Intermittent wifi issues multiple times through the day

[Hardwick4]

I am having an issue where the wifi looks strong but it disconnects every 20 mins or so for milliseconds.  I work from home and am on teams calls a lot.  It disconnects my call constantly.   My ring doorbell also shows throughout the day multiple times so can’t record so we miss the doorbell ringing.  
we’ve had 2 engineers out who swapped everything so it’s not our equipment.  
Google search has shown that loads of people are having the same issue.  
My work have suggested I move to sky as I need a reliable connection. before 4 weeks ago I never had any issues. 
please can someone advise next steps?  

[jbrennand]

See this
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Are the issues only evident on wifi connections or do you see them at the same times on devices connected on ethernet cables? If you don't know, can you check to help diagnose whether it is just a wifi issue or it could be network connection/Hub related?

I would only ever do an important teams meeting on an ethernet connected device - wifi is always too flaky no matter which provider you are with. For example - my wifi drops completely when we switch on our new Panasonic microwave oven 😡

[Hardwick4]

my Ethernet isn’t long enough to get to my office so can’t use it.   But this doesn’t help the fact even my ring doorbell keeps losing connection so I’m missing parcels etc 

the engineer replaced the hub and every cable but it made no difference 

[jbrennand]

Try this and see if it forces the ring to connect.
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If you haven't done this already - try it first - it helps sort some Hub3/4/5 wifi issues for some devices.

Go into the Hub’s settings. Type in  http://192.168.0.1  into your web browser’s url box and login with settings password on the Hub's base sticker (or your own if you changed it). Then in Advanced>wireless signal >smart wifi - tick the disable “channel optimisation” box or the“Smart Wifi” box and save settings.  May be different pathways and wording on the 3 Hub types

Then, go to advanced>wireless signal>security, just rename the 2.4 & 5 GHz network ssid's.  Just type over to change 'em to whatever you like and something that will differentiate them (e.g - Hardwick_2 & Hardwick_5) Try to avoid spaces and periods in the SSID names as they can cause issues with certain devices. Use the same password for simplicity,  Then, apply settings and restart the Hub.  Your 2 wifi networks will now be clearly separated - and you can then select the network you want each device to connect to… individually from the "available networks" list on each of your devices. 

Note all your wifi devices will need re-connecting to the new SSID's and passwords.
All things being equal, 5 GHz is always better/faster and subject to less congestion/interference (and is better for iDevice speeds than the 2.4 one - although the 2.4 one has the better "range" and will be needed when the 5 GHz drops out of range and some older/cheaper/dumber or “specialised” devices (your Ring doorbell) can only use this one. 

You should also use a wifi analyser App (or Airport Utility on iOS) to check which 2.4 channels are being heavily used around you and move yours to one of numbers 1,6,11 that is least so, but it wont help if there is other interference.

See if these changes help - you will lose any “seamless roaming” benefits but it may not matter and you can always change the settings back by doing a " pinhole factory reset " if you prefer the way it was - or it doesn’t help.

[Hardwick4]

Thank you John. I am doing these changes now.  Which do you recommend I should log on my work HP laptop with, the 2.4 or 5?  

[jbrennand]

See this...
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All things being equal, 5 GHz is always better/faster and subject to less congestion/interference (and is better for iDevice speeds than the 2.4 one - although the 2.4 one has the better "range" and will be needed when the 5 GHz drops out of range and some older/cheaper/dumber or “specialised” devices can only use this one. 

[Hardwick4]

Thank you for your help.   unfortunately I have tried everything you have suggested and I’m disconnecting constantly.  No change at all.   I think I have no option but to switch to another provider.   

[jbrennand]

You havent tested it - but I suspect that your connection is fine and its just poor wifi signal you are experiencing. Proving that requires you to test on an ethernet cable connection. 10/20/50 meter runs of Cat5e/6 cable is cheap. If you still dont want to do that - see this...
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Do you know if its a wifi only issue (ethernet connections are ok?), if it is....

...then On a Hub3/4/5, you could first try separating the SSID's of the 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi bands by renaming them in the settings At the same time switch off "channel optimisation/Smart wifi” and “ apply and save the settings. All wifi devices will now need reconnecting to the best SSID at each location. Also use a wifi scanning App to find the best wifi channels to use (just select and use channels 1,6,11 on 2.4GHz) - this often helps Hub users get better wifi performance - so its worth trying - but its still no substitute for getting better kit 🙂

To address the wifi issues, VM now supply “wifi Pods” (no longer doing cheap and cheerless and poor value “boosters”). However, their Pods are only free to customers on the 1GB, Volt (or old Ultimate Oomph) packages - is that you? If so they are worth trying - they should work for you. VM Wifi is now “guaranteed” to 20 Mbps/room it’s now called… Wifi Max
See if anything in here helps….

https://www.virginmedia.com/help/wifi-max

You call 0800 064 3850 to order the first one after scanning for blackspots using the connect App.- or just wait here for a VM person to respond in a day or two and they will sort the first one for you. If you do call dont get fobbed off by the offshore CS agents' saying you aren’t eligible it will be £5 or £8 month - you are… and it wont be - just look on the webpage.

If not free to you… you will be charged £8/month (note - BT charge £10/mo for their whole home wifi solution). It’s a simple solution and should work for you. However, you would soon pay off that cost by buying your own wireless solution that will be yours to own and use forever, although the VM Pods should be a simpler option.

If you do want to invest in better equipment, you would need to get either a… (1) Mesh System, (2) Wireless router, (3) Wireless access point (4) A combination of (2,3).

£30-100 (that’s ~4->12 months of Max Pod rental) should sort it for most customers with an average property and usage.

[Hardwick4]

I gave fast wifi wifi is good in every room.  I’ve had 2 engineers out who have tested everything and say it’s good.  Up until 4 weeks ago there were no issues at all.  

[jbrennand]

I had no issues at all either.. until last year when we bought a new Panasonic Microwave oven - now whenever it is switched on, our wifi drops out.. it returns upon the ping!

Ethernet cable connection is the only guaranteed way to connect.