Wifi woes
| # | Post |
|---|---|
| 1 | Moved into a rental where the Chorus fibre box ('ONT') is, unfortunately, in the kitchen's fridge alcove - meaning my router must sit on top of my fridge. The wifi strength is poor and my telco's tech support suggests the fridge may be interfering with the signal. I have one of those small wifi "boosters" with an ethernet port, and I considered trying to connect the router to the booster by cable - but on reading the booster manual it says the booster's ethernet port is not intended to be connected to the router, only other devices. Suggestions welcome. zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 02:41:00 |
| 2 | You can run an Ethernet cable to the router from the ONT. It can be up to 100m long. That way you can locate the router anywhere. It doesn't have to sit beside the ONT at all. Edited by nice_lady at 6:13 am, Fri 9 Apr nice_lady - 2021-04-09 06:12:00 |
| 3 | zyx2004 wrote: My router sits on top of the fridge in the garage, and the wifi signal is good even in the garden. Maybe consider a new router, or as suggested, use a longer ethernet cable to reposition the router. You might get the cable back through the hole by the ONT and into the wall and ceiling to make it invisible. gyrogearloose - 2021-04-09 08:08:00 |
| 4 | I'd need to buy a very long Ethernet cable - and my understanding is the longer the Ethernet cable, the slower the Internet connection. :-/ How about one of these "Ethernet over power" devices? Edited by zyx2004 at 1:07 pm, Fri 9 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 13:05:00 |
| 5 | zyx2004 wrote:
What rubbish. As I've said 100Metres is the limit. And NO the signal doesn't degrade and slow down your internet connection - where did you hear that ? nice_lady - 2021-04-09 13:16:00 |
| 6 | Powerline adaptors can work well so long as you're on the same circuit. nice_lady - 2021-04-09 13:17:00 |
| 7 | gyrogearloose wrote:
I'd prefer a simpler solution than poking cables through walls and ceilings. nice_lady wrote:
Can't recall where I may have heard/read that, I'm not an expert. nice_lady wrote:
Would all the the power sockets in my flat be on the same circuit? zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 13:39:00 |
| 8 | You will have to figure out out. Not difficult. Just plug some things into plugs and then flick circuits off on your circuit board. It'll all become clear. nice_lady - 2021-04-09 14:27:00 |
| 9 | My router is in the laundry nearest the wall where the fibre cable enters. We have 3 wireless boosters throughout the house. voyager4 - 2021-04-09 14:54:00 |
| 10 | zyx2004 wrote:
But your original plan was to connect to the 'booster' via ethernet so you'd have had the same issue there vtecintegra - 2021-04-09 15:14:00 |
| 11 | zyx2004 wrote:
Pure fantasy. spyware - 2021-04-09 15:16:00 |
| 12 | zyx2004 wrote:
You want an access point. Best solution is to data cable your house and install access points throughout. I see it's a rental so ignore above. Edited by spyware at 3:19 pm, Fri 9 Apr spyware - 2021-04-09 15:17:00 |
| 13 | Yes, it's an older *rental* with only one power socket in each room (ie. multiboards galore). Putting holes and cables in walls and ceilings would probably require landlord's permission. Looking for a relatively cheap and simple solution. Edited by zyx2004 at 3:35 pm, Fri 9 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 15:35:00 |
| 14 | You may find that a powerline extender will NOT work if plugged into a multi board. You could use a standard double plug with the extender plugged into one half and the multiboard into the other I guess. Originally you said: zyx2004 wrote:
Then you when I suggested an Ethernet cable you said: zyx2004 wrote:
So I'm not sure where you thought the idea of a Ethernet connected booster would be any different to the router on a cable? Edited by nice_lady at 4:19 pm, Fri 9 Apr nice_lady - 2021-04-09 16:18:00 |
| 15 | nice_lady wrote:
I was toying with the idea of affixing a 5 meter cable over the kitchen doorframe to connect the router to a booster. That would be a bit unsightly but would not involve drilling holes in walls or ceilings. zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 16:42:00 |
| 16 | zyx2004 wrote:
