router issues

[BlooDSMeaR]

I have a fairly new cissco router, Was the top of the line last year (I know it passed the use by date)

When using it as a router it works flawlessly, When I use it for wifi it is slower than a snail. Drops all the time and gets to the point of just not usinig it due to data loss and speed. It has dual band 2.4 and 5gh

any suggestions?

[N9t2efes]

Firmware update ?

[MaHoTex]

I have a fairly new cissco router, Was the top of the line last year (I know it passed the use by date)

When using it as a router it works flawlessly, When I use it for wifi it is slower than a snail. Drops all the time and gets to the point of just not usinig it due to data loss and speed. It has dual band 2.4 and 5gh

any suggestions?

DD-WRT
/thread

[Iknownot]

Buy a new router? I have considered myself lucky if I got more than 2 years of use out of any home consumer networking device up until this point. I usually went out and bought whatever the best reviewed $80-100 router was at the time. I finally went out and got a slightly better one (netgear nighthawk router) and so far so good.

I'd guess your router's wifi is giving up the ghost. It happened to me every time over a variety of D-links and linksys's and netgears.

[N9t2efes]

If you are a Tmobile customer they will give you a new Dual band AC router for $20 ..I read it somewhere.

[catmman]

Change channels and pull off security to test it.

[Satex]

Not sure if by "Cisco" you mean Linksys but regardless. Here are steps to help you work it out:
1) Download and upgrade the firmware for your unit if possible.
2) Log into the management console and go into wifi settings.
3) Make sure the maximum speed is set to automatic
4) Make sure the channel bandwidth is set to automatic
5) Change transmit power to maximum
6) Try different channels. Don't bother with going 1->2->3... Just try 1, 7, and 11.
Once you get a better working setup you can optimize the parameters.

[Fizz]

You have a few potential sources of problems.

- Interference from WiFi devices. Cochannel or adjacent channel.
- Interference from non-WiFi devices (cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.)
- Malfunctioning AP or client

At work I have a spectrum analyzer at work that helps pinpoint these kinds of issues. For most home users you're stuck with a process of elimination.

You mention it supports 5ghz, however you haven't indicated if your client device does as well. If it does test it and note any difference. Failures here make the likelihood of an interference problem in the 2.4ghz range less likely, and more likely a device problem.

Try changing channels to something else. Try 1 6 and 11 and see if they're any better.

If you have a spare router, try it. If no issue here on your original channel and locations, you can be fairly confident of a device problem.

[yellowsulphur]

While not a spectrum analyzer this WiFi analyzer for android is useful in finding out what radios are operating around you.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dwifi+analyser&pcampaignid=APPU_wuJnVPeTAYHtoASH-4LoDw

[Fizz]

While not a spectrum analyzer this WiFi analyzer for android is useful in finding out what radios are operating around you.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...AYHtoASH-4LoDw

Great app if you understand its limitations. Ex. 40mhz channel widths are represented as 20mhz.

if you use it to pick a channel and it optimizes things for you, it's all good. However, if you still run into issues I've seen use of tools like that lead people down the wrong path, ex "Channel 11 is clean, let me move there.... there's nothing on the channel and I'm still having disconnect problems, I need a new router" when it could have been a non-wifi interference problem the entire time.

[Ricky-Ray]

I ditched my Linksys/Cisco router about 3 years ago and bought an Asus router instead. Much more options right out of the box and my Asus router is still going strong.

[the86d]

Unplug everything from the wall on (cable modem/DSL modem, then router, then computer)...

Is wireless busy if you turn all wireless "your" devices off (or airplane mode)?

You encrypting WiFi traffic via WPA/WPA2 with a good pass-phrase (i.e. W3HaveFunz8675309!@#$), or WEP?

[spyde12]

Backup your config file.
Reset the router.
With default values, try to connect to your WiFi.

If you see the same issues, it could be the router.

If the performance is better, then restore the config file.

If the performance goes back to s***, then there you have it! You have a bad configuration somewhere.

Reset router back to default settings and manually reconfigure your router.

********
This is under the assumption that you've relocated the router and the issue still occurred, as well as the latest firmware has been applied. This removes the possibility of outside forces (i.e. cordless phone, microwave, etc.).