Difficult internet access

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  1. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
       #1

    Difficult internet access


    I was having trouble with my wifi signal on another PC and received various suggestions for fixing it. The bottom line appeared to be that the onboard wifi adapter was dying. I bought a new PCI wifi card of the same brand as the motherboard. There seemed to be a slight improvement in signal strength but still way below what my new PC is managing (with the exact same model wifi card). So in the same room we are using a laptop and a newly built tower that have full connectivity with the router which is another room. I have noticed that I can get my emails with Mozilla Thunderbird without any problem. I have three browsers that all have the same issue. Intermittent connection with only one or two "bars" on the little indicator bottom right of the desktop. I have checked/updated the drivers for both the onboard and seperate wifi adaptors and have tried them both together and with either one disabled. Apart from the access to the internet problem the PC works fine and runs various software normally.

    ?????????????
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       #2

    Have you got an Android. phone? If so get WiFi tester with that you can get exact signal strength walk around the room slow checking strength do it at different times as well . It's often a big difference even ft away mains,TV, game console all can block signal. Radio is also polarised so router and PC should be the same is vertical or horizontal antenna
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    HI and thanks for your input. The PC I am using for this query is less than one metre away from the PC with the problem so I don't think its a case of relative positioning to the router. Exactly the same distance away. Both antenna stubs are oriented the same. I was wondering if it is the motherboard itself that is dying, not just the wifi adaptor.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       #4

    Do the test with wifi checker it will give info and not guessing a cable even someone sitting close can effect it
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #5

    As any radio device, the signal depends on the antenna.
    Laptops has two antennas, one at each side of the monitor. The desktop should have one antenna.

    Also, WiFi can have two frequencies, 2.4G and 5G.
    What frequency is your desktop and laptop using?

    Download and run (doesn't need to be installed) WifiInfoView v2.60
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    OK guys. I have no idea what band the lappy is working on. The two desktops I mentioned above are side by side on a desk. Both have identical add on wifi cards (Asus PCE-N15). An Android wifi analyser app shows we are on the 2.4ghz band, Channel 3. It gives a decibel reading (?) of -81 to -85 holding the phone just above the back of the PC where the twin antennas are located. It shows a reading of -76 to -81 held in the same position over the troublesome PC. The readings are not static, they are always shifting. The two sets of antennas are exactly 37 inches apart. Do the db readings mean anything? Is it possible there is some interaction between antennas and nearby monitor, UPS, or PC sound system?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I have tried the wifiInfoview as suggested above. It only seems to confirm what the lightweight App on the phone says. A little more signal getting to the dud PC. After shifting it around a little I can get the little indicator up to 3 occasionally 4 bars but no different to performance. Totally unable to get Chrome, Firefox, or Opera to get as far as a home page. And now even Thunderbird cannot retrieve my emails.

    Is it possible that the Bitdefender or Windows Firewall is blocking everything?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #8

    The signal on a cell phone doesn't mean much.
    Run WifiInfoView on the two computers.
    What is the signal seen by the one computer and the other?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 137
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Signal quality on the good one is 49/50 and the other is showing 48/49.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,351
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #10

    Aardvarkly said:
    Is it possible that the Bitdefender or Windows Firewall is blocking everything?
    Yes, it can. But I don't think it is the case as you have some signal. Firewall block doesn't attenuate. Is 1 or 0

    Signal quality on the good one is 49/50 and the other is showing 48/49 means they receive same (weak) power.
    It's not the WiFi. It's something else.
      My Computers


 
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