Netgear AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Extender drop outs

[Swagrid]

I have recently installed this Wireless range extender to extend the wireless signal as the range from the router would be fine but every now and then would drop the signal strength and be intermittent, so I wanted something to help stabilise the wireless drop outs. I am aware ethernet is preferable and using powerline adapters would be better, however due to the furniture arrangements etc. it's just not possible without causing a nightmare.

Right, onto the issue; Once installed correctly I could connect to the newly extended network, it was almost on par with the network speeds I was getting and seemed to be doing fine. After about 20 minutes of gaming I noticed my friends stopped speaking on voice chat, I then ran a ping to google (8.8.8.8) and saw it was getting time outs. Then all of a sudden the connection was back. This continued, almost like a cycle. So I left a constant ping to google's servers and I was losing two packets every 10 - 30 seconds. I then updated the firmware, but still got the same result. I double checked and it was on the correct channel and setup with a separate network password, therefore only my device was connecting to the WiFi extender.

For the life of me I can't understand why I keep losing packets? The wireless signal the extender gives out is on full bars. I am using 2.5GHz channel at the moment and am going to test with 5GHz, however, 5GHz has caused me issues in the past with wireless devices. I have checked some netgear forums, some people with the same kind of issues who have gone through the same steps as me but don't seem to get anywhere. I would get a drop outs on wireless connection to the router (Virgin Superhub 3) directly ever so often, like maybe a slight dip but rarely ever lose of packets just high latency at times, whereas with the extender its just plain losing the connection. I am still connected to it at full signal strength, yet loses internet connection fairly regularly especially when playing games.

Any suggestions?

Cheers,

 

[RealBeast]

Your packet loss is simply due to the latency when it is at high levels, and with an extender this is really no surprise at all.

I can't imagine any situation where a simple pair of AV2-1000/1200 PL adapters is so problematic that you cannot consider using them. My wife gets a questioning look when I get out my 2 foot drill bits, so perhaps we have a better understanding. She considers PL the lesser of the evils.

If you have some spare cash and simply MUST stay 100% wireless, perhaps buy a pair of ASUS RT-AC68U and run one as your primary router and the second in media bridge mode, which will give you some good LAN ports at the media bridge end as well as a 2.4GHz radio. The 5GHz will be used for the bridge. You can of course attach routers configured as APs to either device to provide more wireless bandwidth. Or wait a year or so until mesh becomes more compelling, although that would be much like using PL adapters now.

Me, I'd save hundreds and just use a pair the PL adapters but we all do what we must.

 

[Swagrid]

Your packet loss is simply due to the latency when it is at high levels, and with an extender this is really no surprise at all.

I can't imagine any situation where a simple pair of AV2-1000/1200 PL adapters is so problematic that you cannot consider using them. My wife gets a questioning look when I get out my 2 foot drill bits, so perhaps we have a better understanding. She considers PL the lesser of the evils.

If you have some spare cash and simply MUST stay 100% wireless, perhaps buy a pair of ASUS RT-AC68U and run one as your primary router and the second in media bridge mode, which will give you some good LAN ports at the media bridge end as well as a 2.4GHz radio. The 5GHz will be used for the bridge. You can of course attach routers configured as APs to either device to provide more wireless bandwidth. Or wait a year or so until mesh becomes more compelling, although that would be much like using PL adapters now.

Me, I'd save hundreds and just use a pair the PL adapters but we all do what we must.

Thanks for your reply!

I understand completely, Power Adapters are more beneficial. As you would probably agree, I would save myself a lot of money just using Powerlines than setting that up, as I know even a microwave has the ability to interfere with a Wireless connection! I just bought a wireless extender without thinking what would be best, unfortunately I am in that situation where the Router and broadband is paid by someone else and they dont want me to touch it at all, incase I was to damage it! Which is ridiculous I know as I have built all of my PC's and have a good understanding with technology, you can't really go wrong!

Thanks, I will just have to bite the bullet and try and take the Power adapter route.