D-Link Forums
The Graveyard - Products No Longer Supported => Routers / COVR => DIR-855 => Topic started by: prestont on August 30, 2011, 11:47:33 AM
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We are using the DIR-855 running 1.23NA in small office with maybe 10 users and 15-20 devices connecting. We run two wireless networks, on 2.5HGz and 5GHz and have no wired clients.
On a regular basis the wireless network drops for all users - you see basically no signal - and then recovers on its own about 30-60 seconds later.
It happens sometimes for all users and other times just for PC users (about 1/3 PC, 2/3 mac in the office).
Per a knowledge base article I found, we have disabled UPnP on the router. The PC's all also have UPnP disabled at this point I believe. This might have reduced the issues for mac users somewhat but it is unclear.
We have not otherwise significantly changed the standard configuration.
Any suggestions?
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What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode G or mixed G and N on each radio, 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz?
What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA-Personal. Auto TPIK and AES.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area?
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Thank you for your reply. Answers are below:
What wireless modes are you using?
- We were using Mixed N/G/B for 2.4 and Mixed n/a for 5. I have switched 2.4 to N/G.
Try single mode G or mixed G and N on each radio, 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz?
What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA-Personal. Auto TPIK and AES.
-- Using WPA-Personal, TPIK and AES with WPA mode set to 'Auto'.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
About 10 Laptops, 1 wireless printer, and several iphones/ipads etc.
Any cordless house phones?
- Yes, there is one nearby. I can try moving it perhaps.
Any other WiFi routers in the area?
-Yes, a bunch used by other small companies and the local free wifi (Google's in mountain View)
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Might use InSSIDer app to see whos around you and what channel they are using. See if you can find on for the 2.4Ghz radio that nobody else is using.
How big is this office space? Sq Ft?
Def move the cordless phone if it's in the 2.4 or 5Ghz range.
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Thanks again for your assistance.
- The office is about 800 sqft.
- I have disabled the cordless phone
- I checked using iStumbler and there doesn't appear to be any overlap issues on either the 2.4 or 5 networks.
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Possible that since thats a fairly small office, might try lowering the Power output of the radios from High to Mid and see. Try the Single modes first and see how it goes. Let us know.
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To be sure I am clear, by Single mode you mean set 2.4 to G only and 5 to n only for instance?
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Yes, just to test.
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I seem to have similar issues. However, I live in an apartment building where I can pick up about 10 or so different networks in my unit. In some cases, it happens whether wired or wireless but it's much more frequent with just the wireless only. Are there any Android aps that I could use to check what everyone around me is using to try and troubleshoot this?
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There might be, I know the iPhone has apps for it. You can use InSSIDer application for PC as well.
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Looking into this more. I only seem to have the issue on wireless. With my entire connection dropping, I've come to the conclusion that it's the Bell VDSL Medio Hub in Bridge mode that is soft freeaing under heavy traffic. However, elimiating that from the mix, my Sidekick 4G and Wii have issues on the 2.4GHz G only. My Sidekick 4G constantly disconnects and reconnects and the Wii is similar but not as frequent (as I don't use it as often). 5GHz straming HD conect via Netflix or ther stuff to my N based notebook works fine. Sadly, my issue seems very similar to the thread in the HD Media 1000 thread, which I have also posted in.
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Possible that your near by vicinity area is congested with other WiFi routers on the same 2.4Ghz? Seems that if the 5Ghz is working, possible that not many other routers using the 5Ghz so it's not experiencing the same problem as the 2.4Ghz. Possible reason for the disconnects is the devices are having a hard time keeping a good connection with all the other WiFi routers near by.
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Yeah. That's my thought also. Looking at the other router and someone else experiencing similar issues just makes me think I'm sort of stuck in terms of using wireless on the 2.4GHz band. My phone doesn't support 5GHz, neither does the Wii, etc.
