Internet knocking off only when EE TV box is on.

[Harry8052]

Hi everyone. So I have the EE router with its WiFi switched off and 3 Apple Airport Extremes running my home WiFi. All using Ethernet connected to the EE router via an Ethernet switcher.  

so the WiFi works really well and has done for years. I used an Ethernet cable from an AirPort Extreme to connect my EE box. (There is an Apple TV connected as well that works seamlessly). After using the EE box the WiFi dropped out across the whole network. I disconnected the EE box and tried it on WiFi mode and it does the same thing. 

any ideas? 

[DarrenDev · Accepted solution]

Sounds like your WiFi isn't handling the multicast, causing the signal to storm your entire network. 

If it has configuration options, look for one called "IGMP snooping" and turn it on.

[Harry8052]

Thanks for the reply. Is that on the Apple routers? Seems odd to me that anyone who logs onto my WiFi at home with a new device doesn’t cause it to crash yet this one box does 🤷🏻‍♂️👴🏻

[DarrenDev]

Yes - a setting on your Apple routers.

None of the other devices on your network deliver video over multicast @Harry8052 - it's the way that EE TV delivers your TV channels over the internet.

[Midnight_Voice]

@Harry8052 

Read about Multicast on the web. Basically, EETV only has to send out one signal per channel, instead of one signal per user, for an enormous bandwidth saving.

So using the EETV Box Pro or Box Mini invokes multicast. The EETV router knows how to behave with multicast, directing it only to the EETV box(es).

But the Airport Extremes in your setup also need to know how to handle it, and to be configured to do that if possible, as otherwise they will send the multicast signal to every device on your network, flooding it with traffic, and, as you have seen, crashing it.

I would certainly ensure, in your case, that the EETV box is wired directly to your router, and not via an Extreme; this may help, but you  may still need to turn on the IGMP Snooping on the Extremes, which will enable them to send multicast only to the devices that can actually use it.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5145322?sortBy=rank

Hopefully, your Extremes are new enough to have this setting.

[Harry8052]

So this seems to have worked. Tried a power line adapter but that actually knocked off another one I have somewhere else in the house. Enabling IGMP seems to have worked. Thanks 

[CmOR1]

Hi, I have a very similar issue with my EE TV pro box.  When it is turned on, it disrupts the wifi where is it not possible to use on other devices. 
I’ve now hard wired the tv box in to router (same issue occurs, when tv box is off the WiFi is perfect.  As soon as it is turned on, wifi disappears).
I’ve not had this issue before, only now I have had FTTP installed. 
I’m using the latest BT Smart Hub 2. 
Are there any settings in the BT router I can change to avoid this, or is it simply a matter of getting a different EE TV box?

This is a new router from BT (same issue occurred with the other router).

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated. 
Thanks

[Peter_W]

Welcome to the Community, @CmOR1 

Just to be sure, am I correct in thinking that even when your TV box is connected by ethernet these same issues are occurring?

Also if you haven't already, can you please try turning your Hub off at the wall for at least 30 minutes, then also try the reset option that lets you keep your recordings listed here:

How to reset your EE TV Box | TV and Sport Help | EE

Peter

[CmOR1]

Thanks Peter, 

Yep the same issue occurs now it is connected by Ethernet (it was not possible to stream over WiFi at all because of the issue). 

However, I have factory reset my EE TV box and so far the problem has disappeared!  Very odd, but so far a nice quick fix! Wifi back to normal on all devices when tv box is in!

Thanks 

[Michael_D]

Brilliant news @CmOR1, I'm glad to hear it worked.

If it does happen again, it may be worth speaking to our tech guides for them to look into further, but hopefully that has done the trick now.

Michael