Strange issue with new wifi device on my network.

Hey all. Have been using Sky BB LLU unlimited with an old official Sky D link router designed after there set top tv boxes only smaller for some years now. (no fiber here yet) but i get a good sync speed.
My router sync/wan uptime often breaks 600+ hours its very stable all good.

Here is problem. Ever since i got this, (which works perfectly btw)
Roku 2 XS 1080p Streaming Player
and connected it via wifi not its Ethernet port (i have other stuff that uses wifi fine)
it has been causing my router to lose sync upto 2-4 times a day. It started within an hour of connecting that new device.

Any help or how a wifi device could make a router lose sync would be appreciated.

Blackmesa8

Is the router JUST losing sync or doing a total reboot?

Reboot suggests a software exception forcing a restart, i.e a bad one, and adding more devices can add load in terms of CPU and memory and cause this.

In theory if the roku is perhaps flapping around with changing its wireless speeds a lot then it might add load, I'd suggest experimenting with the roku in a position where clear access is certain. Plus trying Ethernet to see if it resolves the issue.

Also worth looking for firmware updates on the roku in case there are fixes for wireless stability.

Hi thanks for your reply.
Roku is fully updated and it has full signal. Wifi rips through the internal walls of this place easily. Due to the position of the Roku, Ethernet would be quite difficult to setup permanently.
Interesting note my smartphone's wifi was off entire time this has been occuring. So it's had no extra wifi devices than usual due to that.

Now the first question.
I'm not 100% sure if it is losing sync or rebooting. However i believe it maybe rebooting cause the Lan uptime drops to 0 and that usually remains counting after just a wan/sync drop.

Blackmesa8

Never mind solved it well sort of. Turned the new device off it's still happening. Checked landline it's all hissy and crackly.
I've changed filter which has made no difference. I think i have a proper line fault on my hands.
I've contacted BT (my landline provider) since its a line fault and not a broadband fault.
Crackling phone line hissy noise in background is indicative of a line fault is it not?
New device was a coincidence it seems.

Report to voice provider if the hissing and crackle is present when all broadband hardware is disconnected from the line

Thanks for reply. Done already BT claim they have detected a fault at the exchange and have arranged a engineer to check it out next week. My voice line is still working just crackly my dsl is working but drops alot.

Blackmesa8

No need to set up permanent ethernet. Just try it to rule out any wireless issues with individual devices.

Although not now necessary, as BT have acknowledged problems, you should acquaint yourself with the Quiet Line Test.

Dial 17070, select Option 2 (QLT) and listen for noises on the line.

(Option 4 if SKY)

A very low volume and frequency hum is usually acceptable.

Anything else, such as "Snap, Crackle and Pop", dialling/test tones, continuous buzzing etc is not acceptable.

This is done preferably with an older corded phone, firstly directly in to the NTE, the Network Terminating Equipment box, where the BT Land Line is terminated after entering your premises. Do NOT connect any of your internal wiring/extensions.

Try it both with an ADSL Filter present and without.

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After BT has told you the Exchange Fault has been repaired, repeat the tests.

If satisfactory, then further repeat the tests, at each extension, progressively plugging in any other phones, devices etc.

If the line is still clean, fine.

If you hear untoward noises as above, then one or more of YOUR devices is also creating noises and problems - and needs to be sorted out by yourself, as the internal wiring etc is your responsibility.

--------------------------------------------

Apart from getting back to clean ADSL Broadband, it is very good preparation for VDSL Broadband as typified by FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet).

This is crazy. If i plug it in and powered up reset to factory settings (done more tests today) so it is not even connected to router. It still takes my broadband down and landline becomes so bad i can hardly hear other people and them me.

How is this possible just a roku device not connected to tv or wifi or ethernet just plugged in on standby?

I am also wondering if this line fault BT detected Roku was connected at the time is real or not. I phoned them to report it while roku device was connected Maybe it confused them?
I don't get how a network based device can affect a router even if it is not connected to it in anyway at all just plugged in on standby to an electrical socket reset to factory defaults no wpa2 code not entered no ethernet not even connected to tv?

I have put in for a refund with Amazon.

Oh and to add to the weirdness it makes an old analogue radio in kitchen crackle and go all weird make weird sounds etc.

Edit whenever the Roku device is not turned on or connected to power at all. all my voice line becomes clear no noises hissing crackles.. However my router will refuse to reconnect at all till i turn it off and on at plug.

Blackmesa8

Edited by deleted (Sun 30-Mar-14 19:54:53)

In reply to a post by blackmesa8:

This is crazy. If i plug it in and powered up reset to factory settings (done more tests today) so it is not even connected to router. It still takes my broadband down and landline becomes so bad i can hardly hear other people and them me.

How is this possible just a roku device not connected to tv or wifi or ethernet just plugged in on standby?

