Connection issues occur unpredictably.
Connection issues occur unpredictably.
Hello! I'm uncertain if this should belong to this section or the troubleshooting part. If needed, I'll move it there later. Here are some details about my connection that might assist with the issue: - My ISP uses a fiber connection - I'm using a TP-Link Wireless N WR841N Router operating in WISP mode and connected via wired link to my PC - No changes have been made to the router settings or Windows configuration before the problem began - No Windows updates were installed recently - I attempted to: - Plug and unplug the device multiple times - Reset the router using its physical button several times - Perform a factory reset - Update the router's firmware - Remove my antivirus software The speed drops suddenly, with downloads around 40-50 Mbps and uploads 70-80 Mbps, but during drops the upload stays constant. When testing speeds, it takes about three minutes for the site to load; some pages fail entirely and downloads drop to 3 Mbps or less. Usually, I fix this by adjusting router settings, restarting the device, and then waiting a few hours. The only change I noticed before the issue was adding a smart TV. I first connected it wirelessly through the router's Wi-Fi and then directly via the wired connection. I tried disconnecting the cable and turning off the wireless mode, but the problem continues. I'm not very familiar with network troubleshooting, so I hope this helps. Thank you!
You're asking why these results look this way. It's possible the tests weren't run on a wired connection, which could affect performance. Also, using a separate fiber device for speed checks might give different numbers. This older router operates only on 2.4GHz and has limited Ethernet ports, so the speeds you see are typical for that band. Interference is another factor that can cause drops in 2.4GHz networks.
I’m using the router since the fiber arrives on the first floor in another device, and I’m on the second floor. There’s no direct connection option. It travels from outside to the internal router, then into the wall socket plug connected to the room’s power outlet where I connect my PC. I didn’t realize I use an IPTV in the same space and that only one Ethernet port is available there. They told me the wall port is meant for the IPTV receiver, not the PC, which is why I’m using the router to link to Wi-Fi and then the cable to my computer. I was wondering if I could plug the power outlet into the router instead of the PC, so both devices would work. I haven’t tried it yet but think it might help. What do you think? Would this approach be feasible? You mentioned considering the TP-Link Archer C80, which seems suitable from what I’ve heard. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I mainly rely on the internet for work and would need to pause it briefly to test.
Confirm the setup: is your Wi-Fi router connected to a wireless bridge alongside the ISP device?
I don't believe so; I looked it up because I wasn't sure what it meant and it doesn't seem relevant to my system. I sketched the entire circuit perhaps it will be simpler that way: And then I have this potential configuration, but I'm not confident it would function.
Your ISP equipment and WR841N operate via wireless connection. This forms a wireless bridge, which is atypical since the ISP device resides inside your building but sits at a separate network tier. While this arrangement works, your performance is now constrained by the bridge and the WR841N. The WR841N is an older WiFi 4 model supporting only 2.4GHz. Although it can reach up to 300Mbps on WiFi, channel bonding is needed which would cause overlap with other 2.4GHz signals, leading to interference in a limited frequency range. This issue isn’t directly relevant here because you’re connected through the WR841N, but if wireless clients were present, the device would run at half-duplex speeds. This further reduces speed from the existing 2.4GHz uplink.
In my limited experience with IPTV provided via fiber ISPs, you typically don’t interact directly with that line. My relatives have similar setups. They use a dedicated Ethernet connection from the Huawei ONT to the set-top box, managed by the ISP. I’ve never attempted to repurpose that Ethernet for other tasks. If you wish to utilize it differently, consult your ISP.
Keep in mind the HG8247H features one 1Gbps LAN port and three 100Mbps LAN ports. It’s likely the ISP is prioritizing the 100Mbps ports for IPTV services. Using these ports for other functions would cap performance at 100Mbps unless you reconfigure the device. Unless you’re upgrading, consider running a separate Ethernet uplink to the 1Gbps port on the Huawei equipment and connect your own router or switch. If you keep the wireless bridge active, improvements won’t be significant. The HG247H only has a 2.4GHz radio, so interference from that band will still affect performance.
It seems your wireless-N router operates in a repeater mode, much like WISP, and is intended for a small local network. Right now, how does the connection perform? You might want to connect the router you own via Ethernet into the IPTV box. Even with a 100Mbit limit, it will offer more stability and consistency than trying to amplify the wireless signal. It also makes sense that the IPTV box can function when linked to the wireless unit—once the router is set up for automatic network configuration (DHCP), it should behave identically to the other one. If you decide to stick with Wi-Fi, using 2.4GHz is ideal. This approach has been standard since 1999! Early wireless tech used 5GHz, which generally provides less range and slower speeds compared to 2.4GHz. The reason lies in how each frequency interacts with obstacles: 2.4GHz penetrates walls better, while 5GHz tends to bounce off surfaces, potentially blocking the signal. Moving your router closer to the Wi-Fi source can significantly boost performance. Don’t invest in another router unless you’re certain it will help—distance usually limits gains. Aim for speeds of 100 Mb/s or more; even 50 or 25 Mb/s is respectable. Remember, bits matter: eight bits equal one byte, and network speeds are measured in bits. Your downloads in Firefox reflect bytes, while service speeds are in bits, so higher numbers mean better performance. Wireless-N isn’t a bottleneck; it won’t restrict you to lower limits. For interference from nearby routers within about 100 feet, they usually auto-select channels (1, 6, 11) without overlap, even with wider channels. This can help improve stability, though results may vary. If you’re curious about boosting browsing speed, there are simple Firefox extensions available—just let me know if you’d like more details.