Can Wi-Fi on a router degrade (not signal)

[Rickster]

So a couple of years back I got an El Cheapo Telkom branded Huawei HG532f.


It did the job but now when i connect to it is fine but once im a bit further away (2/4 bars) it takes forever to load things such as youtube and stuff, even text. A while back in the same spot it was perfect.


No other AP's in range, changed the channel and its still the same.


Plugged in a old netgear and it works fine in said location.

 

[Hamish McPanji]

Channel?

 

[MrGray]

Are there a lot more devices on it than previously?

I've had experience with a few older routers that worked perfectly when there were only a couple of devices connected but over the last few years the amount of connected devices exploded - tablets, TV boxes, Xbox, wifi printers and cameras, etc etc - they literally don't have the processing power or memory to handle the connections, let alone the issues with spectrum. Routers that were originally designed to handle 5-10 devices, but now have 25+ will struggle.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I guess in theory dust could start making some *** with conductivity and cause weaker signal.

But more than likely the channel it's on is just supersaturated.

 

[Rickster]

Channel?

Either 1,6 or 11

Are there a lot more devices on it than previously?

I've had experience with a few older routers that worked perfectly when there were only a couple of devices connected but over the last few years the amount of connected devices exploded - tablets, TV boxes, Xbox, wifi printers and cameras, etc etc - they literally don't have the processing power or memory to handle the connections, let alone the issues with spectrum. Routers that were originally designed to handle 5-10 devices, but now have 25+ will struggle.

Only like 2-3

 

[Gordon_R]

Are there other routers nearby using the same Wifi channels?

Best to use something like Wifi Analyser before upgrading hardware.

 

[Rickster]

Are there other routers nearby using the same Wifi channels?

Best to use something like Wifi Analyser before upgrading hardware.

No, in the op i said

No other AP's in range, changed the channel and its still the same.

 

[ArtyLoop]

I have had one router do this once.
After trying to figure it out I threw the router into a box in the garage.
Fast forward a few years and the Wifi was dead (despite being turned on)

Upon further investigation I found that the transmit amplifier, I guess a transistor in that circuit, had gradually begun to fail and eventually failed completely.

 

[Gordon_R]

No, in the op i said

My answer is still to try a Wifi Analyser app (plenty free on Android).

All of them show the real-time signal strength, and channel throughput (as you walk around...)

 

[DMNknight]

It is possible if the processing chip is just barely sufficiently cooled? Thermal fatigue I think it's called.