Wifi Signal dropped by 60% - 70%

[Rincewindwiz]

Hi
Windows 7 64 bit running (more or less) happily for a year or so.
Used via ethernet in one location and wifi in occasional other location (via an external antenna).
When I try wireless in the main (ethernet) location I get arond 10 or so SSIDs show up ranging from 5 bars down to 1

All has been fine until a few weeks ago when I started to get huge difficulties connecting to wifi in the occasional location. Often (say 60%) I could get a connection but no connection to the internet. Less often (say 20%) I'd get a connection to the internet that lasted maybe 5 minutes before disconnecting. Rarely (< 5%) I got a connection that held together for 30 minutes or more.

So I tried in the ethernet location (switched of my router wifi 'cos is swamped everything) and I get maybe 1 SSID showing up (whereas before there were at least 10). When I try to connect to that I get "Windows was unable to connect . . . " and the spinning blue wheel

I notice in device manager a couple of Virtual Wifi Miniports (#6 and #7) have appeared. No idea what they do.

The event log has a lot of Service Contol Manager 7036 events but no errors that seem relevant

IPCONFIG shows

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : HPDv6
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 60-6C-66-7A-91-FD
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : A0-B3-CC-51-AD-68
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::6d81:a219:db0c:fd76%11(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.60(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 03 September 2015 17:25:29
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 04 September 2015 17:25:29
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::8077:52ff:fe45:62c9%11
                                       192.168.1.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 295744460
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1B-90-05-E6-A0-B3-CC-51-AD-68

   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
                                       0.0.0.0
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Ethernet adapter VirtualBox Host-Only Network:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 08-00-27-00-70-70
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::81bf:8de:8863:97de%21(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.56.1(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 755499047
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-1B-90-05-E6-A0-B3-CC-51-AD-68

   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
                                       fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
                                       fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{38689B62-749E-4F13-B91D-4AAFB15BB4BF}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{FB543D10-8D1F-449D-B4E5-15949A81BD77}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 12:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{0545CF7C-F847-42BD-99D3-E092E5B33CFD}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #6
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter isatap.{09EBA21E-CDF7-4C29-954F-422F8E375A63}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #10
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Windows\system32>

I have no systemrestore points back before this all started (Ioriginally thought it was to do with the hotspot to which I was connecting)
Any ideas welcome but think Im headed for a repair install

PS I just tried an external antenna and the signal strength is way down on what it used to be. So it does seem something (software) in hte PC is screwing things up but I have no idea where to start looking
So I guess I start uninstallling things and work backwards in time

 

[GokAy]

Try a clean startup - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html
How is it in Safe Mode with Networking?

You can also try booting with Linux Mint MATE DVD/USB (no installation needed), and see if wireless is alright. If it is problematic too, most likely your wireless is dying. If not, you can focus on fixing it under Windows.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

Hi

Thanks for the thoughts
Clean Startup - no difference
Safe + networking - no difference
Linux - More of a problem. Wireless not loaded on startup. Loaded wireless drivers but still could not see anywhere to check for / connect to wireless networks. But then I don't know squat about Linux!

So maybe it is the wireless card . . . . EXCEPT if I connect an external USB antenna I get only 1 SSID at one bar
Another PC on the same desk shows 8 SSIDs
(All this with my own Wifi switched off. If I switch on my own wifi, internal PC wifi shows 5 bars and connects fine - but then the aerial is about 3 feet away!!)

 

[GokAy]

When you say "External USB antenna" is it an actual antenna or a different USB wireless card? I didn't know you can attach an antenna to a USB port.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

External Antenna which comes with its own wireless card and is connected to the USB port.
They are excellent for boosting weak wifi signals.
I use a TurboTenna NextG USB-Yagi Power WiFi Antenna 2200mW at the other location and its predecessor EDUP EP-S8518 (IMHO not as good) at the main location

In the 'other' location, I (used before this problem to) get around 3 or 4 SSIDs and the best is probably 2 bars with the PC internal aerial. With the external aerial, I get maybe 15 or 20 SSIDs and the best have 4 or 5 bars

 

[GokAy]

I see, thanks for the clarification.

