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Author Topic: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills  (Read 6532 times)

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okie smokie

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Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« on: August 03, 2022, 08:04:14 PM »

Have noticed that WiFi is on/off with the Beale Street and note that others complain about it as well.  Two points were apparent to me:
1.  Distance from your router can be one problem. Walls, metal appliances all subtract from the signal, and also how many other items are using wifi at the same time. Or just a weak wifi system.
2.  Your Memphis grill is all metal and may be in the way of the signal unless you position it with the antenna facing the router.

So I said to myself, "Self" what can you do with a weak signal.  Answer, "Boost It".  Well I can't do that because it is all that ATT can provide in my area.  So I said to myself again, "Self" how can I get better reception of the signal at my Memphis?  Answer: with a better antenna! So I got on Amazon and looked for bigger antenna offering a stronger reception and found one!  Instead of a dinky 2" length, it is about 7.5" long and gives a 6+ decibel increase.  Or so it says. For $8 and change I got two of them and exchanged my antenna with one.  Had the BS plugged in all day today, not turned on, but the wifi light is solid green, meaning it is receiving a good signal. Time will tell but I am confident that this will do the job.  So for those of you who have the wifi equipped Memphis grills and who have had wifi problems, this may be a cheap fix. BUT be careful what you order.  This is a BINGFU SMS (NOT RPSMS) MALE CONNECTOR ANTENNA. The difference is that the add on piece has a protruding center wire. The wrong one RPSMS has a hole instead.  And Bingfu makes both types and they look identical until you look into the adapter end. see pic below for size difference of old and new. Second pic shows correct SMS MALE on the new antenna.


 :clap: :clap:
« Last Edit: August 03, 2022, 08:14:12 PM by okie smokie »
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Canadian John

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2022, 08:11:38 AM »

 
 "Self" did a good job @ diagnosing the problem & finding a good fix.  One less Memphis hurdle overcome.

 As stated, this may help others with  Wi-Fi dropout issues. 
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02ebz06

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2022, 08:51:01 AM »

Great Idea!!!  And a lot cheaper than what I did for the Elite.

I put a WIFI Extender in my family room (router is in garage) and that solve it for me.
 
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okie smokie

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2022, 09:03:05 AM »

I guess a bit of caution is in order since I have not proven success over a longer period. I will test it daily for a while and make sure it works consistently.
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Bar-B-Lew

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2022, 09:07:45 AM »

I suspected it was a cheap part in the grill causing the issue.  You should be able to get decent wifi on your patio from within the house.  I have a Google mesh wifi network and get really good reception everywhere in the house, garage, patio, yard...  That is another option for folks but is not cheap.
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02ebz06

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2022, 09:10:40 AM »

I suspected it was a cheap part in the grill causing the issue.  You should be able to get decent wifi on your patio from within the house.  I have a Google mesh wifi network and get really good reception everywhere in the house, garage, patio, yard...  That is another option for folks but is not cheap.

Ill be going to a mesh network a week from Monday in the new house, as builders are not running cat-5/6 cables to rooms anymore.
 
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Bruce here - These are my cooking toys:
Lone Star Grillz 20x42 Pellet Grill (on order),   CampChef XXL Vertical Pellet Smoker,   Grilla Grills Primate (on order),   Pizza Party Emozione pizza oven

Bar-B-Lew

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2022, 09:39:26 AM »

I suspected it was a cheap part in the grill causing the issue.  You should be able to get decent wifi on your patio from within the house.  I have a Google mesh wifi network and get really good reception everywhere in the house, garage, patio, yard...  That is another option for folks but is not cheap.

Ill be going to a mesh network a week from Monday in the new house, as builders are not running cat-5/6 cables to rooms anymore.
 

