This topic

Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:28:52 GMT

I keep getting the message "your broadband is unstable" especially whilst using Zoom. What can I do to sort this?

Re: Unstable broadband

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 15:48:08 GMT

@Ceri1

Are you using a wireless connection instead of a direct Ethernet connection?

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 19:10:52 GMT

Yes I'm using wifi

Re: Unstable broadband

Keith_Beddoe — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 19:23:33 GMT

Its most likely due to a poor wireless connection. You could try a different wireless channel, or moving your device closer to the BT Home Hub.

If your device has an Ethernet (LAN), port, then you would get a much more reliable connection using that. You would need to connect directly to the home hub, or connect using powerline adapters if you cannot run an Ethernet cable.

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:51:53 GMT

Thank you for your advice. I was less than 1m away from the hub when I got the message this week. I haven't got an ethernet port so I'll look at powerline adaptors. Thanks

Re: Unstable broadband

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 05:12:05 GMT

Powerline adapters require an Ethernet port on your device.

What are you using to run Zoom?

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 09:36:26 GMT

Oh I see.

I'm not sure what you mean about Zoom. I have the Zoom app on my laptop and use wifi for it.

Re: Unstable broadband

Keith_Beddoe — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 10:06:50 GMT

Has your laptop got an Ethernet (LAN) port?

Re: Unstable broadband

Les-Gibson — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 10:38:07 GMT

Is your laptop 5GHz capable and do you have Sky Q?

If the answer to both is yes, then click here enter the admin password for your hub, and change the 5GHz channel from 36 to any one of the other options

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 14:33:26 GMT

No I haven't got an ethernet port on my laptop.

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 14:39:39 GMT

Thanks for your help.

I don't have Sky Q.

When I tried to find out about 5GHz capability I got this:

802.11n 802.11g 802.11b 802.11ac 802.11n 802.11a

I obviously don't have a clue what it means!

Re: Unstable broadband

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 14:41:38 GMT

No I haven't got an ethernet port on my laptop.

Then there is not much you can do about the wireless connection issue. It would be unusual to find a laptop without an Ethernet port. If you have a spare USB port, then you can get a Ethernet to USB adapter.

Re: Unstable broadband

Les-Gibson — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 18:34:21 GMT

Some laptops don't have a physical RJ45 connector on them, they rely on a docking station instead to provide that functionality. What make and model is yours?

Re: Unstable broadband

Starman — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 18:40:21 GMT

Yeah my Surface Book is the same along with most Macbooks too (gotta love design aesthetics over function)

Re: Unstable broadband

Starman — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 18:43:37 GMT

"802.11n 802.11g 802.11b 802.11ac 802.11n 802.11a"

Those are difference WiFi standards and from those listed .11ac would typically be the fastest. Do you have a frequency range choice usually 2.4GHz or 5GHz?

Have you tried a WiFi Scanner app to see if changing your wireless channel might improve throughput if the local area is congested?

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:36:55 GMT

I have an Asus M513I

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:45:14 GMT

I've had a go at changing the wireless channel and will see how my zoom connection is when I next use it tomorrow evening.

Thank you for your help and advice everyone. 🙂

Re: Unstable broadband

Broomfield15 — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 14:46:48 GMT

Hi,

Did that help at all? I had that issue but it seems like it is something to do with the firewall specific to Zoom connection.

Re: Unstable broadband

Ceri1 — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 10:11:17 GMT

It was definitely better but I still got the 'unstable connection' message twice.

Re: Unstable broadband

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Nov 2022 11:23:00 GMT

You really need to know which band your laptop is connected to before changing WiFi channel. For W11 go to Settings > Network & Internet & double-click WiFi. Then double-click on (YourNetworkName) Properties & scroll down to where it shows the network band & properties. If you're connected to 2.4GHz then obviously changing the 5GHz channel won't help & vice-versa.

If you have the original Smart Hub or earlier you can split the WiFi bands to give them different names (SSID) so you know for sure which you're connecting to. Generally you want 5GHz for speed, 2.4GHz for distance. But if you have a Smart Hub 2 you can't do that.

As already said, a USB to ethernet adapter will take WiFi out of the equation altogether.