Wi-Fi going fast some days, slow other days.

[bball1523]

Hi, I'm building on a previous thread I made that I don't know if I should bump (https://forums.anandtech.com/index.php?threads/2525198/). So I made a new thread that's related.

My desktop Wi-Fi has had issues in the recent month or so. The connection will go really slow under 2 mbps down. I have a rosewill wireless 150n adapter. It worked fine for over a year and then recently it has been giving me issues with slow speeds. I wonder if it's a driver issue or win 10 creator updates. My qi. 10 laptop and note 8 Wi-Fi goes fast (30+ mbps down), but my desktop doesn't.

Now recently I did a Wi-Fi reset and it seemed to solve the problem temporarily because it worked fast for a day or two and then it went back to being slow under 2 mbps down. Earlier today it was going slow under 2mbps down, but right now it's going over 30 mbps down. I didn't do anything to make it fast, it just randomly happened.

Does anyone know what the issue is and how I can resolve it so that I can consistently get over 30 mbps down?

(Spam removed)

 

[XavierMace]

Step 1) Run a WiFi analyzer as I told you in your other thread.
Step 2) Buy better quality WiFi adapters.

 

[bball1523]

Step 1) Run a WiFi analyzer as I told you in your other thread.
Step 2) Buy better quality WiFi adapters.

Sorry I didn't get to that. I tried it now on my note 8 and I was 50-60 db around my desktop and near my Wi-Fi extender antenna.

I did buy that same Wi-Fi card you talked about though I haven't opened it yet.

(spam removed)

We consider TapaTalk "sigs" to be spam, here on these forums. Please adjust your tapatalk settings to remove the sig - Moderator VirtualLarry

 

[XavierMace]

How many other SSID's are you seeing on the same channel?

 

[bball1523]

How many other SSID's are you seeing on the same channel?

There are 3 total on the 2ghz network. Two from same network (one regular and one guest) and 1 from a printer in the house.

(spam removed)

 

[XavierMace]

I don't think you understand what I'm asking. The 2.4Ghz spectrum has a very limited number of bands/channels that can be used. Unless you live in a really remote area you're going to be fighting neighbors for signal. A WiFi analyzer will show you the strength of the other networks/signals you're picking up and most of the time recommend the best channel for you to use.

In my case there's the least amount of interference on Channel 1, so that's what I'm using. Beyond that, you haven't installed the better network card nor have you made any mention of booting off a Linux live disk as suggested. So I'm not sure what else you're wanting us to tell you. We can't magically fix this for you.

Edit: This is also the first time you've mentioned a wireless extender. They suck and that's another variable in the mix.

 

[bball1523]

I don't think you understand what I'm asking. The 2.4Ghz spectrum has a very limited number of bands/channels that can be used. Unless you live in a really remote area you're going to be fighting neighbors for signal. A WiFi analyzer will show you the strength of the other networks/signals you're picking up and most of the time recommend the best channel for you to use.

In my case there's the least amount of interference on Channel 1, so that's what I'm using. Beyond that, you haven't installed the better network card nor have you made any mention of booting off a Linux live disk as suggested. So I'm not sure what else you're wanting us to tell you. We can't magically fix this for you.

Edit: This is also the first time you've mentioned a wireless extender. They suck and that's another variable in the mix.

The Wi-Fi analyzer app on my note says channel 14 has the most stars which I assume mean it's the best channel to use. My current network is on channel 6 and there are no stars for it. Does this mean I need to switch something to channel 14? If so, how do I do that? If I have to get into admin settings, the router is owned by my landlord and they don't have the password for the logon and the default login info didn't work when I tried it recently.

Earlier today my desktop's Wi-Fi was going over 40 mbps down and now over the past 10 min or longer it's been under 2 mbps down. It seems to be hit or miss. I'll think about using another adapter and let you know what happens
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Please Disable the Tapa thing when you post to AT Forum we condsider it Spam.
Mod. Jack

P.S. USA Wifi does not cover ch-14, it is only 1 to 11.

 

[XavierMace]

It would help to post a picture of what you're seeing in the analyzer app.

 

[bball1523]

It would help to post a picture of what you're seeing in the analyzer app.

Here's a picture. My Wi-Fi is under "shiny dolphin"

 

[XavierMace]

So, yeah, you've got a buttload of congestion. I can't see read what that top one is but the fact it has a stronger signal than your own network means you're getting drowned out.

 

[bball1523]

So, yeah, you've got a buttload of congestion. I can't see read what that top one is but the fact it has a stronger signal than your own network means you're getting drowned out.

Right now I checked and that top one "DIRECT-HMDESKTOP-GLROTPMmsR8" moved to channels 9-13.

Also, I just did a speed test on my note 8 and it got 48 mbps down and 11 mbps up. Meanwhile, my desktop got 1.5 mbps down and 11 mbps up.

Over 2 hours ago, my desktop got 40 mbps down and 10-11 mbps up.

I'm wondering why there is are differences and inconsistencies between devices and time of day. It's very odd.

 

[bball1523]

I installed a tp-link archer t9e and I'm getting 18-25 mbps down and 10 mbps up. Meanwhile my note 8 gets over 40 mbps down and 11 mbps up in the same area where the antennas stick out of the wife adapter on the desktop.

The good thing is that the tp-link card works at a higher speed than the rosewill did within the past hour. The rosewill was going 1-2 mbps down. The main issue I've been having could be related to the rosewill card.

Do you know what I can do to increase the tp-link's speed to above 30-40 or more mbps down?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Do you know what I can do to increase the tp-link's speed to above 30-40 or more mbps down?

The T9e is an AC-capable adapter, right? Get a wireless 802.11ac router then.

 

[Ken g6]

Here's a picture. My Wi-Fi is under "shiny dolphin"

That's funny, I see two ShinyDolphins. One with ".quest" and one without. Do you have two routers on the same channel? That's guaranteed to cause speed problems.

Also, looks like channel 11 is relatively open. Can you find the place to switch one of your routers to channel 11? Can you find the other one and turn it off? Or do you have a range extender kind of setup?

 

[bball1523]

The T9e is an AC-capable adapter, right? Get a wireless 802.11ac router then.

I figure I shouldn't need to get an ac router because both my note 8 and win 10 laptop get over 30 mbps down and 10-11 mbps up while my desktop is currently getting 18-20 mbps down and 10 mbps up.

I think it could be the antennas on the outside of the card not picking up a strong signal. Unless there's a driver or setting I can change somewhere.

 

[bball1523]

Update:

I changed the wireless router settings to wireless n only and changed to channel 11 and now the internet seems to be going consistently faster. I also switched back to the rosewill wireless n adapter and I'm getting consistently faster speeds from 20 to 40+ mbps.

The issue may be resolved. I don't know if the rosewill adapter was the issue. I'm also using an extended antenna and it seems to be working fine.

 

[XavierMace]

Moving to channel 11 resolved the congestion issue I told you to check a month ago.

 

[bball1523]

Moving to channel 11 resolved the congestion issue I told you to check a month ago.

Lol sorry I didn't check then. Part of the problem was I didn't know the admin password and waited to reset the router.