Internet Connection

[Slytod]

Yes it has built in WiFi. That’s what’s going wrong. But I still need to connect to the desktop and to the network via the wall socket. Isn’t that the router bit ? I still don’t get this idea of splitting them and only using the WiFi part.

[PeterOz]

Since you have the netgear connected your ssid you connected to should also have changed and it should have asked for a new password
when you tried to connect. If you did not change ssid and password on your phone /tablet to connect to the internet that could be the problem.
On the Netgear router
To change your WiFi password or network name (SSID):

[ol]
[li]Launch an Internet browser and type http://www.routerlogin.net into the address bar.[/li][li]Enter the router user name and password when prompted.[/li]The default user name is admin. The default password is password.
[li]Click OK.[/li]The BASIC Home page displays.
[li]Select Wireless.[/li][li]Enter your new network name in the Name (SSID) field. Something unique and that is obvious[/li][li]Enter your new password in the Password (Network Key) fields.[/li][li]Click the Apply button.[/li]Your changes are saved.
[/ol]
Then use a phone or tablet or if you can the laptop would be best to see the new ssid name, (pic for phone & laptop attached)
Connect that and see how it performs.

[Slytod]

I now have 5 routers here. But they are all router/modems. All I’ve tried (3 or them) show the same issue.

As mentioned, at present the Netgear is set to “Auto” for the 2.4 GHz network, so I’m unsure what change your latest suggestion will make, but I’ll run through it all later today to ensure it’s tried. (At present it already runs with a name identical to the network at my place so that’s a change that already occured. Plus this morning we figured that her sat nav may need it’s WiFi settings updating if it is to auto update, so that’s a fifth mobile device.)

Worth noting that this is an intermittent problem not a permanent disconnect.

[PeterOz]

t present it already runs with a name identical to the network at my place so that’s a change that already occured

If it is a SSID that you know you are connected to the correct one then you do not have to change it now.
The whole idea was to be 100% certain you were connecting to the correct modem/router.
This is from Netgear From Here
If your wireless devices are disconnecting from your WiFi network regularly, you might have a problem with your WiFi network name (also called SSID).

Two different WiFi network name problems can cause disconnection issues:

[ul]
[li]Using a common or default WiFi network name, such as one of the following:[/li]

• [li]Netgear[/li][li]Orbi[/li][li]Wireless[/li][li]2wire[/li][li]Dlink[/li][li]Linksys[/li][/ul]
  If you use one of these network names, your wireless devices might connect to a different nearby WiFi network with the same name as yours.
  [li]Using different network names for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of your WiFi network.[/li]

[Slytod]

Ah just made the change anyway. Updated 2 mobiles, tablet, and laptop. Have to see how it goes. (Antivirus moaning about router password but it’s left at default anyway for the moment. Bad guys unlikely to make effort to get past the network one anyway.)

The above, is it recommending different passwords for the 2 bands or advising against it ? Presently they have both different names & different passwords. Suspect on the other routers one couldn’t or didn’t distinguish and of course, the problem was first seen on them.

[PeterOz]

I would set them to the same so the devices should pass from 1 to the other if they both have same name and password.

Ah just made the change anyway

Well we can now rule out that option as a problem.
Is the modem connected directly to a wall power socket or a powerboard.
Should be direct to wall

[Slytod]

Router is connected directly to the wall socket.

Still getting drop outs but it seems to reconnect a bit easier at present. Fewer periods of switching WiFi off and on again to retry, fewer switching from auto to manual connection or vice versa trying to get it to reconnect. Still get periods of claimed connected without Internet.

[PeterOz]

log into the modem and see what the uptime is. You could be dropping on that side.
Have you asked the isp to reset your connection.

[Slytod]

I shall look at it tomorrow. The ISP are not the easiest to deal with (despite all the awards they claim they get). My girlfriend was intending to write a detailed letter listing all the problems they’ve failed to sort and/or created so far. Unsure if she’s sent it yet. No not mentioned a reset to them. Unconvinced they’d know what it was. I shall suggest it to her, or maybe she can add it to the complaint letter. Problem is, one can’t switch supplier mid contract without losing out.

[PeterOz]

I shall look at it tomorrow.

That’s fine.
When you loose internet on let’s say tablet is it
A) losing connection to to the modem/router or
B) Is the modem/router loosing connection to the internet which then causes the tablet to loose connection.

Maybe we setup the laptop with a fixed wifi ip address and leave it on and when you notice the phone/tablet drop off
check the laptop - just a thought.
Or we could put a wifi monitor app on and see what happens

[Slytod]

Any clues where one might find uptime ? “Traffic meter” shows lots of zeroes. Looked in many places but I must be missing it.

What with her desktop being upstairs (with the router) one isn’t keen to go rushing up when the tablet or phone drops out. My experience is that occasionally the desktop will go too but far less often. In fact a phone can drop the connection while another remains on, and vice versa. I suspect the desktop drops are unrelated but can’t be sure. The router has been known to drop the internet but much of the time it still seems to be on. Nothing is clear cut. I’d suspect option ‘A’.

If you have or can link to instructions we could try your suggestions.

Thanks.

[PeterOz]

What with her desktop being upstairs (with the router)

Something else added to the mix.
Let me see what manuals I can find for what routers you have

[PeterOz]

Do you have a wired network point somewhere downstairs?

[Slytod]

Unfortunately the only telephone point downstairs is in the kitchen, so even if I could find a splitter it’s not really a suitable position for a cable or PC.

Yesterday, for the tablet, the WiFi connection was up and down like a fiddler’s elbow. I eventually set up a hot spot from the mobile handset and connected the tablet to that instead. It indicates how one thing can connect when another thing has issues. It’s almost as if all the routers are unhappy with multiple WiFi connections and randomly decide to drop some.

[PeterOz]

I was hoping you had a wired network cable downstairs. I was then going to try and setup one of the routers
as an access point.

f all the routers are unhappy with multiple WiFi connections and randomly decide to drop some.

Most unlikely. My guess is interference or distance.
Is the phone point in the kitchen active ? can you move the modem downstairs just for a test for a day or 2. Need to pinpoint the problem. The only way is to troubleshoot. Troubleshooting at times means having something moved to where it is not wanted or running a cable where it is not wanted but it is a temporary measure which then allows for a proper permanent fix without wasting money buying parts they may not help.
If it works downstairs then you can always extend the wifi signal. If upstairs and a point downstairs share same power circuit.

so even if I could find a splitter

Why would you need a splitter?