Wifi downloads take all bandwidth

[dsms]

Whenever a machine/device on our network does a download of a sizable file, system update or similar. This knocks out all other machines on the network from accessing the internet. This applies to machines/devices connected via ethernet or wifi.

Have spoken to tech support a number of times, they have taken control of machine and checked router settings etc without any success in finding anything. Line check shows nothing wrong. Tech support say nothing they can see/do or suggest to cure.

Its not the case of any one particular device causing the problem, happens with any device connected via wifi iPhone/iPad/PS3/Mac or PC computer dooing the download. Have tried a system reset of router, a brand new router all to no avail.

Speaking with tech support resulted in a drop of line speed - BT Wholesale placed a cap on line in interests of stability - thanks wholesale - there was no stability issue, but to use the words of tech support agent, thats the simple thing to do!

The only solution that tech support can come up with was to speak with sales to see if line can be changed to a better pair. Sales response this not possible only solution is to buy another line !!

Anyone any clues/ideas???

[mark239]

The 2700HGV is a piece of junk. I'm assuming that's what you're using.

Try setting the DNS server on one of your pc's to be 213.185.197.6 or some other publicly available server (That one is a nevada tele server). it looks as if it frequently fails to respond to DNS requests when there is a large download in progress. Seen this in a load of places.

Id dump the 2wire and buy a proper cisco router. Especially if you have static addresses you want to make proper use of.

[Frances]

Hi Dsms

I have had a look at your fault reference and your issue is currently in hand with the technical team and also there is an engineer appointment booked. Hopefully this should resolve the issue you are having

Thanks

Frances

Forum Moderator

[dsms]

Thanks for responses.

Engineer did indeed visit today and shifted the lines at the exchange - this happened just 30mins ago and at moment line speed has dropped even further after the switch to the new line!

Tols it may take upto 72 hours for the correct speed to kick in, time will tell but not holding breath.

The Wifi issue - neither tech support nor the visiting engineer have any ideas as to why this is happening and cannot offer any solution. Perhaps a different router may well be required to overcome this, neither of the tw 2Wire routers makes any difference

[dsms]

Well so far the line has not shown any signs of imporoving from its initial lower rate. Ran speed test this morning via speedtester.bt.com just to see how things were panning out.  Comparing the info to those taken before engineer visit things are very different and I am not sure if what I am seeing is normal or not perhaps someone can advise. Prior to engineer visit was getting DL485)  UL 844 Acceptable rate range 2000-7150 DSL Conn rate DL 6864 Up1056 with Ip DP Profile 5000 and  IP UP profile of 1056.

Now this morning some 18hours after engineer visit shows DL 1958 UL 865 Acceptable range 1200-4000 DSL Conn Rate 6448 and 1051  IP DL Profile 2500 IP UP Profile 1051

All significantly lower

Engineer initially advised line should stabilise within 9 hours and speed increase, but could take upto 72 hours to fully stabilise.

Can someone advise what they think of these figures and can anyone honestly see the line magically increasing in speed in over next two days.

Before all this started and before I spoke with tech support about the Wifi issue was attaining a very respectable 10200 connection speed and didnt have any stability issues or connection problems dropouts. Seems like each time anyone gets involved things get worse.

[dsms]

Well someone managed to get the IP Download profile upped from 2500 to 6000 which has given back some speed, still slower than we had a couple of weeks ago but I suspect its now at a rate will have to live with.

The main problem of Wifi taking over all available bandwidth and locking out other machines on the network is still well and truly here though and there does not appear to be any answer to that problem Tech support cannot fathom why nor could the engineer seems to be end of road with this problem. So this is something that will have to be lived with also, dare not speak with tech support again or speed may well do down tha pan again!

[mark239]

did you try another dns server like 213.185.197.6 on one or two of the affected pc's ?

In my experience it is mostly dns timeouts that do this on these substandard devices.

[dsms]

An update on this. After so long with no resolution in sight, have today received a visit by an engineer.

Line checks out perfectly ok, physical check on internal socket showed it  could be a problem so sockets and wires changed, no difference. Then the engineer makes contact with bt wholesale, who run tests at their end, eventually a cause found, congestion on the line because of a faulty bit of kit at the exchange, oh but we cant fix it because its with 'planning' whoever they are!

You will have to live with it until 'planning' sort it, when will that be, no idea! Best option is to get another broadband service connection into the premisies via another provider to cover you over until the fault is fixed - now that is a great piece of advice from BT Wholesale for engineer to pass onto me, the engineer was a bit embarrased to say the least having to make that suggestion!

For what good it will do have submitted a complaint to the complaints department that there is a known fault but no one is willing or able to fix it even though they know eactly where the fault is and what needs to be done, its obviously an expensive bit of kit that needs swapping out and they are reluctant to do it - can be only explantion. In mean time keep paying your monthly bill and suffer it!     Thanks BT

[a-hill]

Can I just clarify this issue, when a PC on your network is downloading a large file (i.e. using all of the available bandwidth), internet access on the other PC's is slow? Unless you're running any sort of QoS on your network, this is normal behaviour. If you've got a max download of 600kbs, and you're downloading at 600kbps... that leaves no overhead for additional use. As far as I'm aware, there is no traffic shaping done on the router to split the traffic and provide QoS to each device, and I think you'll be hard pushed beyond a Cisco to find a piece of kit that will.