O2 staff are here to help with broadband

[Saturday]

I'm still a big fan of O2 - I've found their broadband and mobile phone service to be very good. Not so happy with their mobile data as that seems pretty flaky and slow. Any time I've ever had to call them they have been a pleasure to deal with.

That said, I'm moving to a different network for my phone and data as they just aren't as competitive as they need to be - and I've been a customer for a very long time so that's quite a big deal for me.

[Tony1044]

I hear you - their mobile reception is lousy in areas where every other provider I've come across is usually excellent.

You know the issues I've had with them and generally they seem to be down to human error and/or the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing but also occasionally I think I've been told what I want to hear just to get rid of me.

I'm trying to sort out a new Samsung Galaxy S for the wife (she had a 1st gen iPhone and point blank refuses to go back to one, and doesn't like BlackBerry handsets, so this seems a decent handset from the little time I got to play with one).

I've asked if I can buy one without the contract as a gesture of goodwill - we'll see but I'm not holding my breath.

In terms of competiveness I have to say they're still up there in terms of business tariffs (although I do wonder why they dropped their business broadband tariffs).

I personally have a T-Mobile 3G dongle which has always been very good in most areas. I have also had a Vodafone one through work which when good tended to be excellent but if not tended to get zero signal. My old man has a 3 dongle which he uses for all his browising but will bin it in May over 3 raising their prices. Signal wise it connects for him with around a 2Mbit connection, which is pretty good.

[anar_baku]

Hi Paul / Abishek / Iqbal,

I'm an O2 Standard broadband customer with the O2 Wireless Box II (Thomson). Further router info:

Model: TG585 v7
Firmware: 8.2.7.7

I have a relatively small flat, but even so the WiFi signal in my bedroom is quite poor.

Can you suggest what options are available for me to fix this (e.g. repeater, directional antenna?). The first practical thing you will suggest is probably placing the router more centrally in the open. Unfortunately due to my flat setup this is not quite possible, so please concentrate on other solutions.

Contributions from other forum members very welcome.

Thank you all in advance!

[Saturday]

Originally Posted by anar_baku

I have a relatively small flat, but even so the WiFi signal in my bedroom is quite poor.

The router's wireless range should easily cope with a small flat so my guess is that your problem is down to wireless being prone to all sorts of interference from other electrical devices (e.g. DECT phones, baby alarms, microwave ovens etc), other nearby routers and just general background rf noise.

You may be able to improve things by logging into your router and changing wireless channel (start at C13 and work down until you find the best). Also, keep your router up off the ground and away from any electrical interference e.g. not sitting on or next to your computer/screen/TV or in amongst any electrical wiring.

If you still can't get a good quality signal then consider investing in Homeplugs or run an ethernet cable. Don't waste your money on a repeater/directional antennae.

[Abhishek@o2]

Hi anar_baku,

I would suggest placing the router away from any electrical appliances such as TV senders/ receivers, cordless phones, etc. These can potentially conflict with your wireless signals.

Also worth asking but you may’ve tried it already – changing the wireless channel that suits best at your flat (Channel change guide for O2 Wireless box - Support - O2)

Thanks, Abs

[bigallau]

Hi when i do a tracert to bbc.co.uk my first hop is quite high should i worrie about it or is it just a firmware bug. im using the TG587nv2 with Software Release: 8.4.2.R.
its the same over wireless or wired

Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.138]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 91 ms 99 ms 100 ms O2wirelessbox.lan [192.***.1.***]
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 19 ms 18 ms 18 ms virtual-vip.thdo.bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.138]
if anybody else is useing this router can they do a tracert and post it please.

[Saturday]

Sorry, don't have/use that router but 99ms for first hop does seem odd. You'd expect it to be around 1ms. If it's the same wireless or wired then that makes a hardware issue unlikely.

If all else seems fine e.g. pinging addresses, then I suspect you're right that it's probably a firmware related reporting issue.

[bigallau]

Just been on the phone to CS he thinks that there's no problem with the first hop being high. all he did was change the wireless channel.plus he said if it was a firmware problem then i would have no internet.
Its most prob a firmware issue because when i do a tracert with my netgear router on this is what i get.
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Allan>tracert bbc.co.uk

Tracing route to bbc.co.uk [212.58.254.252]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.*****
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 20 ms 19 ms 20 ms 10.1.3.178
4 * 24 ms 23 ms 10.1.2.158
5 65 ms 27 ms 20 ms bbc-gw1-linx.prt0.thdoe.bbc.co.uk [195.66.226.10
3]
6 41 ms 18 ms 19 ms 212.58.238.149
7 19 ms 20 ms 18 ms rdirslb0.thdo.bbc.co.uk [212.58.224.136]
8 18 ms 24 ms 19 ms virtual3.rbsov.bbc.co.uk [212.58.254.252]

Trace complete.

C:\Users\Allan>