Case Blocking Wi-Fi

[BingoFishy]

Every since I've rotated my desk 90 degrees, I've been getting some serious Wi-Fi problems. The computer case was between the router and antennae, and gave me Limited or occasionally slow connectivity. I rotated my desktop 180 degrees, but I'm getting 25 mbps download and 50-60 upload. This is a 2.4GHz N300 wifi adapter (Tp-Link TL-WN881ND). With an Ethernet cable, I'm getting 50-60 mbps upload and download. My router is a TP-Link Archer C5 (v1.2) (Essentially an Archer C7 v1 or whatever with reduced maximum amount of bandwidth). My laptop next to it has 40-60 mbps down and up on the 5GHz network, and on 2.4 GHz gets about 6 mbps down and 18 up. My questions are: 1. How can I rotate my desktop facing the correct direction, and 2. Why is my router giving me abominable download speeds, at least on the 2.4GHz network?

Sincerely,
Me Myself and I

 

[Ralston18]

Remember wired will be faster than wireless all other things being equal.

Physically, I would try setting the desktop computer up on the desk and moving the desktop computer about as necessary to see if you can restore "normal" wireless connectivity.

If the original configuration fails to work as before then something else has gone astray.

Double check that your wireless adapter card did not wiggle a bit loose during the move. You may need to open the case.

Check that the antennas are correctly oriented.

Is your desk metal?

Maybe the rearrangement positioned your desktop computer to a point where another wireless network is interferring.

Work through it all as methodically as you can. Change only one thing at a time. Please post accordingly. Thanks.

 

[BingoFishy]

Remember wired will be faster than wireless all other things being equal.

Physically, I would try setting the desktop computer up on the desk and moving the desktop computer about as necessary to see if you can restore "normal" wireless connectivity.

If the original configuration fails to work as before then something else has gone astray.

Double check that your wireless adapter card did not wiggle a bit loose during the move. You may need to open the case.

Check that the antennas are correctly oriented.

Is your desk metal?

Maybe the rearrangement positioned your desktop computer to a point where another wireless network is interferring.

Work through it all as methodically as you can. Change only one thing at a time. Please post accordingly. Thanks.

I set the computer on top of a chair because my desk is full, though that may not be permanent. The Wi-Fi adapter was seated correctly. This is what speeds I'm getting: At first, there actually wasn't much difference but angling the antennae outward somehow made my speeds faster.

Here's before:

My desk is not metal

 

[Ralston18]

Thanks.

Couple of extra thoughts...

Note that the speed tests went to different servers (Reston, VA vs Washington, DC). It is not the geographical difference in locations that matters per se but more the path that the data takes. Data leaving your PC and related data coming back may be routed via different paths. Keep an eye on the longer term speed test history..... I like pinging routers close to home, mid-country, and then on the far coast. My ISP tends to run "the speed test" to the closest place possible.

And the wireless speeds within your own network are strictly internal. No matter how fast your modem/router communicates with the outside world what you get can be slowed internally by a variety of factors.

Doing your own "ping" commands, e.g., ping, pathping, tracert, etc. can be helpful as well just as a matter of determining what is normal for your network and environment. (Category = TCP/IP diagnostic utilities that work from the command prompt.)

Antenna positioning does make a difference. Google "wireless antenna position" and you will find a variety of articles discussing the matter with varying degrees of technical jargon. Actually what works is probably a matter of trial and error for most folks. Start with the device's recommended positioning.

Also if wireless remains an issue consider a wireless USB adapter instead of an internal card. Adds flexibility. You can use an USB extension cable to raise the wireless adapter higher and possibly move left and right to get a better signal. (Desktop computer could stay on the floor.) Match the USB wireless adapter make to your router's manufacturer. Otherwise any problems will just be blamed on the "other" manufacturer.

 

[BingoFishy]

Thanks.

Couple of extra thoughts...

Note that the speed tests went to different servers (Reston, VA vs Washington, DC). It is not the geographical difference in locations that matters per se but more the path that the data takes. Data leaving your PC and related data coming back may be routed via different paths. Keep an eye on the longer term speed test history..... I like pinging routers close to home, mid-country, and then on the far coast. My ISP tends to run "the speed test" to the closest place possible.

And the wireless speeds within your own network are strictly internal. No matter how fast your modem/router communicates with the outside world what you get can be slowed internally by a variety of factors.

Doing your own "ping" commands, e.g., ping, pathping, tracert, etc. can be helpful as well just as a matter of determining what is normal for your network and environment. (Category = TCP/IP diagnostic utilities that work from the command prompt.)

Antenna positioning does make a difference. Google "wireless antenna position" and you will find a variety of articles discussing the matter with varying degrees of technical jargon. Actually what works is probably a matter of trial and error for most folks. Start with the device's recommended positioning.