Is it actually a 'booster' because generally a wifi 'extender', (which some people refer to as a booster), only picks up a signal and then onsends it a bit further. If you had one of these located only 5 meters from the router you'll be wasting your time. nice_lady - 2021-04-09 16:52:00 |
| 17 | nice_lady wrote:
The NetGear WN3000RP booster/extender/repeater/what- Edited by zyx2004 at 5:16 pm, Fri 9 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 17:14:00 |
| 18 | zyx2004 wrote:
Again why not just move the router? Same amount of cabling required either way. vtecintegra - 2021-04-09 17:26:00 |
| 19 | vtecintegra wrote:
There is nowhere convenient to put the rather large router because of the bad design/layout of the flat and its limited number of power sockets. A small extender would be easier to place. Edited by zyx2004 at 5:31 pm, Fri 9 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 17:30:00 |
| 20 | move the WN3000RP extender closer to the fridge... if its setup to work as a repeater then it doesn't need a cable to it. If the wifi range of the router is limited by the fridge then all you should need to do is move the extender closer to the router, for it to get a better signal... Edited by king1 at 5:41 pm, Fri 9 Apr king1 - 2021-04-09 17:40:00 |
| 21 | king1 wrote:
I have tried having the NetGear repeater plugged into the side of the stove (about 1 meter from the router on top of the fridge), but it is not very effective. zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 19:34:00 |
| 22 | Is there any space above fridge, perch router on top of some Yoplait yogurt containers and situate by front edge of fridge to give some clearance. Edited by spyware at 8:06 pm, Fri 9 Apr spyware - 2021-04-09 20:05:00 |
| 23 | A wifi repeater plugged in 1 metre from the router would be absolutely silly. nice_lady - 2021-04-09 20:45:00 |
| 24 | Maybe next time you see a Chorus van, stop and ask one of the workers if they could visit your home and reposition the Chorus fibre box ('ONT') for some beers or cash? mazalinas - 2021-04-09 20:56:00 |
| 25 | zyx2004 wrote: are we sure it is configured correctly and connected to the routers wifi Edited by king1 at 8:57 pm, Fri 9 Apr king1 - 2021-04-09 20:57:00 |
| 26 | nice_lady wrote: not necessarily, some of them have a better range than ISP supplied routers king1 - 2021-04-09 20:59:00 |
| 27 | king1 wrote:
Yes, had a long conversation with Trustpower tech support. They ask you to download a diagnostic app on your mobile and run the app with your mobile sitting next to the router. The tech said the diagnostic test showed a poor wifi signal and suggested the fridge may have been interfering with the wifi. Edited by zyx2004 at 9:13 pm, Fri 9 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 21:13:00 |
| 28 | zyx2004 wrote: well simple test for that one is to get yourself a longer ethernet cable(2 metres should do) and try it with the router sitting away from the fridge. I would hazard any interference will only be in the half metre range if that... some of these helpdesk techs are just reading off scripts - you can't always trust what they say... and not sure you answered the question about whether you are certain the extender is configured correctly... Edited by king1 at 10:06 pm, Fri 9 Apr king1 - 2021-04-09 22:04:00 |
| 29 | king1 wrote:
As far as I can tell, yes, it is. zyx2004 - 2021-04-09 22:35:00 |
| 30 | Went into Noel Leeming, they wanted to sell me one of these things. Do you folks think it would help? zyx2004 - 2021-04-10 19:45:00 |
| 31 | probably, but so long as it's on the same electrical circuit at both ends. nice_lady - 2021-04-10 19:51:00 |
| 32 | nice_lady wrote:
Doubtful, and with the limited number of power sockets in my rental I can't really plug it into a dedicated socket (which seems to be required for these boosters). As I mentioned, I have a multiboard in each room. Edited by zyx2004 at 10:54 pm, Sat 10 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-10 22:53:00 |
| 33 | Refer my post #8, and the first paragraph of post#14 nice_lady - 2021-04-11 06:46:00 |
| 34 | Just get a decent wifi router and plug that into the fibre box. You should be able to get one for almost free on TradeMe. The fridge shouldn't provide very much shielding unless you are trying to use the wifi lying at the foot of the fridge. tygertung - 2021-04-11 07:42:00 |
| 35 | tygertung wrote:
I currently have a NetGear fibre router provided by Trustpower. What do you suggest as a better model? Edited by zyx2004 at 9:51 am, Sun 11 Apr zyx2004 - 2021-04-11 09:41:00 |
