Internet Slowdown and Disconnects

[Last_Approach]

Hello everyone,

I am getting quite desperate for a solution to my recent issue, which seems to have completely come out of nowhere.

Recently - perhaps for about the last week or so - the Internet speed on my PC seems completely erratic; it will be really fast one second (4.5 MB/S, which is about my limit), then the speed will start to go up and down quite dramatically (1 or 2 MB/S), eventually "disconnecting" completely (getting to 0) - it'll hover there for over a minute, then suddenly spring back to life again.

I noticed this mainly when I recently grabbed Fallout 76 - I was getting constant disconnects and loads and loads of lag spikes with the enemies. I assumed it was the game; I've heard stories. Unfortunately it seems to be my PC.

> No other devices in my house have this issue (another PC, a laptop and two mobiles)
> I have two different Wireless Adapters; I have tried them both to no avail.
> I have tried updating drivers.
> I have scanned for Malware and Viruses using two software - found nothing.
> Performed outstanding Windows Updates, just in case.

Can anyone help me get to the bottom of this, or at the very least suggest some other ways I could try and ascertain why my Internet connection is now so unstable?

I'm trying to avoid formatting as a complete last resort, but I'm running out of ideas!

 

[ElectrO_90]

Check to see if you have any malware on your computer
ZHPCleaner is what I would recommend, but malwarebytes is also quite good.

This could be some simple malware problem that you can fix. It's free to do, so I would do that first.

 

[BringerOfTea]

what type of connection are you using? and is it perhaps a ASUS AC56 on windows 10? The drivers there are really poor and it might be the result of your poor connection?

 

[BringerOfTea]

reinstall of windows 10 does not have to be so painful either.... ive created a dropboxfolder which contains all my essentials.

 

[Last_Approach]

Thanks for your help so far:

---------------------------------------------
Check to see if you have any malware on your computer ZHPCleaner is what I would recommend, but malwarebytes is also quite good.
---------------------------------------------

I did mention this in my initial post, but I've already tried that - my computer is 100% clean according to both Malwarebytes and Spybot Search and Destroy, along with my usual AVAST.


---------------------------------------------
what type of connection are you using? and is it perhaps a ASUS AC56 on windows 10?
---------------------------------------------

I'm on BT Superfast Fibre Plus (Average 67Mb download speed. Average 18Mb upload speed.)

Or are you meaning which Wireless Adapter am I using?

 

[BringerOfTea]

yeah which adapter are you using? usb dongles are generally poor.

 

[Last_Approach]

I've used two different ones, both new - the original one was working for about 6 weeks before this issue, plus I bought two of them and the one in my partners machine is fine.

Either way:

Older One
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B071SDS7QT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brand New
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XZ5B5G9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BringerOfTea]

well they look really cheap and i would attribute the slow speeds to the usb adapters... if you switch the one thats working fine in your partners machine to your pc... does that help any?

 

[Last_Approach]

I will give that a try when I get home tonight.

I'm also looking to grab one of these nearer the end of the month:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01BD9TFI4/?coliid=I2O1WFXS7RTKUH&colid=32OKWYJQ9R5NO&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[BringerOfTea]

this is for laptops or stationary pcs?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Generation-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1900-High-Power/dp/B00EC9S3LI/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1547631266&sr=1-1&keywords=asus+ac68

the powerline adapter is also not without fault... depends also on the wiring in your house.

 

[Last_Approach]

My house was built in the 70's so I'm hoping the wiring in my house is fine; I'm going to give it a go anyhow.

And the PC in question is stationary.

 

[Last_Approach]

The only thing that makes me doubt it's an issue with my adapter, other than me having tried two, is my signal is always full - I'm not out of range or anything like that...

 

[BringerOfTea]

well as I said the quality of such a small device might be abyssmal, when you for example compare the hardware of the asus AC68.

 

[Last_Approach]

Thanks for the suggestions so far; I will try a few things and update here when I have more information.

In the mean time, if anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions then please let me know

 

[Last_Approach]

I ended up moving my PC next to the router and plugging in directly via Network cable and I had no further issues, so this proves conclsively that the issue is with the crappy WIFI dongles I purchased.

As the old saying goes; buy cheap, buy twice, make a post on an Internet forum.