Super-slow WiFi

[NeOsage]

Hi,

My son has an Asus pc, it's getting on a bit (6y old) but it's still no slouch:
Asus A1045JN
Intel(R) Core i5-9400F 2.90 GHz
Micro-Star International Co Ltd MS-7C88 motherboard
16GB RAM
2GB SSD
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 6GB.
Windows10.

We upgraded our home wifi to full fibre 500+ Mbps about a year ago, I upgraded his WiFi card with an Asus PCE-AX58BT WiFi card as the built-in one seemed to be capped at 100 Mbps, I have the same WiFi card in my newer pc and I get 500+ Mbps consistently (I have Win11). My son is getting 5 Mbps download, 2 Mbps upload. I've updated the driver in the device driver from windows update, with no improvement, and installed the latest official Asus driver, also no difference. We have a WiFi booster and I've plugged it directly into that with a cat5 cable and disabled WiFi, still the same slow speed. Any ideas what we should try next?

tia.

 

[Bill_Bright]

We have a WiFi booster and I've plugged it directly into that with a cat5 cable

Instead of plugging into the booster, I would try to temporarily move his computer so you can plug directly into the router.

Any ideas what we should try next?

Maybe look in the gateway device's admin menu to see if, for some reason, it is being limited (or set to a very low priority) there.

For clarification, the gateway device is the device that connects your network to the Internet. This is typically a modem but these days, modems are typically integrated into a single box, along with the router, WAP (wireless access point) and a 4-port Ethernet switch.

 

[NeOsage]

Thanks for your reply, Bill, however the plot thickens. I uninstalled the Intel Wi-Fi device from the device manager and rebooted the pc so it would reinstall itself. Checked the speed; 520/490. Hey presto, fixed! 2 hours later, back down to 5/2 again. Uninstalled again and rebooted. . .no effect, still slow. I'm starting to wonder if the motherboard is faulty.

 

[Bill_Bright]

It would be an odd motherboard fault, but still possible the integrated wifi is faulty. The same problem with the ASUS card would suggest this is NOT a motherboard problem, however.

Did you remove the ASUS card or is it still in there? I might uninstall drivers for both, make sure the integrated is "disabled" then try the ASUS card from scratch.

 

[Kwadratowicz]

You can try to make bridge network where you connect two of working WiFi cards as one input for system, and have you disabled old network in system settings? Turned off I mean.

 

[NeOsage]

It would be an odd motherboard fault, but still possible the integrated wifi is faulty. The same problem with the ASUS card would suggest this is NOT a motherboard problem, however.

Did you remove the ASUS card or is it still in there? I might uninstall drivers for both, make sure the integrated is "disabled" then try the ASUS card from scratch.

Thanks, Bill, I have taken out the Asus Wi-Fi card and re-seated it. I have removed and re-installed the drivers several time, plus uninstalling and letting it reinstall after a reboot. There is no integrated Wi-Fi. The huge variation in internet speed continues, sometimes ~5 Mbps, sometimes ~500 Mbps.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Then again, you might want to,

Maybe look in the gateway device's admin menu to see if, for some reason, it is being limited (or set to a very low priority) there.

If you take your computer to the room where his is located, does it consistently have good speeds?

Are there many barriers (walls, floors, ceilings) between the two endpoints? Do any of those barriers have metal pipes or wires? Are there other nearby electronics that may interfere with the signal - like TVs, AC units, fridge/freezers, MW ovens?

 

[NeOsage]

Then again, you might want to,


If you take your computer to the room where his is located, does it consistently have good speeds?

Are there many barriers (walls, floors, ceilings) between the two endpoints? Do any of those barriers have metal pipes or wires? Are there other nearby electronics that may interfere with the signal - like TVs, AC units, fridge/freezers, MW ovens?

The router booster/extender is literally sat right next to his PC. The router is in the living room, sat right next to an LG Smart TV. A cable runs from the router, under the carpet, and under a stud wall to what was the dining room, but has been his 'man-cave' for several years. He also has a Smart TV in that room which is rarely switched on. There are no pipes or wires in the stud wall and neither is he anywhere near any other electronics. He is approximately 5 metres away from the router, and a few inches from the booster. My PC is in an upstairs office, about 15 metres away, and 2 or 3 additional walls to travel through (stud & supportive), and experiences no connection problems.

 

[Hyderz]

sometimes those older platform motherboards installed with windows 11 don't play well with older hardware...
either driver conflicts, outdated drivers

i have got a netgear usb wifi adapter that worked flawlessly until recent windows update... and now it keeps cutting out... have to unplug and plug again..

 

[Bill_Bright]

Cables are cheap, flimsy, easily damaged but critical network devices. They can go bad over time as the insulation ages or becomes a chew toy for pups, rugrats, rodentia or insects. Cable cable connectors are easily damaged by one too many yanks, or a poor crimp during assembly. Ports can fail over time or the port connector can be damaged. Cables running under carpets and rugs are easily damaged if run where any footfalls occur.

I would temporarily swap in new cables and if possible use a different port.

None of that address the wifi issues, however. And sadly, you didn't say what happens if you take your computer into his room.

And for the record, if my PC sat next to the router, I definitely would connect via Ethernet, not wireless.

 

[Shrek]

I tend to separate the 2.4GHz and 5GHz to avoid confusion.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Not sure what you mean by "separate". They already are separate bands, and 5GHz is used for short ranges while 2.4GHz for long. And course, they both are used for the same internet connection.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Not sure what you mean by "separate". They already are separate bands, and 5GHz is used for short ranges while 2.4GHz for long. And course, they both are used for the same internet connection.

