Internet Connection randomly goes in and out on laptop

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refrusloi

Commendable
Jan 20, 2017
5
0
1,510
For the last few weeks my internet connection on my laptop has been going in and out.

My roommate does not have any problems. I believe he is hard wired in (modem in his room). I am on the opposite side of the apartment so we use a TP-LINK Extender. We never had a problem like this until recently.

It seems like my phone and tv connect fine.

It seems to just be on my laptop. When I am on other networks with my laptop I have not noticed a problem (however since this is hit or miss on my network, it's hard to say whether that test is valid or not).

What usually will happen is, I will be in my internet browser (usually chrome, but it happens in all the browsers). Ill try going to a page and then after a long time spinning/loading it will say something like: 'www.google.com's DNS could not be found.'
Then at some point later it will start working as if nothing was wrong. Note that when this happens I have Full Bars and I am on the correct WiFi.

It's not just the browsers, if I go to another device like Kapersky and tried to download some software updates it said 'Failed to download the update. Internet connection is not available.'

Could it be malware? Something else? Thoughts?



 
Solution
B


In a congested area you will have all channels used like that...
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
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Have you tried this using hardwired ethernet router or having laptop in the same room as the router.

Most likely your repeater is just not able to get the signal to you.

There are many factors that cause issues with repeaters
1) Most users install them wrong. Instead of installing them half way between them and the router they put them in the same room they are in and thus the repeater has just as hard of a time getting a signal as your laptop does.
2) If your router/repeater is using the same wifi channel as your neighbor next door this can cause interference as you are both on a the exact same frequency (like someone else talking over you on a CB radio).
3) residential grade repeaters are often made of cheap low end hardware that is never going to perform well
4) residential grade repeaters are single radio designs that have to split their resources (and thus much higher ping and half the mbps) in order to split its communications betwen it and your device, and it and the router.
 
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R

refrusloi

Commendable
Jan 20, 2017
5
0
1,510
The odd part is that this worked until recently. So it seems unlikely to be a hardware problem?



 
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R

refrusloi

Commendable
Jan 20, 2017
5
0
1,510
I tried the steps listed.

1. I tried different areas of installation. We have made sure to have it installed close enough to the router but also close enough to my laptop (half way between both). There is a green signal on the external (most of the times I check)

2. I don't know how I would determine #2?

3 & 4. Ok.


Just now I tried going to a specific website that kept stalling for minutes on end on my laptop. I connected to the same network on my phone and it instantly loaded.

I also tried my TV connected to the network and have not had any problems.

As far as testing with same room or ethernet, I have moved locations for testing purposes (I could never do this permanently), but its so hard to determine because it's so RANDOM. It could work for a period of time and you might think 'hey its ok' then all of a sudden it craps out for who knows how long and you're left totally screwed not able to complete work.
 
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
14,846
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74,965
WiFi is a very difficult thing to diagnose because of so many environmental factors.
Add in the randomness of your issue it is only harder.

Get a Wifi Analyzer app for android or iOS. THen you can see what channel and signal level your connection is on, and what your neighboards are on.
 
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R

refrusloi

Commendable
Jan 20, 2017
5
0
1,510
It's saying it's on Channel 6. There is also a few other Wifis on that channel. In my room I esem to have the highest signal strength, but sometimes another wifi labeled 'PorqueFi' will switch. The Channel rating has 0 stars. I looked at this link here ( slightly different model ) and it says that the channel has to be changed from the router, not the extender : http://forum.tp-link.com/showthread.php?75194-How-to-change-channel-on-extender-TL-WA850RE

So I changed the channel for the router. Unfortunately It only had 1-11 which are all taken, the only one not taken(14) was not available. So we'll see how this goes. I don't have high hopes but crossing my fingers.
 
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boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
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In a congested area you will have all channels used like that, between 1, 6, and 11 pick the one with lowest signal level. -80 is low enough to not interfere. Channel 14 is not "authorized" for USA and even if router has channel 14, often your devices won't.
And yes you change channel at router and not repeater.
 
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