This topic

Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:02:45 GMT

Had great wifi signal outdoors when we moved here 5 years ago, especially after upgrading ancient hub. Could get an OK signal even 50 to 100 yards from house, even sometimes inside stabkes and sheds. Fibre optic cable installed down our lane about a year ago. Wifi signal now weak to non-existent if I walk 30 tky 40 yards from house, even if totally outdoors. Why, when fibre optic meant to be a better service.

Re: Poor wifi signal

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:11:10 GMT

@bobnunn

Welcome to this user forum.

Its the router that determines the wireless range, not the type of connection you have.

The BT Home hubs are not the best, but are usually adequate for coverage inside your house.

Which BT Home Hub are you using now?

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:27:59 GMT

It's a BT Smart Hub, Keith. As I say, we upgraded our realky old, steam-driven one a couple of years ago.

Cheers.

Dave

Re: Poor wifi signal

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:33:53 GMT

@bobnunn wrote:

It's a BT Smart Hub, Keith. As I say, we upgraded our realky old, steam-driven one a couple of years ago.

Cheers.

Dave

So you now have a direct fibre (FTTP) connection with an Openreach optical modem and the Smart Hub 2, is that correct?

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:39:07 GMT

Apologies for being dim, but don't know about the optical modem bit. They just cane and connected us up one day while we were out. Think the answer to the other two questions us 'yes'

Re: Poor wifi signal

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:44:37 GMT

@bobnunn wrote:

Apologies for being dim, but don't know about the optical modem bit. They just cane and connected us up one day while we were out. Think the answer to the other two questions us 'yes'

Does it look like this

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:23:05 GMT

Have nothing in the house that looks like that, Keith. Just the black hub.

Re: Poor wifi signal

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:36:35 GMT

@bobnunn wrote:

Have nothing in the house that looks like that, Keith. Just the black hub.

So you have not been upgraded to optical fibre then?

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:48:10 GMT

Letter from BT said we had been. Confused now. Thanks for your help here.

Re: Poor wifi signal

imjolly — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:45:31 GMT

are you connected your hub to the master phone socket? if so which one

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:06:58 GMT

Re: Poor wifi signal

imjolly — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:11:37 GMT

So you have FTTC - fibre to the street cabinet and then the normal copper phone line to your home - hence using the master socket for broadband

Re: Poor wifi signal

bobnunn — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:48:27 GMT

Thanks for explaining that for me. Bit of a dunce when it cones to this sort of stuff. Still don't understand why , using the same hub before and after they laid and connected us to the fibre optic cable , there has been such a marked deterioration in wifi signal strength outside of the house. Any suggestions how I rectify that, guys?

Re: Poor wifi signal

imjolly — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:02:53 GMT

As @Keith_Beddoe posted already it is the hub that controls the wifi and the strength of your wifi signal regardless of connection type. Have you checked using a wifi analyser on your mobile for the networks round about you and then selected channels that are less congested or where your signal is stronger than the neighbours

Re: Poor wifi signal

spile — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:03:03 GMT

I also noticed a significant drop in Wi-fi range when I upgraded from FTTC and 22mb to FTTP and 500mb.

So how come I a got inferior Wi-fi but much faster and more reliable broadband?

It is down to the supplied modem/router/wireless access point.

The BT Smarthub 2 is not a very good performer when it comes to Wi-fi imho.