Wireless drastically slowing down (Dlink-DIR-842)

Have you restarted the router?

Hello Craig,

Yes. I think did for more than 20 times..whenever i get issues with the wireless, i have to restart so that for sometime users will get 2-4 Mbps and then it goes all the way down.

Can you do a wireless scan?  Use something like Acryllic Wifi to scan the channels and post a screenshot after 10 mins scanning.

There are a few possibilities:

1) The router's connection is bad.  This is fairly easy to test, as all you have to do is connect a computer using the cable and port that the router is using and see if you get good speed.
2) You're getting interference from some source.  This could be any of several things, passive and active.  Has the router location moved?  Is it close to a wall?  Are there high-voltage power lines nearby?  Is there microwave equipment in use nearby?  Turn off or unplug any appliances or transmitters in the area and see if things improve.  Relocate the router by a few feet and see if things improve.
3) Someone else is leeching your bandwidth.  Make sure you have a strong password (you ARE using a password, right?) on your WiFi.  Consider disabling the SSID broadcast if you don't really need it.  Make sure you're not using the easily-cracked WEP protocol.  Consider changing your WiFi password and see if things improve.

But when i connect thru LAN, it give me damn good speed upto 75up/80down.

Hello Paul,
>>The router's connection is bad.
I have checked the port individually that router is using it seems to be good.

>>You're getting interference from some source.  
Location was never moved,no wall is closed to it infact it is in the center place.



>>3) Someone else is leeching your bandwidth.
Yes there is a password. Infact, i will be able to see the users if someone logs in in the status bar.

Hello Craig,
Wireless-scan.PNG

If you set your router to use channel 1 and not automatically change channels, do your issues decrease? If you're lucky, the other routers will not adjust to using the lower channels. But also, I'd check and make sure that the router's firmware is up to date.

However, based on that level of interference, I'd try a brand of AP like Ruckus (it's not the only brand by any means that would be better at overcoming interference issues, but it is one that would work).

Hello Masnrock,
Not on channel 1, but if i set channel 6-11, then yes, it decrease the slowness issue for sometime say, i get 10-15 Mbps and that will be for all the connected users and after 30 minutes or so, it get onto the same 3-5 or Max to 8. At first i thought it might be due to the number of users connecting and making internet connections/BIG DOWNLOADS and the next users are getting pumped off after the router limit is crossed but no, here i checked connecting my single laptop to wireless and i get the same speed in between 3-5 mbps and no other user is connected.

1.Checked direct fiber coming from the ISP box to my laptop and it gives awesome speed as what was promised by the ISP. So there is not at all an issue with at ISP side.
2. Connected the ISP cable directly to the router and from the router>>my laptop via (LAN PORT) again awesome performance. So again, no issues with it's LAN ports.

But when connecting to the wireless, IT KILLS. Do i need to try a different router or is this Dlink model (DIR-842) itself is not good?
Even though it has 4 Gig ports i'm shocked to see this kind of wireless performance.

Even though it has 4 Gig ports i'm shocked to see this kind of wireless performance.

The 4 gig ports have nothing to do with your wireless issues. But it does sound like it cannot handle wireless interference too well. You could try going into the wireless settings and seeing what the router has to offer (please post screenshots for us to see). That's why I'd personally recommend getting an AP that can better handle such issues. (You could keep the Dlink router with wireless disabled if you wanted to go that route)

It doesn't matter which brand of AP you use, you'll never be able to avoid interference.  The best you can do is try to use a channel in between the usual 1, 6 or 11.  If it's bad on ch1, go to something like ch9.

If you're in Europe you could try 13 too.

Alternatively, move to the 5GHz band if your devices support it.

First of all update the firmware, then change the channel to 5 with 2 above if you have that feature, turn off QOS on the router, its useless and will only cause you grief. Have the router place in a central location, with more clear line of sight.

Now if you're tech savvy, run openwrt on the router to unleashed its power.

Hey masnrock,
Yeah i will definitely post those screenshots here. By the way, any particular wireless router would you suggest me to buy which can serve atleast 20 users? Netgear??


Hello Craig,
I haven't try the channel 1 to be frank i was trying only Auto/6/9/11 but did not work. I'm based out of India.
But Sure i'll move to the 5GHZ for the devices that supports.

Hi,Nattygreg,
Thanks for the reply.
When i was trying to update the firmware, it says (You have the most recent firmware installed/No updates available). But Yeah, i had QoS enabled for sometime just to check if that fulfill at least few users requirement but anyways did not help me at all so i'll have it disabled.

The ASUS RT 3200 is a great router to start with your needs, a little pricey but well worth it.

