Frustrating wifi issue

[mein]

I have a very frustrating issue that I would love some advice on.

I have a client who lives in an old house with very thick granite walls. Wifi signals just don't get through. The client does not want to lay ethernet cabling so I have set up 3 Devolo powerline wifi access points in various rooms.

The access points are configured to use channels 1,6 & 11 and there are no other signals interfering. Each access point is set up with the same SSID so roaming between them is possible.

This setup works, but from time to time the customers just cannot connect to the internet, although they do have a wireless signal. When this happens they can get access through a desktop PC which has a wired connection through another Devolo Powerline adapter on the same ring main.

This would rule out an issue with the router itself as a connection to the internet is available. it would also seem that the powerline adapters are still connected as the wired connection works.

If I bring the laptop or iPad downstairs it connects straight away to the router via its inbuilt wireless ie no Devolo device.

I have changed channels, cables, routers, drivers.

Can anyone help me resolve this one, as I am now at the point where I may need to admit defeat to the client - not what I want to do.

 

[onetech4all]

Re:

Can you ping the gateway router from upstairs? It sounds too simplistic, I know! Can you ping a computer downstairs, when you are upstairs?

 

[Martyn]

When you have the wireless signals are they of a decent strength as they might be just borderline and dropping off. I know you have changed channels but I had problems with my microwave in the kitchen interfering with the signals and I changed channels, never had a problem again. I believe wireless home phones can cause the problem as well. Could try a wired phone temporarily if they have one?

 

[PC Problems]

Does this issue happen when he moves around? or if the customer stays in a fixed position.

If this only happens while the customer is moving around say from up to downstairs. Then maybe the wireless receiver is still trying to use the channel it was connected to before switching to the stronger channel.

What I mean is - he is using laptop in room A which is on channel 6 for e.g.

When the customer then moves to room B the wireless receiver is still looking to connect via channel 6, it can probably still see the signal but looses connectivity. It hasn't yet switched to the stronger channel until it can no longer receive channel 6! Does this make sense?

Maybe try to change the aggressive roaming on the wireless cards drivers?

Mike

 

[mein]

Thanks for the suggestions

Can you ping the gateway router from upstairs? It sounds too simplistic, I know! Can you ping a computer downstairs, when you are upstairs?

Normally yes, but not when they are experiencing the issues described.

When you have the wireless signals are they of a decent strength as they might be just borderline and dropping off. I know you have changed channels but I had problems with my microwave in the kitchen interfering with the signals and I changed channels, never had a problem again. I believe wireless home phones can cause the problem as well. Could try a wired phone temporarily if they have one?

I have used Netstumbler and the signal strength in each room is excellent. I don't believe they are having any interference from other devices. We have tried putting various electrical items on and off, but the problem still exists.\

Does this issue happen when he moves around? or if the customer stays in a fixed position.

If this only happens while the customer is moving around say from up to downstairs. Then maybe the wireless receiver is still trying to use the channel it was connected to before switching to the stronger channel.

*****

Maybe try to change the aggressive roaming on the wireless cards drivers?

Mike

I have changed the aggressiveness of roaming already, but no joy.
Netstumbler shows that there is a clear drop in signal between rooms with the access point in each being by far the strongest signal. The laptop & iPad do switch to the best channel as you roam.


Any other suggestions would be appreciated, as you can see I've tried the most obvious things.

 

[mkeathley]

I've had a simileer setup and similer issue. the laptop was tryign to still use the weaker signal. But it was too weak to really use, even though it was connected.

My solutions was to turn down the power of the AP's. (I guess you coudl turn it down on the laptop instead)

That way they wouldnt have as much of a signal outside the room.

 

[normbarb]

Are you using encryption? If so, see if removing it solves the problem. If that works, try a different type of encryption. I had one computer that would not connect on WEP, changed it WPA Personal and have not had a problem since.

 

[Alan22]

I had a similar issue in a very large house. The cable modem is located in a downstairs room, partially subterrainian (here in South Florida we don't have basements - they would be swimming pools ). This room is on the far west side of the house.

Due to layout and construction, the signal dropped off dramatically when only 60 feet away from the wireless router. I first used powerline network adapters to extend the wireless signal, similar to what you did. It worked, but I would get complaints that sometimes they couldn't get online, although the computer(s) got a great wireless signal.

What I found out was devices like an iron, vaccumm, toaster oven, hair dryer, etc. would interfere with the performance of the powerline adapters (first time I experienced something like that). I ended up using a router with a powered, high gain antenna (Hawking I believe) and a wireless repeater. Works great and they've had no issues for months.

 

[meanderer]

try to ping the gateway or perform tracert and see where the pings gets dropped out. Then trace the problem backwards from there.

 

[hondablaster]

I have a client who lives in an old house

Test the devices in a different house who knows how healthy the power lines are in that place.

Probably all sorts of feedback. I have a friend who is a Journeyman electrician telling me about how old houses and buildings how burn out electronics because the power feeding back into the neutral gets recycled back into the hot wire. He was telling me about fuse boxes that filter out the dirty power to prevent this but its remarkably expensive.

Anyways this is just my own little shot in the dark. Make sure its not the power line Ethernet in itself.

I think Alan22 might have your solution, so you don't have to admit defeat.

 

[mein]

Thanks guys for all the tips.

I have tried all encryption settings and still the problem exists.

I agree that the problem is most likely the ring main in the house. I have agreed with the client to run a temporary ethernet cable from the router up to the rooms affected and to connect an access point to that. If that works then I can be fairly sure it is the ring main, because I have tested the powerline adapters elsewhere already.

I'll keep you posted.