This topic

Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 22:44:14 GMT

I have BT Full Fibre 500 with a Hub 2. Speeds were in the 300 range which was fine.

However, since install we’ve had intermittent drop out issues. It started out as maybe once a day the internet would drop out very briefly, then come back. During these times the hub lights stayed blue.

As the months passed the drop outs became more frequent, 2-3 times a day, increasing up to hourly. Every time the Hub lights remained blue, but no connection. A BT engineer visited and said the problem was in the road. An Openreach Engineer visited and said the problem was a faulty Hub. The Hub was replaced, and there was no difference.

My partner is a tech guy and he installed a Deco 6E wireless mesh to replace the Hub (he thinks the Hub 2 is poor). That rectified about 90% of the problem (and I’m now getting the full 500 speed with full house coverage that the discs could never manage), but we are still getting total drop outs a couple of times a day.

We’re gamers, and since starting to play Fortnite with the network status enabled I can see I’m getting pings anywhere from 12 to 460. I can also see the network dropping as I play, then ramping up again.

Any ideas what’s going on? I think it’s a cable issue.

My contract is up in March. My partner wants to ditch BT and go elsewhere as he’s already given up multiple days to wait in for engineers, only to be ping-ponged about.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 23:51:20 GMT

It sounds more of a wifi issue than a broadband issue.

As you're gamers it would be better to switch to using ethernet cables to connect your gaming devices rather than using wifi.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:02:15 GMT

My games console is on an Ethernet cable.

Still drops.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 11:59:10 GMT

Is this connected directly into the router and not into any other device like the mesh network or powerline adapter?

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 12:05:43 GMT

Yes. Directly into the router.

Edited to add: we also used a new cable in case that was the issue.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:16:19 GMT

What kind of ethernet cable are you using? Always best to use cat 6

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:33:22 GMT

It's Cat8 as the router is in the same room as the Playstation. The router is sited away from electrical interference, in its own space on the wall.

We have used Cat6 same issue. When the wired device drops, all the wifi connected devices drop too at the same time, and come back at the same time. This is why I think it's a problem with the cables coming into the home, or in the road, or at the box outside, as opposed to a kit failure, but 2 sets of engineers say otherwise.

Switching one Hub 2 for another Hub 2 did nothing at all. Switching to the mesh has greatly improved the drop outs, as well as the speed and household coverage, but they are still occurring. I don't think Hub 2 could cope with our high level of use - we both wfh, we both game, we have a lot of wifi appliances etc., even though it markets itself as being able to do just that.

As mentioned, my partner is looking to move our business away from BT to another provider, but I'm trying to see if there is a solution before we do that.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Robbo_0410 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:35:27 GMT

Been having the same problem for 2-3 month now, engineer came out yesterday and put a new cable in, unfortunately it started dropping connection straight away and now it's went off altogether, looks like I'll have to cancel, as Openreach have done everything they can to fix it, real shame as I will more then likely have to drop back to a normal broadband package as Openreach provide the lines for most if not all full fibre broadband service providers, shame it has had to end this way

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:39:42 GMT

It's a nightmare, isn't it? There has to be something further back that's causing it.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Robbo_0410 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:47:39 GMT

@Lisa123456 just went to change the ethernet cable on the off chance it was that and discovered that my routers wan port has been absolutely butchered, this is a brand new router that was sent out a couple of weeks and it was fine yesterday morning before the engineer came out to replace my line 🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:fe7f3f6c-02f8-3062-beab-fe5b5174d192

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

licquorice — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 14:51:36 GMT

@Checked2013 wrote:

What kind of ethernet cable are you using? Always best to use cat 6

Total nonsense, Cat5E is more than adequate for a domestic setting with short runs.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:56:02 GMT

What you are describing is slightly conflicts with the answers you've give me, for example, you say the dropouts have improved since installing a mesh WiFi, that would indicate you are connecting via WiFi rather than ethernet.

Note: CAT 8 cables are fake and should be avoided at all costs.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:05:00 GMT

@licquorice

It may not make a difference to your slow Internet connection liquorice, but to full fibre it can make a lot of difference.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

licquorice — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:10:22 GMT

I bet you buy your hifi cables from Russ Andrews 😀

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:21:56 GMT

@licquorice As a professional network installer, I make my own thanks. Though glad to hear the community leaders are still being civil rather than petty personal insults and got themselves trained up on full fibre 😉

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

licquorice — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:26:56 GMT

Sorry, but you are not going to convince me that Cat6 is not overkill in a domestic environment.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

imjolly — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:28:05 GMT

@Checked2013 wrote:

Note: CAT 8 cables are fake and should be avoided at all costs.

As a professional network installer are you saying that all cat 8 cables are fake and nobody should purchase any manufacturers cable?

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:39:58 GMT

@imjolly As there is no official certification for CAT 8, no company can claim a genuine CAT 8, most are sold on the likes of fleebay and other such sites.

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Lisa123456 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:06:39 GMT

My PlayStation is connected via Ethernet to the main Hub.

My other devices (XBox, laptops, etc etc etc) are all on Wi-Fi.

When the PS drops (on Ethernet), if I check my other devices they are out too. If I’m playing a networked game with my partner, his X Box (Wi-Fi) drops at the same time as my PS5 (wired).

Re: Issues with broadband dropping

Checked2013 — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:28:35 GMT

@Lisa123456 it sounds more like you've got your ps5 connected to the mesh WiFi unit via a wired connection maybe.

Where is the ps5 located in relation to the BT smarthub?

Note: All gaming devices should be on a wired connection including the xbox, that's possibly why there is extra latency with the online game between the xbox and ps5.