Puzzling Internet Issue

Hi guys,

I signed up here because i Googled "Best Internet problem solving forum" so firstly, well done all!

The Situation:

I have had Virgin media for 3 years in my home, i had the 120mb line and i was receiving exactly such downstairs for 2+ years when connected to the router with an Ethernet cable.

I then have a couple of Powerline Adapters (Homeplugs) providing me wired and wireless signals upstairs.

The downstairs speeds we're fine, at 126mbps (consistently over a series of tests) and upstairs i can appreciate that the signal would be lower, as A. its over adapters, and B. i had them (knowingly) set up wrong.. into extensions etc. (I had no other choice due to cable lengths and whatnot) and they were pulling in a consistent 37mbps. (which even though lower, massively more than i need for hours of consistent PC Gaming/Netflix/iPad you get the picture.

The Problem:

I recently 'pinged out' from a server (999 ping, and much to my dismay was kicked from the game)
After this, my internet has been tremendously poor.
Now, upstairs I'm getting 1.0 - 1.6mbps!! Of course.. Process of elimination kicks in and you start to search for the problem, So I:
Changed the Powerline Adapters for new ones (Not the issue)
Changed the connectivity and cables for new ones (Not the issue)
Changed the PC (Assuming network card, registry problem) (Not the issue)
Changed the sockets in which the home plugs we're connected (Not the issue)
Changed the position and moved the router upstairs to a second inlet (Not the issue)
Even upgraded my Internet to a brand new Router and 200mbps line! (Not the issue)

As it stands, i have 214mbps downstairs (wired) when clocked with Ookla's Speedtest.
And upstairs i have 1 - 2.4mbps < At very best.
So for PC Gaming and if the Mrs wants to watch Netflix upstairs, This is now not possible.

My Question to you guys is:

Dirty Power. Does it exist? Does this sound like this could be the issue? What route do i need to take up with a landlord and how on earth would i explain this to a layman?
Any suggestions for things Ive missed, please help guys!

Thank you in advance,

Dom.

Edited by deleted (Thu 24-Dec-15 10:18:59)

It would be better to use an ethernet cable to connect the router to the upstairs devices.

I have a 3 floor house, It is not feasible to run a cable due to the unfortunate complexities of the rooms.

Furthermore, there are wireless devices that are needing a signal, not just the soul PC.

Do you still have them "knowingly set up wrong"? If so, try setting them up right.

In reply to a post by VeritasUK:

Furthermore, there are wireless devices that are needing a signal, not just the soul PC.

That's not a problem. A cheap gigabyte switch will give you more ports.

Again, running a ludicrous cable around the world isn't feasible unfortunately. Thanks

Apologies, i forgot to mention... Since, i have an Ethernet connected directly to the home plug, trapzing across the room, if i don't, the signal is even worse.

Have you tried moving the PC next to the router and doing a test. If that works then try moving the home plug down as well and connect over a very short part of the mains. It is possible that there is something wrong in the consumer panel that is causing interference between 2 separate ring mains.

EDIT : Do your powerline adapters have software to allow you to look at the quality of the signal? If they do use that to see how good it is and try in different sockets (different ring mains) to see if there is any difference.

Edited by ian72 (Thu 24-Dec-15 10:37:58)

That's a pity. So there's no way to run a single cable from the ground floor to the first floor, and run another single cable from the first floor to the 2nd floor? Because that would give you the very best connection.

Great advice. I tried the home plugs downstairs connected side by side, and he signal was 66mbps.
Which is less, but still more than upstairs. I'd tried this with 2 different computers, and 2 sets of home plugs too.
At this point, I'm leaning towards the ring-main like you say. I Just haven't got a clue on how to remedy it. :/

I'd love to, and I've even consulted the I.T guys at work, but because the Living room is underground, above it is the pavement for outside, running back on myself would mean something in the region of 30m+ cable to try and discreetly hide (rented accommodation, very stringent rules to to what can and cannot be put in place regards to aesthetics.
Don't get me wrong, if it were my place, I'd of Hulk Smashed through the room and done exactly as you said with a nice big switch and another Router to bridge.

In reply to a post by ian72:

Have you tried moving the PC next to the router and doing a test. If that works then try moving the home plug down as well and connect over a very short part of the mains. It is possible that there is something wrong in the consumer panel that is causing interference between 2 separate ring mains.

EDIT : Do your powerline adapters have software to allow you to look at the quality of the signal? If they do use that to see how good it is and try in different sockets (different ring mains) to see if there is any difference.

Do you think it's possible that a fuse could cause a problem like this, would it be as simle as changing them? Or could it be a deeper problem within the panel?

Each length of Ethernet cable can be up to 100m and will work fine.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Each length of Ethernet cable can be up to 100m and will work fine.

Yeah, i understand the capabilities of Ethernet cables, its just a logistical, and aesthetic nightmare, and isn't something i will be able to do. It's rented accommodation. If it were a business i wouldn't care, I'd throw cables round like Christmas tinsel for fun, But unfortunately It's the primary reason I'm having to use home plugs to begin with.

The usual way is to follow skirting boards or the seam between floor and walls, etc. Various colours are available to blend in. Or use micro trunking to hide cables.

Whic homeplugs are you using because these are about the fastest now www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-PA8010PKIT-Passthrough-Powerline-Configuration/dp/B00UTG32TQ

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

The usual way is to follow skirting boards or the seam between floor and walls, etc. Various colours are available to blend in. Or use micro trunking to hide cables.

