WiFi problem on repeater

[dorsetextreme]

I have an extreme and it seems to work OK on my BT wifi setup. However, I have just purchased a wifi repeater to enable me to work at the other end of the house. When I switch on the extreme tablet at the far end of the house it connects OK to the repeater but there is often (but not always) no internet (ie the wifi icon doesn't turn blue). sometimes if I wait long enough the icon turns blue and I get the internet. If I use an iPod it seems to connect OK straight away. Any suggestions?

[BobC]

Are you sure the repeater is connecting to your Home (secured) network and not to the open "BT WiFi" or "BT WiFi with FON" network (assuming you have a Home Hub 3). I have a TP Link repeater and it took some setting up for it not to repeat the "open" network provided by the Home Hub. Express setup will almost certainly connect to the open network.

I also "fixed" the channel on the Home Hub so it doesn't change and possibly upset the connection to the repeater.

Have you measured the strengths of signal from both APs where you are using the Extreme - its possible the tab can't make up its mind which one to connect to if the signals aren't too different. I've found the "WiFi Analyser" app invaluable for troubleshooting WiFi problems.

The other point is just how good is the signal being received by the repeater from the main AP ? Have you any way of checking that ?

BobC

[dorsetextreme]

Thanks for your response , yes I have checked all of this. Latest thing is that I often find now that I can't connect the Scroll to the main router either so there is something else wrong. I have used " wifi analyser" and even "wifi connector" the latter does a complete restart of the wireless system and everything is OK for a little while. I suspect a firmware bug since the wifi icon is showing a full signal but hasn't turned blue. I contacted Scroll support and they have suggested returning it for replacement so I might just do that and take it from there. Pity I can't just upgrade the firmware.

[BobC]

You might be lucky if you return the Extreme - they didn't have any replacements for some time and now they seem to have Extreme II which has Bluetooth (and is probably a later version of Android).

I have seen the full signal in Grey (i.e. not turned Blue) a few times on various tablets - I'm unclear what it means as in that state I can get a 'net connection so it often isn't an issue. DHCP has allocated an IP address. I can only assume that Android does some simple check of a known address before turning the indicator blue and if that address is unreachable (for whatever reason) it stays grey irrespective of the ability to connect to the rest of the world. That's just a guess though, often waiting some time allows it to sort itself out.

By the way can you adjust the output power on your repeater ? some do have this capability via a Web admin page.

BobC

[dorsetextreme]

They have actually said to return it to retailer (ebuyer) and they will liaise with them. I have had one of my sons home for the weekend and his laptop can't always connect to the repeater either. I suspect that I have two problems here.