Also if wireless remains an issue consider a wireless USB adapter instead of an internal card. Adds flexibility. You can use an USB extension cable to raise the wireless adapter higher and possibly move left and right to get a better signal. (Desktop computer could stay on the floor.) Match the USB wireless adapter make to your router's manufacturer. Otherwise any problems will just be blamed on the "other" manufacturer.

Thanks for the USB manufacturer idea. I'll do some cross-country speedtests later. Is there such thing as an antennae extender? That may be less expensive.

EDIT: Here's the cross-country tests:
Washington DC


Oklahoma City, OK


San Francisco, CA


And just for fun, here's across the planet (at least for me), Shanghai, China



Thanks for the replies,
Me

 

[Ralston18]

Antenna Extender - not sure of your context per se but you can use one router to wirelessly connect to another router to increase the coverage area.

Output power is limited so a wireless access point can be used to achieve greater coverage.

Key part is setting up the IP addressing correctly and that depends on your network configuration to a large extent. And the router(s) being used.

For the most part I feel that wired conectivity, as much as possible, is the best choice for simplicity and performance.

On the other hard-wired may not be viable so wireless becomes the default option.

You can find older routers (less expensive) to set up and configure accordingly. You can even change the firmware (e.g., DD-WRT) to gain more control and functionality.

Easy to find various tutorials discussing the options and associated "how-to's".

Always trade-off's but I think that what you can learn is well worth the efforts involved.

 

[BingoFishy]

Antenna Extender - not sure of your context per se but you can use one router to wirelessly connect to another router to increase the coverage area.

Output power is limited so a wireless access point can be used to achieve greater coverage.

Key part is setting up the IP addressing correctly and that depends on your network configuration to a large extent. And the router(s) being used.

For the most part I feel that wired conectivity, as much as possible, is the best choice for simplicity and performance.

On the other hard-wired may not be viable so wireless becomes the default option.

You can find older routers (less expensive) to set up and configure accordingly. You can even change the firmware (e.g., DD-WRT) to gain more control and functionality.

Easy to find various tutorials discussing the options and associated "how-to's".

Always trade-off's but I think that what you can learn is well worth the efforts involved.

Something kind of interesting about Ethernet - even though it's more stable that wireless, I've, on many occasions, gotten slightly (~5 mbps) faster internet on wireless. Just something kind of interesting. I'd still choose wired, but it's possible that my wires just have a few kinks in them limited my speed. Oh, and for the antennae extension, I mean something like this: http://www.amazon.com/yoomall-Antenna-RP-SMA-Female-Extensionl/dp/B00428R89M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1444871322&sr=8-3&keywords=wi-fi+antenna+extension+cable or this: http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-ANT2408C-Desktop-Omni-directional-Magnetic/dp/B0034CQSKW/ref=pd_sim_147_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0EW4ZA8GJXGG16MCTKEW&dpID=31QQ-IddHAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_

 

[Ralston18]

So many factors involved - does not surprise me in some ways....

As for the antenna extension the pricing seems reasonable.

Have not used any antenna extensions - I prefer USB adapters and USB cable extensions.

Scanned the product reviews and they seem to be generally favorable but I am always a bit skeptical.

The extension is certainly worth a try but the end results could be mixed. Product quality is always a concern - what once worked when initially made/released with good reviews may not work as well (or at all) due to the use of cheaper components and lack of quality control. Especially for little things like adapters; had quite a box full a few times....

Then you end up sort of end up wondering if the device/solution is unworkable to begin with or just not working due to poor quality. E.g., flimsy connectors could cause off-setting signal loss - especially if corrosion sets in.

Still I would probably try one or the other as seems best for your requirements and set-up. Best case it works, worse case it does not but you can hopefully send the extension back for a refund. Also problematic. Or just save the extension anyway for some future situation (to try again), or pass it along to someone else to try. May save the day for that person.

 

[BingoFishy]

So many factors involved - does not surprise me in some ways....

As for the antenna extension the pricing seems reasonable.

Have not used any antenna extensions - I prefer USB adapters and USB cable extensions.

Scanned the product reviews and they seem to be generally favorable but I am always a bit skeptical.

The extension is certainly worth a try but the end results could be mixed. Product quality is always a concern - what once worked when initially made/released with good reviews may not work as well (or at all) due to the use of cheaper components and lack of quality control. Especially for little things like adapters; had quite a box full a few times....

Then you end up sort of end up wondering if the device/solution is unworkable to begin with or just not working due to poor quality. E.g., flimsy connectors could cause off-setting signal loss - especially if corrosion sets in.

Still I would probably try one or the other as seems best for your requirements and set-up. Best case it works, worse case it does not but you can hopefully send the extension back for a refund. Also problematic. Or just save the extension anyway for some future situation (to try again), or pass it along to someone else to try. May save the day for that person.

That's true. Right now, other than aesthetics, there's no problem. But if I end up switching it around (probably) I would either get a shorter cable or get the TP Link or something similar.