Do routers lose wifi broadcast range?  

Hello Sean,
I would give the other router a try since you already have it. If you get it working well enough to use, then maybe you can try to factory reset this router that's not working.

If your neighbour is using channel 1 on 2.4Ghz Wifi and your on the same, yours will automatically cut back on the power.
We have 13 channels to play with in the uk, most BT stuff grabs channels 1-6, so set yours to Ch 13 on 2.4 and if your using 5Ghz Wifi try setting it to Ch 100 this uses full power by default... and I doubt any one in your neighbourhood will use it.
Some devices (Older) can't see channel 13 so if you find that some devices can't get on the internet go down to channel 11.
Channel hopping will not be seen by house hold members as devices are designed to automatically reconnect to new channel.

There is an Mobile phone app for scanning all the Wifi channels in use "Wifi Analyzer" on google play WiFi Analyzer (open-source) – Apps on Google Play
Beware of clones !! some with similar names have ads built in!

Well done Pen pusher, you solved my problem.
Changed the 2.4GHz channel to 13 and it's marvellous. I was on channel 11 this morning before the change (set to auto).
Very pleased.
WiFi Analyzer is the app I've been using. It's very, very good.

sean5302 said:

Well done Pen pusher, you solved my problem.
Changed the 2.4GHz channel to 13 and it's marvellous. I was on channel 11 this morning before the change (set to auto).
Very pleased.
WiFi Analyzer is the app I've been using. It's very, very good.

Wonderful Sean, Thanks for the update m8

You're welcome.
Without the kind people on here I'd have changed routers for the new SSE-supplied one, found the problem was the same, bought a powerful Netgear router at much expense and the problem still would be there.
WiFi Analyzer shows 5 BT users nearby and I know my next door neighbour is one of them. I must have been interfering with their signals, too.
Much appreciated.

sean5302 said:

You're welcome.
Without the kind people on here I'd have changed routers for the new SSE-supplied one, found the problem was the same, bought a powerful Netgear router at much expense and the problem still would be there.
WiFi Analyzer shows 5 BT users nearby and I know my next door neighbour is one of them. I must have been interfering with their signals, too.
Much appreciated.

I don't understand why your router didn't automatically change to a different channel Maybe the new routers would have done that for you You can still try your dusty unused new router as an experiment?

Hmm.
I tried to change it manually this morning and got excellent results.
All my neighbours are likely to be out at work and therefore not using their internet at home.
I'll try again this evening and hope all stays well.
It has certainly been a problem, both with the upstairs PC and the main house TV. That's a large new Samsung and it occasionally refused to connect to Youtube, telling me there was no internet access (it gets its signal by wifi).
Reviews of my router are pretty poor. It was supplied by SSE and I have been unable to find firmware updates (it's on version 17.2) so I might have to look at a better router after all.
The upstairs PC is located 45 feet from the router and has 2 double-glazed windows signal path, or else 1 cavity wall and 2 plasterboard walls to pass through. I wouldn't have thought that was excessive. I haven't tried the new router yet.
I'll do that if I get more trouble tonight.
I'm a bit reluctant to mess with it because everything is Ok via Cat 5 cable or as it is currently.

Most ISP devices are pants, as i'm with Vodafone BB I soon got fed up with the none functioning door stop they supplied.
So I now have a Fritzbox 7590 (No Aerial's sticking out everywhere) and a TP Link RE450 Wifi Bridge.
I have split the 2.4 and 5Ghz Wifi to separate ssid's. PC is connected to RE450 lan port at 975Mbs over 5Ghz signal.

Double glazed windows have Titanium coating on the glass to help with solar heat retention /reflection, but this in turn will affect your Wifi signals, bit like wearing sunglasses...

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Have you used a "Heat mapping" s/w?, try Ekahau HeatMapper, not overly complex just knock up a floor plan in a drawing app in windows on your laptop if you have one, then just walk around the house clicking on the floor plan where you are, more reference points the more detail you will see.
Ekahau HeatMapper (free) download Windows version
Make a Wi-Fi Heat Map FREE - Networking - Spiceworks
FREE WiFi Site Survey Software for MAC OS X & Windows

Thank you, I'll try those.
I'm puzzled at why the router worked faultlessly for over 2 years and then went weak. It seems fine now on channel 13 fixed rather than "auto".
I wonder whether wifi signals are there all the time from my neighbours properties, whether they're online or not, or if the wifi interference increases when they're online. I ask because there was no change to anything last evening.
I'm tempted to buy a better router but I'm a Yorkshireman.
The old saying was that Alexander Graham Bell was walking along the footpath, when he saw a penny there.
He was about to bend down and pick it up, when a Yorkshireman grabbed it. The ensuing fight resulted in the penny being pulled into copper wire, leading to the discovery of television...

Just to give a final update.
I connected the brand new, unused SSE router and the results were identical to the existing one after changing the SSID and suchlike.
My daughter's laptop wouldn't "see" channel 13 so I changed the router to Channel 11 and all is OK.
I reverted to the "old" router and changed every "client" to 5GHz rather than 2,4GHz.
The result is remarkable.
This is a very large house, but the 5G signal works extremely well and there's no apparent interference.
Very pleased. Thanks for all your help (again).