stable signal on WiFi. 

[JimM1]

@andy0306 You are correct about a good/stable wireless wi-fi signal and also about the signals around etc, would be more concerend about your with/without test's and no improved performance with the extender, is your laptop a windows device, the dropping to 2.4Ghz band which is a more powerfull signal from the router and does get about easier through the home, can be a laptop issue as the device does go to what it can see as the best signal, some times adjustment to the properties for the laptop wireless nic card can take care of it, Device manager is the place to look, and Roaming Aggressiveness etc but look see and adjust slowly.

You are certainly on the right track. Edit:- couple off pictures attched as to how and this is all mine apart from the BT popping in with multiple transmitting devices that i have, gives you the idea. Just give the pics time to appear and be approved.

2.4Ghz band5Ghz band

[andy0306]

@JimM1 

I didn't think an extender improved speed, it's just there to cover a greater area. In fact I thought it actually lowered the speed due to being routed through it.

My area is as below, which as you can see is good for the 5g coverage. 

2.4 is a little busier due to is longer range I guess. 

 

[JimM1]

@andy0306 Deleted reply.