Hi Rosemary,
I think the first thing to work out is whether your problem is with the actual internet connection (eg the Westnet cable problems or just NBN congestion) or with your own wireless network. To check out the internet connection try running SpeedTest https://www.speedtest.net/ and see what speeds you are getting. If you get a good result straight away that should rule out your internet connection as the source of the problem. If the result is not so good then to try & make sure that the problem really is the internet connection by making your connection as direct as possible - depending on what computers you have, an ideal test would be: Turn off your wireless network. Connect a laptop directly to the modem by ethernet cable (or desktop if physically close enough) With just your browser open run SpeedTest Speedtest have a FAQ on how it all works and how various things affect your measured speed https://www.speedtest.net/about/knowledge/faq However, since you say “the wifi drops out over and over again” it sounds like the problem is with your wireless network so, assuming that your internet connection is OK, then you need to troubleshoot this. I was a bit unclear as to how your wireless network is setup with regard to the modem and the time capsule – whether you were just running the modem as a modem and had the time capsule, directly connected to the modem by ethernet, running your wifi network or whether you had the modem setup to run the wireless network and were just using the time capsule as a network extender? Anyway, from your email it sounds as if everything was working fine until a few days ago and then you suddenly started having problems. So, assuming that you had not changed anything in your setup in the interim, it seems to me that there are two basic types of problem you could be looking at: A problem, possibly a hardware fault, that has resulted in an erratic performance of some component of your network setup. Wireless interference, from some external source interfering, with your wifi network. With regard to 1) above, you should be able to rule it in or out by changing between two configurations: Wireless network generated by your modem and the time capsule removed from the setup The wireless network turned off on the modem and a wireless network setup on the time capsule (directly connected to the modem by ethernet) If one works fine and the other has problems then you have identified the source of the problem. If you still have problems with both configurations then either your problem is 2) above or (possible but probably less likely) you coincidentally have more than one problem so that both configurations are compromised. With regard to 2) above, you should be looking at some new device/appliance which has been introduced into the general proximity to your network, Typical sources of wifi interference include cordless phone setups, microwave ovens etc but one other thing to consider is if you have a close neighbour who has a new or modified wifi network. Anyway, hopefully that gives you something to think about – there is also lots of useful info out there on the web – you might find this useful https://www.southernphone.com.au/Blog/2018/Mar/objects-that-interfere-with-wifi Tracking down & troubleshooting network issues is often tricky and sometimes seems part voodoo! So if you find it all too hard you can always try one of the WAMUG professionals like Daniel. HTH Cheers Neil From: <[email protected]> on behalf of Rosemary Spark <[email protected]> Reply-To: <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, 06 June 2020 at 17:33 To: wamug <[email protected]> Subject: internet connectivity problems Hi, We have multiple computers, iphone and ipads. The last few days our wifi keeps "Looking for networks" every couple of seconds. That by itself might not be a problem but the wifi drops out over and over again. I tried to join a zoom meeting and I got kicked out 3 times in 6 minutes. If you try to run a video it stops and whirls and hiccups, goes again and then stops again. Things I've done so far. re-started computers etc re-started modem (iinet broadband gateway) and old time capsule Used Airport Utility to update Time Capsule software to latest 7.8.1 Used Wireless Diagnostics to check performance. Last night all parameters (Rate, Quality and Signal) were mountain ranges, this morning for a bit they all were relatively straight. Just now there are straight bits in Rate then steep mountains run the wifi just from the modem (because the time capsule is old) Checked Westnet outages web page, it says there's a major cable that's been broken under the sea, it's being worked on. turned off and on wifi in menu bar in settings (some people online said it would fix..it didn't) turned off bluetooth (some people online said it would fix..it didn't) Rosemary Spark PO Box 781 South Fremantle WA 6162 Australia Phone: + 61 8 6397 6822 Mobile: 0414268043 -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - Guidelines - Settings & Unsubscribe -
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