Whic homeplugs are you using because these are about the fastest now www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-PA8010PKIT-Passthrough-Powerline-Configuration/dp/B00UTG32TQ

Using these.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/n...

Then switched to these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/netgear-1200mbps-powerline...


But its irrelevant. They worked for 2 years, then stopped. It must be the electrics/fuses within the consumer panel

Ah ok. I think the faster speed ones use the earth connection as well to reach the full speeds, so it may be an earth problem. I also think they will all work with each other as they use the same standard, although the top speed mode may be proprietary.

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Ah ok. I think the faster speed ones use the earth connection as well to reach the full speeds, so it may be an earth problem. I also think they will all work with each other as they use the same standard, although the top speed mode may be proprietary.

Yeah i thought about this and tried to mismatch brand them (i.e Netgear + Devolo together), and i think they're coded to stop crossover if you're using a number of different brands/plugs for a sizable house on the same ring main/network.

Still none the wiser really.

Would it help if i showed pictures of my electrics board/consumer panel, i know it might be a little out of everyone's comfort zone, but I've been hard at this for 4 months now, and I'm growing impatient with it. Seriously considering moving house because of it!

Why not, let's have a look.

You can't post pictures here though, just a link to an image hosting site

Edited by deleted (Thu 24-Dec-15 12:05:01)

http://imgur.com/a/GRK0X

Do those 3 Volex contact breakers turn off each of the 3 floors? More particularly are the power sockets you are using for the Homeplugs controlled by those 3 Volex contact breakers?

How many Homeplugs are you using?

32A cct. breakers, these are protecting the ring main.

Looks like you have three separate rings, powerline adaptors should be connected to the same ring if poss.

If nothing has changed on the mains circuits then not likely to be a wiring issue and as mains wiring is designed for carrying mains rather than radio signals for broadband you will get nowhere if trying to pursue a fault with the mains wiring.

Most likely thing is if you've shown the plugs give reasonable speeds when close to each other is that some form of radio noise is causing problems, this could be as simple as interference from Christmas lights (switched mode power supplies etc) so turning off and unplugging other stuff in the property may be part of the elimination process.

As people are saying Ethernet is the best way, even if you can only go one floor up that may be enough to give you wireless coverage.

Another option if there is existing coax between the floors for the TV aerial is to piggyback off that with kit like http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Ethernet-Over-Coax-Wit...

Read this thread and it seems a nightmare, seen that Homeplugs aren't really working out either.

I would give up on the Homeplugs, honestly they aren't perfect anyway.

Switch the virginmedia Superhub to 80Mhz WiFi at 5Ghz, it defaults to 40Mhz. Do this at 192.168.0.1 - login - advanced - wireless settings - set it to 1200 instead of 600Mbps.

Then get yourself these:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/...

You may only pull 10 to 50Mbps using this method but it should be entirely useable. You need to place the booster somewhere that still has a good wireless range but also reaches the dead areas.

It is not perfect. A cable is 100% the right way to go and I would say figure out a way to make it happen, otherwise this is a best alternative. Good enough to game and netflix I would say.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 24-Dec-15 15:30:33)

5GHz might be worse. It depends on the construction of the house, as in mine it it unusable in the rooms upstairs due to attenuation by the walls etc. Whereas 2.4GHz works with a fairish speed...

Appreciate you can't run Ethernet internally for all the reasons you've mentioned, but just a thought, is there no way that you can run Ethernet cable externally between the floors. Almost no physical damage bar a couple of holes (easily repaired when leaving), far less so than running cables internally and less unsightly. There is specific external Ethernet cable available and it's pretty cheap (25mtrs for less than £10 on eBay). Might be your only option, bar moving or getting the property rewired.

Edited by deleted (Thu 24-Dec-15 19:13:21)

Presumably the earthing has been checked out? The photos look a mess with multiple earthing points. Also just because a green / yellow cable goes onto an electricity supply armoured cable sheath doesn't automatically mean it's got an earth. You need access to an earth loop impedance tester to really check that through though. Myself, I would have all the earth cables /bonding cables going back to one point (you appear to have at least 2) with just one earth cable going back to the main earthing point for the house.

Some suggestions (which will inevitably echo other users' posts):

• Unplug any new appliances--wall warts are notorious for causing electrical interference.
• Unplug old appliances--wall warts can and do fail with age.
• Check all mains plugs for bad connections.
• Make sure that any networking kit is not next to other electrical appliances.
• Check for other wireless signals using something like NetStumbler.
• Go hunting with an old transistor (AM) radio. These pick up wireless interference like Billy-O.
• Get an electrician to check your house wiring, especially the earthing. This will be useful, anyway, from a safety point of view. Remember that leccies may be opinionated about networking issues without having any real extpertise.
• If you (or your leccy) suspect mains interference, you can ask your electricity supplier to investigate it--they have data loggers that they can leave connected to your consumer unit.
• Switch from mains ethernet extenders to wi-fi range extenders. Alternatively, ethernet over co-ax as suggested by Andrew seems like a good idea.

Can't think of anything else. HTH.

Edit: There are users here who earn their crust doing computer networking so keep coming back until you've got it sorted. Keep coming back anyway.

Edited by micksharpe (Thu 24-Dec-15 22:06:14)

In reply to a post by keith969:

5GHz might be worse. It depends on the construction of the house, as in mine it it unusable in the rooms upstairs due to attenuation by the walls etc. Whereas 2.4GHz works with a fairish speed...

As the router will be dual-band, it can't hurt to try.