Why Does My Wi Fi Suck?

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M

My PC Hates Me

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Why does my wi-fi internet connection suck so badly?

Don't know if it is the router or my computer or my wireless receiver or...

I am using a netgear Wireless N Dual band USB Stick

I often get no wifi on my Windows 10 computer, even while my wife's computer gets wifi and my son's computer has internet access (he is plugged in by ethernet cable into the router)

My Uverse AT&T wireless router is in the living room, and I am in the bedroom, so I am furthest from it, but we are in a small apartment so it isn't like it is really far away.

Sometimes the connection is great.

Other times it can't connect at all.

Some times when it DOESN'T connect, my wifi router will show as an available network with full (three) bars.

Sometimes I can connect to my wi fi router with my phone from the same place as my computer, but my computer won't connect (and the wifi reception on my Alcatel Fierce XL isn't really that good).

If I set my phone up as a mobile hotspot, and place it next to the router, my computer can still connect to my phone (working as a mobile hotspot), but not see the router as an available connection.

1) If it is a bad wifi router, why can my phone sometimes connect when my computer can't?

2) If it is a bad wifi card (it is actually a USB WiFi stick

3) Why, when using my phone as a hotspot, do I sometimes get this message: Wireless Conflict: wi fi access point and wi fi access point are on different channels

Using the windows troubleshooter is pretty much useless. It just says to plug in an ethernet cable.

Thanks in advance.

 
Solution
RealBeast
Yup, that is the problem with using wireless in dense environments, and 5GHz is often helpful since it is used less and does not travel as far.

Wherever possible, use of Ethernet cables is best for high bandwidth or latency critical (gaming) applications.
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smorizio

smorizio

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Jan 22, 2010
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on the usb stick make sure it on the front usb ports. if it on the back it can be blocked from seeing any wifi. make sure goggle the chipset of the usb stick and download the newest drivers. for the router make sure it not on same channel as another router near by. if it a small cell phone router look for a home wifi router with more power.
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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You are in an apartment, thus you have many neighbors nearby, and they also have wireless networks. Especially for 2.4GHz there are very limited number of channels, only 3 non-overlapping (1, 6, and 11) so you have a lot of interference most likely.

Run THIS free version of inSSIDer to see all the nearby networks by channel and strength. Use the channel (1, 6, or 11 for 2.4GHz) that has the least strong overlap or move to 5GHz if that is less congested.

Wired connections avoid these issues.
 
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My PC Hates Me

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Thank you for the suggestions.

Yes, I do have the latest drivers for it. The router was provided by AT&T (it is a dual Modem / router that they give you when you sign up for Uverse, since it comes with TV as well). They said it was a combo modem / router and that I can't use a separate wifi router.
 
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My PC Hates Me

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Thank you for the suggestion.

It looks like my wifi is on Channel 10.

I have one neighbor on Channel 6 and one neighbor who appears to have TWO routers; one at 2.4 on Channel 11, and one at 5ghz on channel 149.

So from what I understand, moving to channel 1 would probably have the least interference???

 
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My PC Hates Me

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Using InSSIDer I see this:

My Network: Signal -61 | Channel 10

Is the -61 singal strength ok? Is that real bad?

It seems like it is only a bit better than my neighbor's signals, which are listed as -69 and -71 (and the 5ghz router of my neighbor is -84)
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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-61 is fine, but yes your neighbor has strong signals that will cause interference.

You would be better on 2.4GHz channel 1, as both 6 and 11 overlap your current channel 10.

5Ghz channels do not penetrate matter as well (air, walls, etc.) because they are higher frequency, which is why his 5GHz signal is weaker at your location than his 2.4GHz signal.

You may want to look into your adapters and a dual band router if channel 1 on 2.4GHz does not help significantly.
 
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M

My PC Hates Me

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Thank you again.

I switched my router to Channel 1 and my signal strength immediately dropped from around -61 down to -71 :-(

Currently, I get a stronger signal from TWO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS whose routers must surely be further away / though more walls than my router. (they are both 2.6GHZ)

Heck, the signal from my neighbor who is IN A SEPARATE BUILDING from us separated by a 35 foot parking lot is listed at -72 Her router must be at least 60 feet further away from me than my router and has an extra couple of walls to pass through before her signal reaches me.

I will look into a dual band adapter and the possibility of just running a really long ethernet cable or something. I will call at&t in the morning and see what they can do because this is getting ridonculous.
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Yup, that is the problem with using wireless in dense environments, and 5GHz is often helpful since it is used less and does not travel as far.

Wherever possible, use of Ethernet cables is best for high bandwidth or latency critical (gaming) applications.
 
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