| 36 | zyx2004 wrote: There's an assortment of wifi analyzers you can download, I've installed 'NetSpot' and 'WiFi Analyzer' and they're both pretty consistent and show the -dbm power while standing next to the router on my fridge and at other points around the house. You could try repeating the test with the fridge turned off, or using a longer ethernet cable to move it out from the fridge. But another suggestion - these analyzers show all of the local wifi networks, and you can see what channel your router broadcasts and what the other networks use, and they make a suggestion for a better channel that you can set your wifi router to use. You don't need to make any changes to your devices. This could make a difference to your coverage. gyrogearloose - 2021-04-11 10:15:00 |
| 37 | Not sure if i'm on the right page [or planet] but i use a "power line extender" to get the internet from one end of the house to the other. Just plugs in to power near the router & then plugs into one of the router ethernet outlets, then the second unit plugs to power at other end of house with short ethernet lead to the laptop. 100% reception. Keeps it tidy with no leads to trip over. yz490 - 2021-04-11 11:03:00 |
| 38 | Many models of powerline extenders broadcast a wifi signal at the'far end' thus no plugging in of laptop is required. Much better. nice_lady - 2021-04-11 11:15:00 |
| 39 | yz490 wrote:
My Macbook and iPad don't have ethernet ports - so I rely on Wifi, I'm afraid. As I don't have dedicated power sockets available, the advice given here suggests that with "power extenders" I'd have to gamble with double plugs and hoping the power sockets are on the same circuit. zyx2004 - 2021-04-11 12:20:00 |
| 40 | Ffs. Why 'hope' that the sockets are on the same circuits. It's bloody simple to figure out. As I've said above! As for gambling with double plugs wtf ? Where's the difficulty? nice_lady - 2021-04-11 12:34:00 |
| 41 | Plug something, anything, into BOTH of the two sockets the powerline extenders will be plugged into. Go to your circuit breaker switchboard, or fuse box if that's all you have, switch the power OFF to one circuit. If both devices go off then they're on the same circuit. Edited by nice_lady at 12:40 pm, Sun 11 Apr nice_lady - 2021-04-11 12:38:00 |
| 42 | 3 pin sockets typically aren't on same circuit, i.e., each circuit would have its own circuit breaker/fuse. spyware - 2021-04-11 12:53:00 |
| 43 | The member deleted this message. nice_lady - 2021-04-11 12:58:00 |
| 44 | Depends on location. We certainly don't have circuit breakers/fuses for every different room in the house. nice_lady - 2021-04-11 12:59:00 |
| 45 | Then you could theoretically pull 20A through one socket outlet and the breaker wont trip...but your wall may catch on fire. spyware - 2021-04-11 13:04:00 |
| 46 | spyware wrote: Superimposing the signal onto AC wiring shouldn't be an issue though a circuit breaker or fuse, and the only issue with a power strip would be if it has a built-in filter, which the cheapest ones are unlikely to include. So in my opinion a rental property would all be on one meter, one circuit, without any filtering, and the circuit breakers and fuses wouldn't be an impediment. gyrogearloose - 2021-04-11 13:10:00 |
| 47 | You are talking a single "phase". Ethernet over power devices work well in some cases, but not all, depends on levels of noise in the mains. May work fine until washing machine is turned on. spyware - 2021-04-11 13:16:00 |
| 48 | @Spyware : How could you possibly draw more than the rated fuse or circuit breaker allows ? Not possible. nice_lady - 2021-04-11 13:23:00 |
| 49 | spyware wrote: True - an older rental with a single power point in each room is likely using single phase. spyware wrote: True - there's no difference between an ethernet signal superimposed on the AC, and noise. Filters, such as the more expensive multi boards have, will clobber both. gyrogearloose - 2021-04-11 18:47:00 |
| 50 | nice_lady wrote: Fuses and circuit breakers will be rated at a continuous draw because they are thermal or timed. You could instantaneously draw more current (such as in-rush) and they might not pop. Circuit breakers could have a 30% tolerance, and in an older rental some fool might have put in a bigger fuse wire or .22 casing. gyrogearloose - 2021-04-11 18:53:00 |