That is strange that they are not running ethernet.  We ran it when we built our house which I can't believe we have been in over 7 years already.  At some point, it may be obsolete if wifi can get to over 1GB speeds, but for now I love it especially for someone who works from home all of the time and had pre-covid era.
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okie smokie

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2022, 11:55:39 AM »

I have an eero three piece mesh network attached to my system and while it has been great in the house, it was a little less so on the porch. I had ATT tech (I use their phone, tv, and internet package) come and place the mesh units in an optimal spots and we have good service and signal strength in house, garage and back porch.  So it was logical to me that it must be inferior antenna quality. I tested the reception again this AM and WiFi is solid on the Memphis. Also, my new control is coming today, so I will be installing and testing again. Will post results on the other thread that addresses this. A word of caution on mesh boosters. Be sure and place the mesh units at the edge of good signal strength so it can extend a good signal. If you place it in a weak spot, that is what it will project. And if you have more than one mesh extender, be sure to not to place them too close together, or your electronic gear, esp. TV's will oscillate between boosters, and you will loose signals at those times. Very aggravating.
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Bentley

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2022, 03:03:19 PM »

Maybe if we move closer to the Mayberry in a few years we will get close to 100mbps...Our provider right now gives us 5/2mbps for $70/month.  I cant imagine what 100/50 would be like and the numbers you are talking about...that is 2001: A Space Odyssey numbers for us!


At some point, it may be obsolete if wifi can get to over 1GB speeds, but for now I love it especially for someone who works from home all of the time and had pre-covid era.
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Bar-B-Lew

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2022, 03:44:39 PM »

Maybe if we move closer to the Mayberry in a few years we will get close to 100mbps...Our provider right now gives us 5/2mbps for $70/month.  I cant imagine what 100/50 would be like and the numbers you are talking about...that is 2001: A Space Odyssey numbers for us!


At some point, it may be obsolete if wifi can get to over 1GB speeds, but for now I love it especially for someone who works from home all of the time and had pre-covid era.

Our upload speeds are horrible at about 25Mbps comparative to the 1GB download speeds.  I think the best I have got has been about 800+Mbps.  It usually runs in the 500-700 range.  My wifi runs in the 250-450 range.
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okie smokie

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2022, 10:22:41 PM »

Unfortunately, I only can get 50 Mgb here which is marginal, (ATT has higher but not in this area.) That is most of my problem. My new antenna had to be retuned after I inserted my new control today. Otherwise it seemed to work most of the test times.
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TravlinMan

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2022, 02:36:20 AM »

Maybe if we move closer to the Mayberry in a few years we will get close to 100mbps...Our provider right now gives us 5/2mbps for $70/month.  I cant imagine what 100/50 would be like and the numbers you are talking about...that is 2001: A Space Odyssey numbers for us!


At some point, it may be obsolete if wifi can get to over 1GB speeds, but for now I love it especially for someone who works from home all of the time and had pre-covid era.

If you live in an area which offers fiber(holy grail of internet speeds), or a solid cable system - a wired solution usually is the best overall solution. 

If not……..

You may want to check on T-Mobile or Verizon Home internet offering - @ $50 month - Modem/router included. (Less if you are a current customer with a compatible plan - T-Mob $30 - Verizon $25)  If it is offered and works for you in your area, it is a good value.

These are a ‘Fixed Wireless’ solution which uses their cell phone towers for the internet - thus no wires to your house.

Verizon offering - https://www.verizon.com/5g/home/
T-Mobile offering - https://www.t-mobile.com/home-internet
« Last Edit: August 05, 2022, 10:43:43 AM by TravlinMan »
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Bar-B-Lew

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2022, 08:09:33 AM »

A local telephone company just dug through our neighborhood to lay down fiber.  The speeds look incredible.  I think it was 1000/500.  Unfortunately, the costs were more than 2x what I am currently paying.  I also think if I dropped my current provider who is also my cable tv provider that my all in package deal now will probably end up close to what I would end up paying for just cable tv if I dropped internet and phone.  I will look at the T-Mobile offer as they are our cell phone carrier.  I know we recently got a year of free Hulu and Apple TV from T-Mobile.
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Bentley

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2022, 10:23:02 AM »

Fiber or cable, that's a good one!

Neither of the other options are available in rural Mayberry, but thank you for thinking of me!


If you live in an area which offers fiber(holy grail of internet speeds), or a solid cable system - a wired solution usually is the best overall solution. 
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ylr

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Re: Possible Solution for Weak WiFi on your Memphis Grills
« Reply #14 on: August 05, 2022, 11:44:42 AM »

There's always Starlink, but good luck with that one, I've been waiting for a year and a half so far...... :pig:
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