WiFi puzzle

[Uncle Michael]

I encountered a problem with WiFi reception over the last few days that I've never seen before.

I have a wireless router in the basement (in my wiring closet) and two WAPs on the first floor of a one story house. Normally reception is very good to excellent both inside and outside. Yesterday, though, I had several HSTouch tablets and one laptop repetedly report loss of connection. The wireless setup (one iOS, the others Win 10) reported that the network was connected, but the Windows devices claimed no internet access. Operationally, though, they did not have access to the LAN. Turning WiFi off and back on or restarting the tablets only confirmed that they could not connect to the LAN.

If I physically moved the devices by either reorienting them or translating them a few feet, then turning WiFi off and back on, they reconnected to the LAN - and HSTouch as well. Placing them back in their original positions seemed to be okay, but after a few hours they would lose the LAN connection again. Same symptoms.

Today they are all working well again. The only difference is that we had A LOT OF RAIN yesterday. Relative humidity was high outside, but it always is when it rains. Inside it was around 50%, typical for this time of year.

Any ideas on what was going on? I'm really looking for suggestions for preventing or diagnosing in the future.

[IanIreland]

Someone nearby has set up a WiFi using the same channel?
Have you a scanner you can see who is using what channels?

[racerfern]

I occasionally have a similar issue on very rainy days. I have cable internet and had to loosen and re-tighten as many barrel ends as I could get my hands on. I also did the same with the RJ45 ends from the cable modem to the router, simply popping out and wiggling when going back in.

I have considered a drop of WD-40 on the barrel connectors to try and keep a crusty buildup from slowly occurring over time.

[ewkearns]

I occasionally have a similar issue on very rainy days. I have cable internet and had to loosen and re-tighten as many barrel ends as I could get my hands on. I also did the same with the RJ45 ends from the cable modem to the router, simply popping out and wiggling when going back in.

I have considered a drop of WD-40 on the barrel connectors to try and keep a crusty buildup from slowly occurring over time.

Use silicone grease, instead.....

[ewkearns]

Someone nearby has set up a WiFi using the same channel?
Have you a scanner you can see who is using what channels?

Likely. I recommend this: https://inssider.en.softonic.com/

[waynehead99]

I had similar issues when we moved to this house and when I did a scan, found that I can see roughly 40 wireless networks from my house and most on the same channel (2.4 ghz is saturated these days). So I went a bought a ubiquiti wap and boosted the power to max and moved the problem to my neighbors. Dick move? Maybe, but I dont have issues anymore. Also I am pretty much on 5 ghz for everything now which is a bigger and better managed vs 2.4 ghz and has less peeps on it.

[Uncle Michael]

Thank you all for your inputs. I definitely plan to look into InSSIDer. If nothing else is will be an interesting insight into my WiFi environment.

Concerning other networks, I thought about that, but discounted it because it was a short-term issue and very localized. In fact, the tablet furthest from a WAP has had no trouble. I broadcast with high power and my phone showed a strong signal when held next to a tablet that couldn't connect. Lots are large and houses are far apart, so most competing signals are much weaker (20 dB lower). I've attached a list of networks detected by my external AP (EnGenius). The two marked are my router and other WAP. Do you see any clues in the list?

The loose connection issue is intriguing. I don't think it's a problem with the coax connection, since most of my wireless devices and all my wired devices did not experience a problem, but I'm wondering if the RJ45 connector to the WAP I have mounted on an exterior wall might have been affected by the rain. It's under an overhang, and rated for exterior use, but. . .
It appears to be working well now, in any case.

FWIW, the tablet that had the most trouble is very close to the external AP, but should also be within range of the router as well. Is it possible that the signal is too strong?

[ewkearns]

Hmmmmm.... SWAG is that Ch. 2 (in 2.4 GHz) is bad JuJu..... stick with 1, 6, & 11.....

[IanIreland]

I occasionally have a similar issue on very rainy days. I have cable internet and had to loosen and re-tighten as many barrel ends as I could get my hands on. I also did the same with the RJ45 ends from the cable modem to the router, simply popping out and wiggling when going back in.

I have considered a drop of WD-40 on the barrel connectors to try and keep a crusty buildup from slowly occurring over time.

I'd avoid WD40 but try Servisol switch cleaner.

[Pete]

@Mike,

I have not ever seen the issue you are describing. That said wireless propagation is somewhat magical.

Over the years have left the Ubiquiti OS AP's alone and moved from using DD-WRT to OpenWRT on test AP's. I currently have the OpenWRTs set to 100Mw and have picked least used channels seeing around 33-35 local AP's here.

HSTouch clients are all wired except for two of them which have their antennas built in and only primarily utilized for testing.

Also the HSTouch clients are using custom mac addresses for management purposes here; well easy to find this way.

Personally I would try a wireless footprint survey using the laptop and software as described, pick a channel 1,6, or 11.

Channels 1,6 or 11 are non overlapping channels) and maybe crank on the power a bit.

[ATTACH]60541[/ATTACH]

Local scan is showing 33-35 WAP's in the area. My AP #1 and #2 in the picture here are on the second floor in opposite sides of the house.

[ATTACH]60542[/ATTACH]

You had me looking over here at local WAPs. Primarily here use one main AP on the second floor and two test AP's on the second floor which cover the main floor and basement.