Newer routers will bundle them under the same SSID and "smartly" pick them based on the device. You can usually turn this off and force two separate networks.

Back to OP I'm confused by your speeds listed as Mb is not the same as MB. But you're saying he gets slow speeds even when using the bridge versus the wifi card? That points to an issue with the wifi to that room and not the pc. Easiest way to rule out a PC issue is temporarily move the tower over to your router and plug it in and see what the speeds are. If they're still slow then it's a PC issue, but if like I guess they'll be "fast" then you have a wifi issue. Something in the wall or the channel is crowded (or if you have the "smart switching" 2.4/5 it's putting him and the booster on the 2.4).

 

[Bill_Bright]

Newer routers will bundle them under the same SSID and "smartly" pick them based on the device. You can usually turn this off and force two separate networks.

That's not really new. For many years, if you have a smart phone or tablet that, when available, will use wifi instead of cell networks, many would automatically switch between 2.4GHz and 5GHz, depending on signal strength. You typically (not always but commonly) just needed to make sure both bands used the same SSID and passphrase. And while technically those two bands constituted two "wifi" networks, the router still connected them (along with the Ethernet side) into one LAN, then out through the modem and to the Internet.

To me, using two different SSIDs and passphrases for the same LAN and internet connection adds to the complexity and confusion, not avoids it. But again, that's to me.

 

[ShiBDiB]

That's not really new.

So why ask the question? Or is this just you being you.

 

[Red Hood]

Thanks for your reply, Bill, however the plot thickens. I uninstalled the Intel Wi-Fi device from the device manager and rebooted the pc so it would reinstall itself. Checked the speed; 520/490. Hey presto, fixed! 2 hours later, back down to 5/2 again. Uninstalled again and rebooted. . .no effect, still slow. I'm starting to wonder if the motherboard is faulty.

My dad's PC had a similar issue, the wifi adapter/driver seemed to have an issue with the 2.4ghz band (it had to be left enabled on the router cause of the doorbell and cameras)

On the network adapter properties in device manager, on the advanced tab you may be able to configure the adapter to only connect to the 5ghz band (ac) or disable the 2.4ghz function of the adapter (varies between manufacturers and drivers)

 

[Bill_Bright]

So why ask the question? Or is this just you being you.

I didn't.

I didn't want to assume so I asked for clarification of Shrek meant by "separate" - because it could be taken in more than way.

My point to you was, routers have supported "dual-band" and devices auto-switching for many years now - at least 10 years. It is not a recent feature that only "newer" routers do - contrary to your comment. Again - didn't ask a question, so why assume something not said without clarifying first? Or is that just being you?

it had to be left enabled on the router cause of the doorbell and cameras

Yeah, most "IoT" smart devices (like doorbells, cameras, smart thermostats, lightbulbs, TVs, and more) only use the 2.4GHz band because of its much greater range capability - and, of course, cost. 5GHz is great, but only for shorter distances.

 

[agent_x007]

I'd start by checking what other things are in area of interest (multiple WiFi networks working at the same time and/or close to signal strength of your own network can cause issues - same goes if they are using the same channels).
It's best to compare between problematic spot, and where issue isn't present.
Do you have a way to check WiFI spectrum ? (like WiFI analyzer App or something similar)
What's the signal strength of WiFi at his location ?

 

[Shrek]

Seems simpler to me to just separate the channels and just use 5GHz, a spectral analyzer seems a bit overkill

“An engineer is someone who can do for a dime what any fool can do for a dollar.” — Arthur M. Wellington

 

[agent_x007]

Seems simpler to me to just separate the channels and just use 5GHz, a spectral analyzer seems a bit overkill

“An engineer is someone who can do for a dime what any fool can do for a dollar.” — Arthur M. Wellington

InSSIDer app, I didn't asked him to buy hardware spectrum analyzer LOL :

 

[Bill_Bright]

InSSIDer app

There are several similar "sniffer" apps, many are free and work great on simple laptops. They are really nice to use in crowded wifi neighborhoods (in or near large apartment complexes, for example) to see which 2.4Hz channels are unused or have the weakest signal strengths. Most wireless APs automatically look for unused or weakest but don't always select the best.

In any case, you typically can change the default (usually set to Auto) in the APs menu to a specific channel, if necessary and see how it goes.

 

[NeOsage]

Thanks to everyone for trying to help, I've given up and run a CAT7 cable under the carpet and through a stud wall. 500+ Mbps.

 

[remixedcat]

Newer routers will bundle them under the same SSID and "smartly" pick them based on the device. You can usually turn this off and force two separate networks.

Back to OP I'm confused by your speeds listed as Mb is not the same as MB. But you're saying he gets slow speeds even when using the bridge versus the wifi card? That points to an issue with the wifi to that room and not the pc. Easiest way to rule out a PC issue is temporarily move the tower over to your router and plug it in and see what the speeds are. If they're still slow then it's a PC issue, but if like I guess they'll be "fast" then you have a wifi issue. Something in the wall or the channel is crowded (or if you have the "smart switching" 2.4/5 it's putting him and the booster on the 2.4).

best band steering tip: if you can turn the signal intensity down to make the 2.4Ghz band less enticing for clients. Turn it way down. Then turn the 5Ghz up. Also disable 40Mhz channels on 2.4Ghz and place the 5GHz on NON DFS channels. Run a wifi scanner like wifiman or acrylic and pick non congested 5Ghz.

 

[ShiBDiB]

Thanks to everyone for trying to help, I've given up and run a CAT7 cable under the carpet and through a stud wall. 500+ Mbps.

The best solution regardless , I'm sure your son appreciates it. Can install a switch in the room as well if he has other things that would benefit from a wired line (xbox/playstation).