You can try re-seating the wireless card perhaps. Or switch to another port if available.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

off down the pub for a friday night noggin but I will then try to fiddle with the card.
finally got Wireless working on another HP Pc and it reports 13 SSIDs whereas this PC gets 4.

Busy weekend . . . . .

Anyway finally got round to removing/fiddling/reseating the wireless card and the two aerial leads.
Makes no difference at all.
So I'll try a new wireless card. and report back - unless anyone has a better idea?

BTW GoKay what is this 'switch to another port'? How do I try that?

 

[GokAy]

It is another PCI/PCI-e port (if there is one), you must have seen when you removed the card from your PC.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

No signs of another port. Mind you the PCI card is very easy to get out - (only 2 screws) so I suppose there might be one deep inside. Last resort that!

 

[GokAy]

See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/778-power-plan-settings-change.html

Select a High performance plan, also check Wireless Adapter Settings if it is Maximum performance or some other.

 

[torchwood]

Have you recently changed your power settings by any chance.
I seem to remember that using the high performance option "stops the Wifi operation" going into a "sleep type mode",
but obviously uses more battery power.

Roy

 

[Rincewindwiz]

OK Sorry for the delay in replying but I've been busy and also had a couple of goes but failed to press send!!
High Power setting makes no difference.
Cant find any wireless adapter settings that do anything useful. The advanced settings (Intel(R) Centrino Wireless N2230 say
802.11n channel width Auto (was 20MHz but the change made no difference)
802.11n mode enabled (If I disable this, the signal strength - no bars - improves a bit but this may be coincidence.
Transmit Power - highest


So indesperation, I swapped the wireless card for a new one. It did seem that the two aerial wires were connected teh wrong way round (label 1 on the cable was attached to label 2 on the card and vice versa) so I matched the numbers up when reconnecting.

but I still have 4 or 5 SSIDs with this PC and 10 with the other PC (including a 3 bar signal SSID that doesn't even show on the problem PC)!

Does suggest something is still not quite right.

Any suggestions

 

[GokAy]

How did the new card do that you swapped in? No info on that.
Also the location of the PCs may make a difference by the way.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

New card made no noticeable difference.

PCs are 2 feet apart pointing in the same direction

Now I agree that, in theory, there just may be something in the way of one Pc and not the other but this is 1980s wood frame and plasterboard house with all the stopping power of a piece of wet tissue
Current SSIDs are 6 and 13 but 6 of the 13 are one bar so they do not show up on the problem card which seems to run one bar lower.

Also the problem started in a different location where this PC failed to connect as well as it used to even with a USB aerial.

I am beginning to this this is in the too hard bucket. When I have a 'day at the desk' I might well back up, reload windows and wee what happens.

I liked the Idea of using Linux to see if the fault persisted but could not find a way to activate the wifi. Any suggestions on that front?

 

[GokAy]

Linux should have configured wireless automatically. I will try it on my laptop later.

Plaster walls are among the worst for wireless transmission due to potential wires within.
Wi-Fi won't travel through your house? It might be the wire in the walls | Technology | The Guardian
Just search google for many similar topics.

 

[Rincewindwiz]

Interesting thought (about the walls) but sadly not the problem. the visible SSIDs do not change when I move it 3 feet the other side of the other PC where it faces an open window. The 'other' PC is in the junction of two walls and currently shows 15SIDs (8 of which are 1 bar) v 5SSIDs on the main PC.

 

[GokAy]

By the way reading your post again I see you called it plasterboard so maybe not your case!

Plasterboard (which Americans call "drywall"), which doesn't have wire components, doesn't block it to anything like the same extent.

Still have to try Linux on laptop for the wireless.

 

[GokAy]

Ok, sorry for the wait. Here how wireless goes with Linux:
- When you boot into the desktop there is no wireless connection made due to lack of a pass-phrase
- Next to date and time in the lower right corner, there is the "Connection" icon, right click and make sure "Wi-Fi" has a check next to it
- Then left click the same icon and select the your wireless connection and simply enter the pass-phrase.