@Bogle good point. Just a typo though. I have it set as 8.8.4.4.

Only guess is that the routers are using a different DNS and for some reason resolving the FQDN differently. The tplink is using 8.8.8.8 and 4.4.4.4. The ping like you say is using the same address....

As you can see from the comparison - the tplink shows a shuttering behaviour.

@Bogle Also I've run some ping tests. The tplink router after a reboot behaves fine for 30 mins or so - then has problems. I plugged in my old retired router to provide a comparison. Tplink result...

@Bogle no the issue remains. The router is behaving very strangely. Different devices randomly disconnecting. Also the upload speed seems randomly far higher than download when connected. 100mbps DL...

ok I've done that. It doesn't explain why the issue has only just occured after two months of use though