Windows 10, intermittent Wifi/internet

[OutInTheShed]

Fairly old PC.
Recently re-installed Windoze from scratch.

I have a router/ADSL modem from my ISP.
Cheap USB Wifi adaptor on the PC.

It takes a while to establish a connection.
Then it works for a random length of time
Then it says 'No internet' or 'can't reach that website'.

Other devices are working fine on the wifi
The PC works fine using a phone as a hots spot.

What's wrong please?

[C69]

Could be the Wi-Fi adaptor. Have you checked to see if its drivers are the latest ones available?

Do you have another adaptor that you could try instead?

[speedyman]

First, start with the basics. How far away is the router from the pc ? Move it nearer and try again.

[OutInTheShed]

Signal strength is good, drivers are latest, Windoze says 'this device is working properly'.
I've tried different adaptors but they seem to have the same chip or use the same drivers.

I've tried another router which is similar but worse.

Not sure why a static IP address might help, but I will give it a go.

Thanks!

[Funk]

OutInTheShed said:

Signal strength is good, drivers are latest, Windows says 'this device is working properly'.
I've tried different adaptors but they seem to have the same chip or use the same drivers.
Thanks!

Are the drivers from Windows Update or are they from the manufacturer of the wifi adapter?

[Motorman74]

If you have a spare slot, add a WiFi card.

USB WiFi adapters are really useful for short term use, but if it was the only means I had of connecting, I'd definitely look at fitting a card.

[OutInTheShed]

Funk said:

OutInTheShed said:

Signal strength is good, drivers are latest, Windows says 'this device is working properly'.
I've tried different adaptors but they seem to have the same chip or use the same drivers.
Thanks!

Are the drivers from Windows Update or are they from the manufacturer of the wifi adapter?

They are from WIndows.

[OutInTheShed]

Motorman74 said:

If you have a spare slot, add a WiFi card.

USB WiFi adapters are really useful for short term use, but if it was the only means I had of connecting, I'd definitely look at fitting a card.

A card would put the wifi aerial in a bad place.

I've tried using a TPLink wifi extender as the wifi adapter via a CAT 6 cable.
Same issue, but much less frequent so far.

Apart from this issue, it's been good to re-instal Win10.
Boot-up had got slow, it's very quick now.
I wonder if the old SSD was past its best?

[Harpoon]

When Windows reports No Internet (or similar), can you ping the router?

[Funk]

OutInTheShed said:

Funk said:

OutInTheShed said:

Signal strength is good, drivers are latest, Windows says 'this device is working properly'.
I've tried different adaptors but they seem to have the same chip or use the same drivers.
Thanks!

Are the drivers from Windows Update or are they from the manufacturer of the wifi adapter?

They are from WIndows.

Try the ones from the manufacturer of the card eg. if it's integrated on the motherboard get the driver from there. Windows isn't always right with the drivers it chooses from Win Update.

[Motorman74]

OutInTheShed said:

A card would put the wifi aerial in a bad place.

I've tried using a TPLink wifi extender as the wifi adapter via a CAT 6 cable.
Same issue, but much less frequent so far.

Apart from this issue, it's been good to re-instal Win10.
Boot-up had got slow, it's very quick now.
I wonder if the old SSD was past its best?

What about something like this where the antenna is on a cable so you can put it somewhere sensible?

TP-LINK AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 PCI Express Adapter with Two Antennas, Intel AX200, PCIe Network Interface Card for Desktop, Low-Profile Bracket Included ( Archer TX3000E)

https://amzn.eu/d/aRQgGc5

[OutInTheShed]

Harpoon said:

When Windows reports No Internet (or similar), can you ping the router?

Yes, I can log in to the router.

[OutInTheShed]

I think it's related to firewalls?

Turning off the router firewall seems to have made everything work for a little while now.
I don't regard this as a solution, just a diagnostic step.

Can Windows firewall conflict with the router firewall?

[OutInTheShed]

OK, so I logged into the router, poked around a bit turned off the firewall and Lo! the interweb worked.
A couple of hours later I logged into the router and turned its firewall back on.
The internet still seems to work.

??

[Church of Noise]

I wouldn't recommend turning off the firewalla, as it protects devices on your network from intrusion from the 'outside' world.

Do you own your router or is it provided by your ISP? If the latter is true, might be an idea to ask for a replacement as that would already get that part of the possible causes solved.

[OutInTheShed]

Church of Noise said:

I wouldn't recommend turning off the firewalla, as it protects devices on your network from intrusion from the 'outside' world.

Do you own your router or is it provided by your ISP? If the latter is true, might be an idea to ask for a replacement as that would already get that part of the possible causes solved.

I just turned it off for a short while to diagnose the problem.

The router is from the ISP. I might look into whether its firmware can be upgraded or anything.
I need to consider changing ISP, if I can get a better deal, as I've been with the same one for a few years now.