Random household issues -- questions asked and answered here

I assume your wife knows how to operate a computer?

Yes and no.

When she's on the exercise bike she doesn't want to "work". That's why it has to be a single user interface.

Anyone with Bell who had their WiFi extender pods? Guy is installing right now and the modem/router has to go in the basement. So my concern is streaming Netflix upstairs in the second floor. "No problem", the guy says, "we'll just plug one of these pods right next to the TV".

Everything I've read and from my own experience and common sense makes me think this is wrong. If the signal is weak for the tv it will also be weak for the pod. Unless it has a better receiver than the tv box (very likely for the Apple TV 3 but probably not the Roku stick).

What I've read before is you place the extender half way between the router and your device.

Another thing I read is the extender signal and original signal will use the same channel do you could also make the situation worse if the original signal is still decent. That goes counter to what my experience is with the D-Link extender. It creates a completely new network (different name and security) so, yes, it *could* use the same channel but not likely, as it would pick one that's not already in use.

Anyhow, the installer is not very experienced and I think he's just repeating what he's been taught. I don't want to come across as a condescending jerk but that may be too late.

In the end I just said I'll try it both ways.

Maybe it's not an extended but a signal booster. But those would go right on the router.

I measured 63Mbps on the main floor. Went upstairs and got 14M on the second floor (but upload was over 30).

Then I unplugged the pod near the tv and got 30 down (but only 18 up).

So, some weirdness for sure. In the next few days I'm going to try soon different configurations. Like unplugging all the pods first, and I can still get HD Netflix/CraveTV upstairs then maybe that's enough.

Actually the Bell box has those two apps built in so I guess I don't need my Roku stick. Don't think it has Prime, so I'll still need my Apple TV.

Oh, and looks like the remote it's not RF. We had the RF modem with Rogers in the bedroom which helped (when it worked) because the cable box was at a level below the footboard.

Little things. I'm sure I'll get around most of them but they are a nuisance for now.

Ok, one problem solved. The PVR comes with a Bluetooth remote, but he installed the PVR in the family room. I never told him where to put it, but he should have put the PVR where the old PVR was.

New problem. I swapped the boxes (PVR with Bluetooth remote not in the bedroom) but now I keep losing the connection (picture gets pixelated, then freezes, then eventually screen goes black).

Pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. Technician left his sweater here so he's coming back and I'll get him to check things out.

Anyone here buy IKEA appliances before?

Ev wrote:Anyone here buy IKEA appliances before?

Yes. Their reputation is bigger than the actual product. They talk a big game but their products don’t hold up. I’d stay away.

Lagoon wrote:

Ev wrote:Anyone here buy IKEA appliances before?

Yes. Their reputation is bigger than the actual product. They talk a big game but their products don’t hold up. I’d stay away.

Thanks - I was thinking that since they're much cheaper than name brand products. I'll likely buy something else!

Depends which appliance I guess. Toaster could be fine. Fridge maybe not so much.

Just a note that most "big" appliances (fridges especially) tend to be garbage these days. I have friends that have bought LG, Samsung, Frigidaire, etc, and had problems with them in varying degrees. My best advice is to buy a simple fridge (no water dispenser/ice maker) as those tend to cause the most problems. You'll save money and headaches down the road.

We got an LG about 2 years ago. Salesman at HD (who sell both LGs and Samsung and others) recommended it over the others). Absolutely no issues so far, other than the price of the water filters (I can get a decent deal on Amazon but currently in not even using a filter). Kids love the ice and water dispenser. I still drink from the tap using my hand.

Quick update.

Signal strength upstairs is bad. Sometimes the tv cuts out or gets pixelated etc. CSA had me go through the regular steps (which is already done) she, in the end, will give me a new one tomorrow. I guess we'll see.

As far as the remote is concerned, I'm stuck where I am. If I configure it to turn on my TV then it also controls the volume, but that only controls the tv speakers (not the optical out signal going to the sound bar). With factory settings the volume is controlled at the box, so I leave the sound bar at 25 and have a nice volume range; but then I have to turn the TV I n separately with another remote.

Oh, well. That'll all change when I move the tv to the basement and get a new one for the bedroom.