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Ya, really feel that your area in so congested with 2.4Ghz radio that the poor router and devices are having a hard time trying to keep the connection.
One thing you can try if you haven't already, lower the power out put from HIGH to say Medium on the 2.4Ghz radio and see if by making the broadcast foot print smaller, maybe it might help keep the signals near you or in the room better for you.
One other thing you can do to make sure the router is working as I feel this is not a HW issue, I would take this router to a different location, where there are fewer WiFi routers around and check it out. Maybe a friend or family. I bet you the router will work better. ::)
One think you might try, might have to see who has the wifi near you and talk to them tactfully and explain to them that everyone's radios are causing interferences. Ask them to see if you could work out some channels and power settings for each one. I know this is crazy however you could talk to them about maybe combining your wifi access. All of you are is such close proximity, why not have a collective wifi and share the access and cost. You could all have the same SSID, just be on different channels. At least see if some of the near by router owns would be interested. Would really help everyone on the 2.4Ghz band. Just a suggestion.
Keep us posted.
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That's the thing. If I take the router to a non-congested location, I'm probably going to just leave it there. :P I will try to make an effort to drag it with me the next time I head out of town though. I really woudl like to 1005 say that it's because of the proximity to 8 other (looking at my phone currently) 2.4GHz SSID's. Looking at the other router, I guess I was sort of hoping that the output was better to push the other services flooding my apartment back. I really don't want to have to buy boosters for each room of my places though. Is there a device that I could possibly buy that would scrambe specific wireless channels? That way, I could lock the device to channel 6 for example and scramble every other channel on the 2.4GHz spectrum within range.
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I don't know if there is any way to scramble channels or know of a device. I wonder if boosters would work best for you. Sorry I can't be of more help to ya. I might recommend a 1watt AP however this might help you however you might make your neighbors mad cuz now your causing interference. ::) I've asked some resources to come review this and see if they can offer up some more info. This is kind of a hard one man. Understand the frustrations. I know I would be.
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I don't know if there is any way to scramble channels or know of a device. I wonder if boosters would work best for you. Sorry I can't be of more help to ya. I might recommend a 1watt AP however this might help you however you might make your neighbors mad cuz now your causing interference. ::)
Sounds like I want 5 of those then. :D
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LOL. I agree. LOL. Well from what I know, the range on them is fantastic. Goes almost a 1/2 mile I guess. Let see what they say on this.
Are you close enough with your neighbors that have a friendly relationship with that you can talk to them about whats going on and what I mentioned before?
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For a city dweller, I don't associate with my neighbors. I'm seriously going to have to try one of those though. If it doesn't work, I know my cousin could use it to extend his WiFi out onto the lake when he's fishing.
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Kewl, well I asked Patrick533 to come and see if he can help provide you with any other info. He's the one that bought the 1Watt AP and says it works pretty good. See what he has to say. Keep us posted. The 855 is a good router, just with all thats going on around it, it's having a hard time as I presume maybe others are too. ::)
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Hi Furry,
I need to be brief, I am swamped at work. I will try to help Syoran first.
Syoran, sounds like you have too many neighbors with WiFi. I am not famillar with your router, I use a Dir-825, but there is a good app for the Android, it is called WiFi Analyzer and is on the Apps store for free I think, I have had it so long I forget the cost. Also inssider for the PC/laptop is great too.
I need 2 things from you, use one of the two apps above and make a list of WiFi nodes you are picking up, what channels they are on and their signal strength, the signal strength will be a negative number, like
-90. Also how many clients you have and how far away they are from your WiFi hotspot/router.
So something easy like:
XBOX 360 20Ft, 2 walls in between (for clients);
Wifi Node 2WIRE123, -60Dbm, Channel 3;
Also how big is your place and in what country are you in(USA, CANADA, UK).
I speak both metric and standard, so don't wast your time converting.
Is there a chance you can put the router on 1 wall and everything else is one direction away form the router? Or is everything in the middle of your living space and sprinkled about.
