WiFi disconnecting issue with 2 different laptops - No other devices have issues

[shoman24v]

Long story short, I bought an Acer Swift 3 and had issues with it. Blue screens with stop codes, WiFi cutting out. Returned the laptop, got a replacement. It was fine other than the WiFi cutting out on it at home. I returned that laptop too, thinking the second one was bunk.

I picked up another laptop, an HP Pavilion 15t, and I'm still having the same WiFi issues. These issues seem to only be specific to the laptops I am buying. No other WiFi devices in my house have a single issue.

Both the Acer and the HP had different WiFi cards, Intel/Realtek, so I don't think that the issue is related to the card. Both computers use Kaby Lake U CPU's with nVidia MX150 video cards.

If it helps, I have an Asus RT-AC68U router on the latest firmware it can check for 3.0.0.4.384_45149-g467037b

WiFi power saver settings are set to Maximum Performance, and drivers have been updated.

I've attached a wlan report, maybe someone can take a look? (be sure to download the file to your PC)

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AHyqA4PBvbE0jTg

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[eidairaman1]

@Kursah

 

[Kursah]

@shoman24v

So searching against that Realtek device, some folks say to use a different driver. Looking at your logs, it appears that your most common disconnect reason reported by Windows is the driver:

Link to HP site stating someone else used different drivers to resolve: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Noteb...1CE-constant-wifi-dropout/m-p/6877022#M157293

You mention you've installed the latest drivers, did you rely on Windows Update for that or did you acquire them from the laptop MFG or wireless vendor? I'd suggest the latter two, starting with laptop MFG first, but sometimes you gotta go with the vendor drivers to beat out some existing bugs.

https://community.spiceworks.com/to...onnection-drop-intermittently-troubleshooting

Have you rebooted the Asus AC-68U? I run that same router as a wireless access point and haven't had any issues with it...granted I'm running on MerlinWRT (modded AsusWRT), but WiFi should be stable on either firmware and was for me. The interesting aspect is that you've experienced this across multiple different devices... well the two laptops rather.

How many other wifi devices are in your house and how many of them are AC?

Another thing worth thinking about is seeing if you need to change what channel your wireless network is on to deal with potential interference. You can download a program like Acrylic for Windows to scan various wireless networks and see what channels they're using, then adjust your wireless router for the channel with the least usage.

https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan...oftware-tools/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-free/

With MerlinWRT the Asus AC-68U can also scan other networks and channels to help you decide, but it does take some work to get over to that firmware from the version you're on. May or may not be worth it. I'd exercise other options first because you should have stable wifi as-is and you do for other devices.

 

[Boatvan]

@Kursah I just want to say you explained that super well and included a lot of great links! Now I know where to go for my networking issues...

 

[shoman24v]

@shoman24v

So searching against that Realtek device, some folks say to use a different driver. Looking at your logs, it appears that your most common disconnect reason reported by Windows is the driver:

View attachment 116119
View attachment 116120
View attachment 116121
View attachment 116122

Link to HP site stating someone else used different drivers to resolve: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Noteb...1CE-constant-wifi-dropout/m-p/6877022#M157293

You mention you've installed the latest drivers, did you rely on Windows Update for that or did you acquire them from the laptop MFG or wireless vendor? I'd suggest the latter two, starting with laptop MFG first, but sometimes you gotta go with the vendor drivers to beat out some existing bugs.

https://community.spiceworks.com/to...onnection-drop-intermittently-troubleshooting

Have you rebooted the Asus AC-68U? I run that same router as a wireless access point and haven't had any issues with it...granted I'm running on MerlinWRT (modded AsusWRT), but WiFi should be stable on either firmware and was for me. The interesting aspect is that you've experienced this across multiple different devices... well the two laptops rather.

How many other wifi devices are in your house and how many of them are AC?

Another thing worth thinking about is seeing if you need to change what channel your wireless network is on to deal with potential interference. You can download a program like Acrylic for Windows to scan various wireless networks and see what channels they're using, then adjust your wireless router for the channel with the least usage.

https://www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan...oftware-tools/wlan-scanner-acrylic-wifi-free/

With MerlinWRT the Asus AC-68U can also scan other networks and channels to help you decide, but it does take some work to get over to that firmware from the version you're on. May or may not be worth it. I'd exercise other options first because you should have stable wifi as-is and you do for other devices.

@Kursah

I just installed the HP driver in the first link you sent. Seems to be okay from a driver standpoint.

Regarding how I installed the driver... I first did a clean restore on an SSD I installed. It reinstalled Windows as if it was out of the box using a USB drive created from the HP software. I did the HP updates through HP support Assistant, which I believe included some WiFi updates. Same issues I have been experiencing. I then decided to do a complete wipe of my SSD and do a clean install of Windows. First I let Windows Update install my drivers. No change. Then, I installed HP Support Assistant after, then installed the WiFi drivers. Same issue. I even went to Realtek's site and downloaded drivers from there. Same problems. So, I don't know how much of it is a driver issue as they all had issues.

I have many devices in my house, an old hacked 2008 iMac running Mojave, an Android Pixel and Pixel 3, my desktop PC, my wife's 2018 iPad 9.7", a Nest thermostat, Amazon Fire stick... no issues. I'm fairly certain my phone is AC, not sure about the others. All I know is everything else does not have the issues that this and my last laptop had.

I logged into my router. I changed the channel to something not being used within range. So we'll see. At least your information gives me some insight as to what is going on. I'll report back as I notice changes.

Thank you!

 

[shoman24v]

Just following up with this thread. I ended up doing a clean WiFi driver install (before I just installed the one in the link without uninstalling) and changed the channel on my router. It's been several days now without any noticeable issues.

I appreciate the help!

 

[Mussels]

Just following up with this thread. I ended up doing a clean WiFi driver install (before I just installed the one in the link without uninstalling) and changed the channel on my router. It's been several days now without any noticeable issues.

I appreciate the help!

its always appreciated when someone comes back with the solution, thanks