Weird WiFi problem

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 10:26:18

A friend, who is with IDNet, has a strange problem with his WiFi. It seems to slow "to a crawl" nearly every night at 11:05pm. Weirdly, this only seems to happen on his iPhone, so I don't think its an IDNet issue. Sometimes his connection reverts to normal after a couple of minutes, but sometimes can take half an hour or more. The connection is fine at all other times during the day, and (as far as I am aware at this time) on all other WiFi devices.

I have checked his router logs, on a DG834G, and it is showing no disconnections. He has also moved the router, and moved the affected device closer to the router when this happens, but this has had no effect.

I'm at a loss as to what else to suggest, so any ideas would be welcomed.

Tacitus · Dec 06, 2014, 11:53:40

Do you have a WiFi scanner which will show all available networks and what channel they're transmitting on? I'm wondering if something comes on around that time which is on the same channel and so you're getting interference.

Gary · Dec 06, 2014, 12:01:20

Reset network connections and try adding the wifi again. Using the 2.4Ghz connection you tend to get more interference as its so crowded and it does sound like thats whats happening, iy could be a RFI burst from central heating someone's Microwave, loads of things really. Having a more up to date router and if possible using the 5Ghz spectrum would be preferable if his iPhone supports it as its a lot less crowded and carries more bandwidth.

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 12:14:02

Tac, no he doesn't. Perhaps changing the WiFi channel might be an idea anyway?

Gary, I'll suggest the network reset, but it seems odd that it only happens at a certain time. I have a spare router, which we are planning to try tomorrow, but it's an old Billion 7700N, which I don't think supports 5Ghz. His phone is an iPhone 5, so I'm not even sure if that supports 5Ghz anyway. He has just upgraded it to iOS 8.whatever it is now, but the problem was evident before and after the upgrade.

Gary · Dec 06, 2014, 12:55:38

Quote from: Simon on Dec 06, 2014, 12:14:02
Tac, no he doesn't. Perhaps changing the WiFi channel might be an idea anyway?

Gary, I'll suggest the network reset, but it seems odd that it only happens at a certain time. I have a spare router, which we are planning to try tomorrow, but it's an old Billion 7700N, which I don't think supports 5Ghz. His phone is an iPhone 5, so I'm not even sure if that supports 5Ghz anyway. He has just upgraded it to iOS 8.whatever it is now, but the problem was evident before and after the upgrade.

iPhone 5 supports 5Ghz so that would be a better way to go.

Since you have an Android phone download WiFi analyzer by Farproc that would help in selecting channels and seeing signal strength, great app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 13:37:25

Thanks Gary. Though, if it was that, wouldn't it affect all their WiFi devices? There are also two Nokia Windows phones, a laptop and an iPod Touch which all seem to be unaffected.

Glenn · Dec 06, 2014, 14:17:38

I can't see how it can be the router, as you say all other wifi devices are OK. I would be looking squarely at the iphone as the cause of the issue, a factory reset possibly?

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 14:54:40

It does seem to be pointing towards the iPhone, Glenn, but it's just had the software upgraded to the latest iOS, and he did it via iTunes, so doesn't that effect the same as a factory reset? I'm wondering if an app may be causing it, but I can't think if there's a way to see which apps are using the most bandwidth on an iPhone. There may of course be an app for that.

Steve · Dec 06, 2014, 16:59:51

The top two recommended options are a network reset and turning off the wifi network location service.

nowster · Dec 06, 2014, 17:34:41

Is there a microwave oven or older video sender in the vicinity?

Glenn · Dec 06, 2014, 17:41:35

Quote from: Simon on Dec 06, 2014, 14:54:40
It does seem to be pointing towards the iPhone, Glenn, but it's just had the software upgraded to the latest iOS, and he did it via iTunes,

Did it do the same before the 'upgrade'?

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 17:52:15

Glenn, yes.

Nowster, no idea! There certainly wouldn't be anything like that in the house at that time of night.

Steve, I'll have a look at his phone settings tomorrow morning.

Thanks guys.

Technical Ben · Dec 06, 2014, 19:40:14

Quote from: Simon on Dec 06, 2014, 10:26:18
A friend, who is with IDNet, has a strange problem with his WiFi. It seems to slow "to a crawl" nearly every night at 11:05pm. Weirdly, this only seems to happen on his iPhone, so I don't think its an IDNet issue. Sometimes his connection reverts to normal after a couple of minutes, but sometimes can take half an hour or more. The connection is fine at all other times during the day, and (as far as I am aware at this time) on all other WiFi devices.

I have checked his router logs, on a DG834G, and it is showing no disconnections. He has also moved the router, and moved the affected device closer to the router when this happens, but this has had no effect.

I'm at a loss as to what else to suggest, so any ideas would be welcomed.

Any chance he has economy 7?
I seem to get interference with the signal they send (radio apparently) that switches my economy 7 over.

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 19:42:46

I'll ask...

Simon · Dec 06, 2014, 20:01:21

Doesn't think so. Scottish Power all in one Gas + Electric tariff.

nowster · Dec 06, 2014, 21:31:22

Quote from: Technical Ben on Dec 06, 2014, 19:40:14
Any chance he has economy 7?
I seem to get interference with the signal they send (radio apparently) that switches my economy 7 over.

That's sent on long wave radio as phase modulation of Radio 4. More than you would be affected if it was the signal. It's more likely to be the arcing of the contacts switching on your storage heaters.

Technical Ben · Dec 07, 2014, 20:33:50

It kills my router (though not through wifi, something about it interferers with my line/routers). (IIRC I've turned off the storage heaters to test)