Not crazy at all. It's electrical interference:
http://www.fpl.com/customer/solving_electrical_inter...

Probably from a faulty power supply or faulty wiring/component in the device.


<Mutters about the lack of science education these days>

Edited by deleted (Sun 30-Mar-14 21:40:24)

AM radio tuned to around 600Khz is a good way to find the noisy kit

Really not crazy, it's a faulty device. People often have these kinds of problematic devices and it doesn't affect their own broadband but can cause neighbours lines to drop out instead... So you can see this kind of thing becomes complicated.

Probably best to stop the engineer coming out as you'll be charged the expense if no faults found apart from a problematic device you introduced into the equation.

Thanks for your reply. I'll phone BT and get them todo a line test while roku is gone. (its packaged up for return Monday now) And i'll see what they say. If they say they still detect a fault even tho everything is working perfectly now, i will question them specialty about charges and if i can get engineer canceled.

Cheers for the help ukhardy07 and everyone else who replied to this post.
I will update this post sometime and say what occurred to BT etc and that it seems fine now.

Yep it's pretty black and white. Without the device it's all fine therefore you don't have a line fault. Perhaps their test did find a fault due to it.

Either way if an engineer comes out to your property and finds no fault he will log a no fault found which often means a charge of just over £100 is passed onto the end user... If you admit it was a problematic device in your house again you would be liable. Ultimately best to stop anybody coming into your property by cancelling the engineer

You have to remember that any device that has a stand-by function, is not OFF, if still plugged in to the Mains (or has batteries in it.)

So in degree, it is still in an operational condition, to be able to "recognise" what-ever "WAKE-UP Call" is sent to it.

In a mains-operated device, this also means that the power supply part of the device must be working, just as it would be normally; and the present-day, "switching" type of power supply circuit is notorious for the amount of Electrical Noise produced.

Such Electrical Noise can spread, both by Conduction along the Wires/Cables; and by Radiation from the same wires/cables (including inside the actual device).

-------------------

Think of a conventional switch and the occasional sparking that you may have observed.

A Switching Mode Power Supply has the potential to do this 100 times per second, ie at twice the frequency of the Mains Supply (would be 120 times a second in most parts of North America).

------------------------

A modern TV set in Stand-By mode is still drawing around 5 Watts of Power, to be able to Wake-Up, compared with around 125 Watts when fully operational.

============================

The Quiet Line Test is an excellent starting point for virtually any Broadband connection problem, costing NOTHING to do, yet potentially revealing MUCH, whether ADSL or VDSL or even Dial-Up.

And as you have seen, right down to simple Audio Calls.

Hi i did a BT quiet line test and it sounds fine. Since Roku device has been packaged away and completely disconnected i'm not experiencing issues at all.

When i phone BT to cancel the engineer what do i say? If i tell them it was something my end might they charge me even before engineer comes out? (He is due to go to the exchange on Thursday not my house)
So when i phone them today what shall i say to cancel that engineer?

Not aware of any charges for cancelling an engineer when its so many days in advance.

Just say fault has been resolved and service is fine and they'll cancel visit.

Not having encountered "roku" devices before, I have just done a Web Search and note that they are for streaming etc.

Is your one based on a "simple" USB Stick as in-

http://www.roku.com/uk/what-is-roku

or is it a larger, distinct unit?

======================

Just followed through your earlier link; and note it appears to be a distinct unit, although I did not see any mention of how it is powered.

Edited by deleted (Mon 31-Mar-14 10:27:09)

Phoned BT and they canceled the engineer so i think I'm safe from BT call out charge
Thanks for your help saffron.

II planned to use it for £5.99 a month Netflix before it caused chaos.
This is the exact one i got from amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006VTASW4/ref=oh...
I'm very certain it is faulty. As i said amazon are collecting it today.
My broadband and land line has been perfect since the device is turned off. It uses 2.5watt and cant be turned off. It remains in some kind of standby mode forever.
Due to this i lost confidence in that device and asked for refund not a replacement.

If there is no engineer visit you can't be charged!

Yep you can't get charged.

I'm pretty sure you just had a faulty device I would be concerned if they were all like this... A lot of sky boxes have caused similar issues in the past when they were faulty.

Sorry for taking so long to update post. Since sending Roku device back all issues have vanished as quick as they appeared router uptime is over 90 hours wan uptime i mean.
Connection speed my usual for my line and no hissing or weird noises on line.

I canceled BT engineer like i said there was no charge.

One thing, them Roku streaming devices get good reviews overall on almost all online shops that sell them.
Maybe i got a faulty one and there usually safe.

Blackmesa8

You got a duff device, (or power supply). I have had a Roku for over 4 months and it is brilliant. HD, 5.1 sound, and a standby power consumption that is negligible, (certainly less than 5W).

Try another.