WiFi drops/spikes

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MC_raw

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Hi everyone,

I'm trying to game over WiFi (I know, I know...) and I keep getting terrible spikes that feel a bit like temporary disconnects.

I'm using an entry-level router than I received when signing up with CIISP: TP-Link TL-WR840N. I'm currently on the 50/50 package, and have sent in a request for 100/100, which should take effect within the next day or two.

I've done some testing and I think the issue is the router. We have around 8-10 devices connected at a time, and I'm fairly far away from the router.
Is this a pluasible deduction, or should I be looking elsewhere first?

In the case that it is indeed the router, I'm thinking of upgrading to something like this like this. Is this enough of a jump to potentially solve my WiFi issues?

On a sidenote: I do have a second, identical, router. Is there a way to use it to provide a more stable connection?

My laptop is using WiFi 5, ac (latest drivers installed). No LAN port. Other devices have also temporarily dropped when the 'load' seems high.

Appreciate any advice or insights.
 
Turn off wifi on cheapo router, use lan cable to one of these routers instead

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Either of those routers are fabulous value for money and both are decent range

Both can be meshed with their respective topologies if you buy more than one of each (I have both, and both of those give really good range)
 
Yeah. Likely the router. My mom had similar issues with online meetings on the same router, all fixed now that she got a better one. Doesn't need to be a much better router, just anything better than that horrible thing.
 
50/50 with cable would have been fine for gaming, but as mentioned no LAN port. Distance from wireless router / physical barriers (walls etc) will affect signal obviously. TP-Link routers are decent IMHO.
 
Yeah, my brother is connected via LAN and he has 0 issues. I don't think TP-Link is bad per se, just that this is a very entry-level router trying to do a lot.

agentrfr said:
Turn off wifi on cheapo router, use lan cable to one of these routers instead

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com

Takealot.com: Online Shopping | SA's leading online store

South Africa's leading online store. Fast, reliable delivery to your door. Many ways to pay. Shop anything you can imagine: TVs, laptops, cellphones, kitchen appliances, toys, books, beauty & more. Shop the mobile app anytime, anywhere.
www.takealot.com www.takealot.com

Either of those routers are fabulous value for money and both are decent range

Both can be meshed with their respective topologies if you buy more than one of each (I have both, and both of those give really good range)
Click to expand...
Just to be clear: the router I linked won't be good enough to 'fix' my situation?
 
MC_raw said:
Hi everyone,

I'm trying to game over WiFi (I know, I know...) and I keep getting terrible spikes that feel a bit like temporary disconnects.

I'm using an entry-level router than I received when signing up with CIISP: TP-Link TL-WR840N. I'm currently on the 50/50 package, and have sent in a request for 100/100, which should take effect within the next day or two.

I've done some testing and I think the issue is the router. We have around 8-10 devices connected at a time, and I'm fairly far away from the router.
Is this a pluasible deduction, or should I be looking elsewhere first?

In the case that it is indeed the router, I'm thinking of upgrading to something like this like this. Is this enough of a jump to potentially solve my WiFi issues?

On a sidenote: I do have a second, identical, router. Is there a way to use it to provide a more stable connection?

My laptop is using WiFi 5, ac (latest drivers installed). No LAN port. Other devices have also temporarily dropped when the 'load' seems high.

Appreciate any advice or insights.
Click to expand...

Great troubleshooting tool for wifi

Download from git: https://github.com/sylvia-ou/netcheck/releases/tag/v1.2
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za

I'd go mesh, depending on your home layout a nice mesh system works great and benefits everyone. I've always recommended the 3 pack because 3 is better than 2 and latency is pretty good from what I have seen.
scoop.co.za

Tenda Nova Dual Band 2 Port Gigabit Mesh System 3pk | Nova MW5C

Tenda's W-NOVA5C is a MU-MIMO 3 pack whole home mesh WiFi system designed for larger households with 100 Mbps+ broadband services. Powered by Tenda's mesh technology and compliant with IEEE 802.11k/v/r the W-NOVA5C supports automatic network optimization
scoop.co.za scoop.co.za
 
MC_raw said:
Yeah, my brother is connected via LAN and he has 0 issues. I don't think TP-Link is bad per se, just that this is a very entry-level router trying to do a lot.


Just to be clear: the router I linked won't be good enough to 'fix' my situation?
Click to expand...
the router you linked is still considered an entry-level router. What @agentrfr linked and I are nice meaty routers with a lot of ability.
 
HartsockZA said:
the router you linked is still considered an entry-level router. What @agentrfr linked and I are nice meaty routers with a lot of ability.
Click to expand...
Great, thanks. Was hoping to solve this for a cheaper price, but I guess one of the options you two provided would be a safer bet.
 
MC_raw said:
Hi everyone,

I'm trying to game over WiFi (I know, I know...) and I keep getting terrible spikes that feel a bit like temporary disconnects.

I'm using an entry-level router than I received when signing up with CIISP: TP-Link TL-WR840N. I'm currently on the 50/50 package, and have sent in a request for 100/100, which should take effect within the next day or two.

I've done some testing and I think the issue is the router. We have around 8-10 devices connected at a time, and I'm fairly far away from the router.
Is this a pluasible deduction, or should I be looking elsewhere first?

In the case that it is indeed the router, I'm thinking of upgrading to something like this like this. Is this enough of a jump to potentially solve my WiFi issues?

On a sidenote: I do have a second, identical, router. Is there a way to use it to provide a more stable connection?

My laptop is using WiFi 5, ac (latest drivers installed). No LAN port. Other devices have also temporarily dropped when the 'load' seems high.

Appreciate any advice or insights.
Click to expand...

How much money are you willing to throw at the problem?
 
Tim_vb said:
Just get yourself a basic mesh router system...friends don't let friends use multiple AP or WiFi repeaters - it's completely outdated tech

https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/home-mesh-wifi.1157030/
Click to expand...

You're right that Wifi repeaters are absolute crap, but I disagree that multiple APs are necessarily bad. If you've got a few AP's lying around and you hook them all up via lan cable on the same SSID, but different channels, you can actually cobble together a fairly robust system.
 
TP-Link pretty garbage:sick: Best to use the Ethernet connector.
 
deweyzeph said:
How much money are you willing to throw at the problem?
Click to expand...
I was pretty happy with the router I linked, on special for R800. If it's worthwhile in the longrun, going up to R1.5k is doable. R2k+ is a stretch and I think it's overkill for my situation.

ajax said:
Maybe a noob suggestion but what about a USB to LAN adapter?
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this too. I'm not sure if it'd help (I assume it would), but it also shouldn't be necessary. I'd like to just have my wireless sorted.

Louis72 said:
Best to use the Ethernet connector
Click to expand...
No doubt, but I'd have to find some kind of adapter for that, and set up another LAN cable through the roof.

Edit: format
 
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