Prags, one of your wireless transmitters should be on the main floor of your house. My wifi used to be bad on my 2nd floor, and then I put a wireless access point on my main floor, hardwired to my main router in the basement, and all my problems went away.

tim1_2 wrote:Prags, one of your wireless transmitters should be on the main floor of your house.  My wifi used to be bad on my 2nd floor, and then I put a wireless access point on my main floor, hardwired to my main router in the basement, and all my problems went away.

I live not far from Prager...and I've learned several things


The modem doesn't have to go in the basement...they can run a separate line out of any phone outlet in your house to put the modem on. Also call customer support and request Parabonding. Essentially every phone wire has wires that allows for up to 4 different phone lines in your house. Bell won't install more than 2, but you can still broadcast on the other 2. What is done, is they use the para bonding to use one of those sets to be dedicated for the tv signal...

With Bell Fibe when you purchase the product you're buying bandwidth...however what you need to know is there is a cap for what is possible on the line. When you have phone, tv and then put internet on top of that, and you're using multiple devices, ie tv's streaming netflix, or gaming systems, or phones/tablets browsing. they are all taking bandwidth.

Bell won't tell you this, but any technician will, that when you purchase a 50 Mb line, 10 Mb is right off the bat dedicated for TV...so that means you're getting max 40 Mb for internet. Now that 40 Mb is measured at the demarcation point, which is where the fibre optic cable runs to (at best). From there is standard copper wire to your house, so you lose signal.

There is an existing issue with Bell where the line bandwidth from the phone and tv is enough that when the bandwidth you're pulling down for the other devices gets above 40 Mb that it causes too much noise and as a result you'll lose connection...We were losing connection anywhere from 3-5 times a night...during the day it was fine but once 4pm came and the kids were home, or I was working from home it became unusable.

We didn't notice this until we jacked up our bandwidth to the 50Mb line. When the technician changed the cap to 40Mb, we'd be fine, but bell would put it back up as we paid for 50 and the issue started again.

They installed para bonding and that split the internet off from the phone/tv and while the total bandwidth is now the same, the throughput on a single line is low enough to keep the noise from happening and thus the connection from being dropped.

Now all that is separate from your issue. We use hydro adapters. Essentially is transmits the signal along the household wiring in the house. You plug the router into the box plugged into a wall socket, and then a second box in whatever room you want. You then run a cable from that box to the device. We have our Tv's, play stations, computers, anything that can be hardwired into these boxes. The bandwidth we see is the same as if the box was plugged directly into the router itself.

I also set up a 2ghz connection and a 5ghz connection but use different id's for them so my wife and I are on the 5 Ghz connection with our laptops and all other devices split the 2 ghz connection. You'll notice if you search for active networks there are likely 10-20 2ghz connections in your area, and while the signal for you're will be strong it's still competing with all the noise in the area from the other ones.

Consider it a conversation you're having at a bar...while the person you're talking to is in front of you and the loudest, there's still all the other noise that makes it difficult to hear at times. Same with wireless devices.

So I call BS on having to have the router in the basement. it's more work for the guy to put it up stairs, but it's his fricken job.

tim1_2 wrote:Prags, one of your wireless transmitters should be on the main floor of your house.  My wifi used to be bad on my 2nd floor, and then I put a wireless access point on my main floor, hardwired to my main router in the basement, and all my problems went away.

They supplied my with 4 wifi extenders they call pods. He placed on tight in the bedroom near the upstairs tv, another on the main floor, near the kitchen. Not sure where the other two were (haven't taken the time to look yet).

I already said how removing the one in the bedroom doubled my download speed from 14 to 30. But after I swapped the PVR and secondary box and was having signal issues upstairs (not wifi) I plugged it back in. Didn't think it has anything to do with it but I didn't want to take chances.

Anyhow, wifi reception is not the issue. The signal used by the boxes for the video feeds did not use the same frequencies.

I'll see tonight if the replacement PVR makes any difference (doubt it). If not, they'll have to send another tech out.

@22_4_ever I didn't read your full post yet but it sounds like your talking about DSL. I actually have FTTH so they need to run the fiber link to the modem. To place the modem on the main floor he would need to run an extension fiber link upstairs. And we *just* finished the basement.