Don't use 5 and 2 above, if that's referring to 40MHz channels.  That will only make things worse at 2.4GHz.

As I said earlier, please do a wifi scan and post a screenshot of the results here for us to see.

Hey Craig, the reason I suggested that is I'm in a congested neighborhood with wifi, and everything else gave me what the author is having issue with and when I made the changes mention above my problem solved, but I agree with scan. It will only show how congested things are.

Hello Craig,
The results were posted please chk and let me know if you don't see it.. the screenshot  was uploaded right after 20 minutes.

Ah sorry I see it now :-)

It's interference causing the problem. Ch8 or 9 looks about as good as you'll get at 2.4GHz there.

I understand what you're saying, @natty greg, but what probably helped you is increased power output rather than channel-bonding. It's usually a case of who screams the loudest in congested environments :-)

True

I do not see channel 1,4,5,7 those are viable options. Channels 2,3 n 9 are least congested.

Not really.

2.4GHz channels overlap with the surrounding channels.  When deciding which channel to choose aside from the usual 1, 6 and 11, you must also consider the utilization of the surrounding channels.

In the screenshot we can see that some of the surrounding APs are using channels 2 and 3 with -80dBm or better, so they're going to interfere quite badly.  That means we should stay away from channels 1 and 4 for sure.  We also see at least 1 other APs using channel 6 with a signal inside -80dBm, so that's going to affect channels 5 and 7 badly too.

However, surrounding APs on channels 8 - 11 are only visible with signals over -80dBm, so they will still interfere but not as badly as channels at the other end of the band.  The APs on channels 8 and 9 are over -87dBm so that's not as bad, therefore I'd suggest using channel 9.

but 9 and 11 receive interference from microwave and other wireless devices in the house

Not nearly as much as 4, 5 and 7 though.

true

Craig,
I when i use 11, Yes, it actually gives the wireless a slight kick but it will be for sometime and then goes back to the previous stage. But i will shift to the channel 9 tomorrow morning and update you.
@All,
I appreciate each one of you here for taking your precious time out and assisting others.
Expert Exchange is a place where not only people get solutions but learns a hell lot of things from the experts like all you guys.

Will update you tomorrow for sure.

Looking at the picture - tell suntek to not hog radio channels
And set your router to auto-select 20MHz channel. If it selects Ch1 it probably could not find free air.

Hello Masnrock,
Screenshots are attached for your reference.

Okay..
It's already set to Auto-select 20/40 MGHz channel.
2.4-Ghz.PNG
5-Ghz.PNG

Change the 2.4GHz channel width to 20 only.  Don't use 20/40.

It's fine to use 20/40/80 at 5GHz though.

Hello Beck,
After changing to 20 Only the speed, it's driving me crazy..

Please see the results posted...

Thanks
Recent-change.PNG
recent-change1.PNG

One question when you make these changes do you reboot Modem------Router--------and or Switch, you must reboot after making the changes these dump devices takes a while to make the changes, however I think you're having DNS problem also lets do this

Put ISP router/modem in bridge mode if you do not know how to do it, call them and they will either do it for you or walk you through the process.

Connect your Dlink to the isp  Wan LINK from ISp to WAN link on Dlink

log into your Dlink with default password if you haven't changed it -----now changed it

Change your DNS  from ISP to 8.26.56.26 Comodo DNS and 208.67.222.222 Open DNS  then redo the test above and post back. Use channel 11 as suggested above.

Just did as per the suggestion..I could the improvement but not what i'm suppose to get from the ISP.

SS attached.
Wireless-change.PNG

Now  you have two speed actual speed and burst mode------burst mode is when less people on the internet in your area and you almost get to use the full bandwidth by yourself. actual speed is when everyone is on and everyone sharing the bandwidth. know that no ISP will ever give what they advertised since that require you have an individual line to their backbone, as against a shared line.

You will hit 32 mbps sometimes it just depends on the time of day.


Now lets try a few things to get you real close ----------- change channel to 9, and full 40mhz and post back

Noooooooooooo....

Channel bonding is bad, bad, bad at 2.4GHz.  Really, don't do it.

This is a pure congestion issue; channel bonding doesn't help.

Use 5GHz with channel bonding though. It's mandatory for 802.11ac.

Craig, read what I said we are testing not set in stone process of elimination -- we have to do a series of test that will support or refute what is said, and possible get him close to his goal of 32 mbps down

I read what you said, but what's the point in testing 40MHz channels if you're not intending to use it? A lot of 2.4GHz kit no longer supports it anyway so you'll just make things worse.