I am trying to ascertain your situation so I can recomend a 360degree solution or maybe a 180degree solution, and who has jusrdication over the radio waves were you live, if you are in the UK and I give you a solution for the US, you could get fined or jailed.
Has a router ever correctly worked at this home?
If I missed something, toss it in. I am a scattered brained engineer(Radio), so don't take offense at something I say, I don't expect you to know radio and WiFi like me, so I may ask a question several different ways to get what I need, there are many variables.
But as far as randomanly scrambling signals, that is illegal in the states, but overpowering them is not. If you are doing it to use the internet and are not squising someone on purpose, everthing will be fine. But more power comes with pluses and minuses, as does directional antennas.
I am in the west(USA) and work is about over, along with an hour drive home..... I will be back later. :)
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First off, thanks Patrick! Below is the list of what is in range and so on.
2012-55-PC: -60 (CH6)
Bayat: -50 (CH6)
judgebell3: -70 (CH10)
Mahee Alam: -60 (CH11)
WLAN: -80 (CH11)
Gekyu: -80 (Auto)
BELL861: -70 (CH1)
fxcm77: -70 (CH8)
nol lil: -80 (CH6)
iXtreme: -70 (CH3)
BELL277: -75 (CH3)
D-Link YEAa =): -80 (Auto) (no, not mine)
Linda: -70 (CH6)
Nohom: -80 (CH10)
BELL951: -60 (CH2)
BELL410: -70 (CH1)
BELL694: -80 (CH5)
BELL271: -75 (CH3)
BELL896: -80 (Auto)
BELL773: -75 (CH3)
BELL750: -80 (CH1)
WLAN: -60 (CH11)
WLAN: -70 (CH6)
print server: -60 (CH6)
The ones I marked (Auto) literally changed channels while I was creating this list. Just for the record, none of that is mine and the readings are taken within an arms length of the DIR-855. My DIR-855 is currently set to CH7. I live in a 12 floor apartment complex with 14 units per floor. Over th4e past couple of years, the amount of intrusive WiFi networks in my unit has steadily grown. I'm sure the lengthy list illistrates the more than likely cause of the problem. Thanks for recommending that great app. If you can recommend a booster that works well with D-Link products, I'll put it on my list of things to grab ASAP. I live in Toronto, Canada. The only laws here in regards to scrambling signals are when it comes to cellular devices and emergency communications frequencies so I think I'm in the clear.
Edit: Realized I forgot a couple of things. The Wii is in the next room fromt he router, about 20 feet away. The wall isn't that thick either and the signal strengthh is usually strong. The wireless color laser is about 6 feet away. My Sidekick 4G (when home) also logs onto the WiFi instead of using data. The 2 devices I noticed the issues on the most are the Sidekick and Wii as they get used the most of anything on the 2.4GHz band.
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Man, you have a major problem! Those ones at -50 to -60 are very strong.
No problem with Canada, your laws are very close to ours becuase of the region.
I will PM you something after my lunch in 4 minutes that will give you an upperhand. You will still use the DLink and this will become a wireless access point, you will turn the wifi in the D-Link off and this will do 100% of your wifi.
Becasue of the 3 antennas, I am leary of a booster, you almost would need to buy 3 boosters. But a high power AP would work. Let me go eat then look for a PM.
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Cool! I'll keep an look out for your PM. Thanks!
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Keep us posted on how it goes man. Would be interested to see how it all works out for you.
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Going to order it over the weekend. Will probably take a week or so to get here but still. Looking forward to trying it.
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Keep us posted. Have a good weekend.
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Just wanted to update my status in regards to this. I bought what Patrick suggested and have it configured as an Access Point. This does the 2.4GHz broadcasting for my wireless and I've been running flawlessly for just over a week now. Huge thanks Patrick!
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Awesome man. Good to hear. Enjoy.