Help with Wi-Fi Signal Interference! Any Recommendations?

aspirepranesh on 17/12/2020 - 19:26

So we recently moved into our new apartment and noticed there is a big issue with the Wifi signal.

Its a 100m2 single floor apartment with 2 bedrooms on either side, with the electrical switchboard right in the middle of the house.

The room where the router is gets about 45mbps D/17U on a NBN 50/20 with Kogan. With the other room, its barely gets to 1mbps D/5U. I have switched the router from one room to the other and it is the same issue with the room that is farther away from the router.

I am guessing this has something to do with the electrical switchboard. I am thinking of getting a Wifi Extender or an EOP with Wifi, but I am unsure if this would fix the issue. An other option is to move away from the Kogan supplied TP Link router and get a decent one.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Computing

Comments

  • garetz on 17/12/2020 - 20:06
    +1

    You are getting Electro magnetic interference, pretty much only option is to get a cable. Make sure the cable is shielded.

    • aspirepranesh on 17/12/2020 - 20:38

      Something like google nest wifi wouldn't work either? I have PoE for some devices.

      I dont have drop outs, but the speeds are unusable in the other room.

  • bazingaa on 17/12/2020 - 20:14
    +1

    I had a similar issue back then, the culprit was a unshielded HDMI cable.

    • aspirepranesh on 17/12/2020 - 20:37

      The previous owners had the same problem. So i am unsure if it could be a hdmi cable

      • bazingaa on 17/12/2020 - 20:42

        Did you try 5 GHz band as well ? Does that electrical switchboard has a metal shield box ? If you have access to a spectrum analyzer covering required frequency and sweep it through the rooms, you will find the exact culprit.

        • aspirepranesh on 17/12/2020 - 20:52

          Yeah, i did try with 5 Ghz. But the signal is so weak that it either disconnects or is very slow. The switchboard has a very thin plastic/metal door and nothing else.

          Would an electrician be able to pick up the issue and fix it? Or would I need a data specialist?

  • jpl on 17/12/2020 - 21:12
    +4

    Could you run WIFI Analyzer and post the screen shot for

    1. Room A with router inside
    2. Room B far from router, when router is in Room A

    then switch router to ROOM B and get screen shot for

    1. Room B with router inside
    2. Room A far from router, when router is in Room B

    By the way, how did you switch router from Room A to Room B ? Where is the NBN wan port located ?

    • mafroew on 17/12/2020 - 23:35
      +1

      Also check that the channel isn't crowded, neighbors wifi might be interfering

      • aspirepranesh on 18/12/2020 - 04:54

        The channel is usually crowded because of all the wifis around from shops anf other tenants. I have lived in an other apartment in the same precinct (different building) with that many wifi signals, but never had this issue.

    • aspirepranesh on 18/12/2020 - 04:53

      Its Fttb and the apartment has 5 telephone sockets and I seem to get internet connection from the router on all 5.

      Thanks heaps for the suggestion. I will run it today and post some screenshots with the floor plan

  • avoidfullprice on 17/12/2020 - 21:13
    +1

    a) can you share the floor plan of your unit? Ms paint is fine

    b) get wifi analyser on your phone, and share the screenshot of the channels in all frequency. For example

    Trying to figure out if it is interference or congestion

    • aspirepranesh on 18/12/2020 - 04:55

      Will do it today and post it. Much appreciated

  • aspirepranesh on 21/12/2020 - 14:20

    Appreciate the feedback all. I managed to try out a new router and it turns out the router was the problem! Weird, as it had no issues in the previous apartment but a different layout!

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