UPC - intermittent loss of internet access via wifi extender.

quenching

In the last 10 days or so my Windows phone, Android phone, iPad, and WD TV Play box are all experiencing intermittent loss of internet access on the 2.4GHZ wifi network broadcast by a Netgear router plugged in to the UPC router which is set to 5GHz. If I renew the DHCP lease on the router over wifi I get internet access for 10 minutes or so, sometimes longer, and the it dies again. This trouble seems to have started since the Horizon Wi- Free networks have appeared, or maybe that's coincidence? The DHCP lease time on the UPC router is set to 86400 seconds if that helps?

Any advice on what to do as it's driving me nuts!

I've asked UPC and they just suggested changing wifi channels from auto but this hasn't helped, neither has a factory reset of the Netgear router. It was all working fine for months until last week.

denisor

I'm chiming in with no solution, but since Wi-Free was enabled by UPC I too have experienced drop outs on all wifi devices in our house. We have 2 MacBooks, 2 iPhones, and 3 iPads all experiencing drop outs. Our Mac Pro which is connected via ethernet directly to the UPC Thomson router is not experiencing any drop outs. I have disabled Wi-Free via My UPC and understand it will take 3 days for UPC to turn it off. We had UPC send a technician round today and he could not help but off the record he suggested we are not alone. Once the Wi-Free is disabled I'll report back to share our expierience.

Blue Ice

My Wifi connection is also crap in the last ten days. Ethernet speeds are fine.

ScottSF

As of this morning my WiFi connection has been poor and dropping while my one computer connected via Ethernet cable works perfectly. I reset the router several times and changed the channel as well but nothing fixes the issue so far.

I received a noticed about the Horizon Wi-Free service in the post and I finally figured that may be the reason as well but not sure yet. When I open up an app on my phone called "Wifi Analyzer" it shows two routers with the same name - one strong signal and one weaker signal, both on the same channel. I thought it was a bug but I'm thinking it must be the Wi-Free being turned on just now. Does anyone know if this is how it would appear when scanning wifi networks and access points?

I submitted the request at MyUPC to Opt-Out and I'm hoping it doesn't really take 72 hours. Aren't they only sending a signal down to my modem to turn off this second wireless network that is for sharing? It should be instant.

I'll call UPC if the problem persists as their customer support is always helpful. If it is the new UPC Wi-Free that is causing Wi-Fi interference, then it is highly disappointing as it should have been tested more. Anyone else having the problems and know more?

denisor

Apologies I forgot to report back.
I had UPC turn off Wi-Free and it resolved our drop out issue. It did take 72 hours, and calling UPC did not expedite the removal, either did a technician call out. Hopefully they will resolve any conflicts in the future.

ScottSF

denisor wrote: »

Apologies I forgot to report back.
I had UPC turn off Wi-Free and it resolved our drop out issue. It did take 72 hours, and calling UPC did not expedite the removal, either did a technician call out. Hopefully they will resolve any conflicts in the future.

Thanks for reporting back. Very odd indeed. I wonder if this is a common or rare issue. I'm guessing rare otherwise they would cancel the rollout of Wi-Free until the technical issue is resolved.

Which modem/router do you have? Mine is the Technicolour TC7200 one but strangely enough, the second WiFi access point says it is Xerox when I view it in the Wifi Analyzer.

denisor

I'm using the Thompson for 200mb connection.
The technician did tell me the Wi-Free is causing a lot of trouble and turning it off resolves things. But he didn't elaborate why so I can comment further.