[SOLVED] Wi-Fi signal cuts off for 1 second exactly every 30 seconds

Dec 22, 2021
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So, as the title says, my desktop disconnects from Wi-Fi exactly every 30 seconds, like if there's a software doing that on purpose. It started about 7 hours ago, I had already been using my pc for 3 hours and all I did was starting another match on the same game I've been playing the whole time, nothing different. For the whole match I experienced lag. That kind of lag where everything freezes for almost a second and then it reconnects. It usually happened to me once per hour or so, but since that match it happens every 30 seconds, even while not playing. I tried a bunch of things and nothing seemed to help. Also, I bought a LAN cable from Amazon since I already planned to do so and thought this was a good time to do it. Obviously, I hope that the LAN cable won't have any problems, but I'm curious to know what the actual issue might be so here I am.

My PC: Lenovo Ideacentre 720-18ASU (yeah I bought it from a store), Windows 10 Home, Build 19043.
Network adapter: Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC, updated to the latest driver (that's what Windows says, the driver is from 2018 tho).
Modem: It's an optical fiber modem called FASTGate that my ISP (Fastweb) gave me and it never had any problem. Still, it's italian tech crap. Don't expect too much.

If you need any other information let me know, I'm stupid and don't know exactly what might be useful or not.

What I tried:
First of all, let me tell how I know it happens every 30 seconds - I tested the ping to my modem's address on CMD prompt and every 29 pings, it pauses for a second, then starts again with a "Request timed out" or a "2000/3000ms" (then goes back to 1ms for the next 29 pings).
  • Switching from 2.4GHz to 5GHz connection and viceversa (I do that all the time when I start lagging);
  • Disconnecting and reconnecting to the wi-fi;
  • Restarting the modem;
  • Restarting the Desktop;
  • Restarting them both at the same time;
  • Disabling the Anti-Virus (Kaspersky);
  • Resetting the network settings;
  • Resetting the modem;
  • Resetting them both at the same time;
  • Resetting them both at the same time and waiting an hour before turning them on because I got angry;
  • Disabling and enabling the Network adapter;
  • Uninstalling and installing the said Network adapter;
  • Uninstalling the IPv6 protocol thingy (I just read to do it somewhere and did it, I'd smash my monitor at this point if someone told me it could help);
  • Testing the ping on my smartphone with some random app I found (no problem at all);
  • Connecting pc to the same modem via hotspot on my smartphone (same issue);
  • Connecting pc to 4g via hotspot on my smartphone (same issue, so I'm pretty sure it's the adapter's fault);
  • Writing that magic formula in the CMD prompt (ipconfig /flush, /renew, netsh ip and all that stuff I don't remember right now);
  • Restarting PC again because why not;
  • Trying again the hotspot just in case.
What I did NOT try:
  • Calling my ISP - they would say to restart my modem, then since it's all fine for them, it's my problem and they can't do anything about it;
  • Going deeper into changing the adapter's option, I didn't even try to change the DNS (I had a problem one year ago where my pc would disconnect after 5 minutes online until I restarted it. Nothing fixed it and it went on like this for 2 months until I changed my ISP lol. So now I get nausea just by thinking about network issues);
  • Doing a backflip;
  • Resetting my desktop (I really don't want to buy an HDD to backup and install every software again);
  • Smashing the modem;
  • Connecting with a LAN cable (I should have it by tomorrow);
  • Connecting to another modem (if smartphone's 4g hotspot doesn't count);
  • Go to sleep and wait.
Things worth mentioning (again):
  • The problem started while the PC was already on and I was using it;
  • Nothing similar happened in the last year with this modem;
  • Just once, after the first modem reset, the "lag" did not happen for about a minute after starting the ping test on CMD prompt;
  • Three or four times it disconnected after 50 pings, not 30;
  • Other devices such as my smartphone do not have this same issue;
  • I just think my adapter chose to die in the most annoying way possible;
  • As you can see by what I wrote, I've been staring at the command prompt for 7 hours, I just spent another hour writing this, it's 6 in the morning and I need to sleep. I'm going crazy over this and sorry if I wrote something stupid or not useful. Please send help.
 
Last edited:
Solution
This:

"But that would still be strange because who installs a new wi-fi connection after dinner time that is capable of "killing" my connection every 30 seconds? "

So what ever happens only happens within a certain time span (after dinner) - how long does the time span actually last?

Again pattern being: 29 pings 1 ms between them, a one full second pause, then 29 pings again with 1 ms between each ping - correct?

Run the ping command again and then capture a screenshot showing the both the full ping command used and the results. Post accordingly.

= = = =

As for the Ethernet cable - have you plugged the Ethernet cable in to test it?

The "ipconfig /all" results indicate that the wired network adapter is disconnected.

To test...

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
This:

"all I did was starting another match on the same game I've been playing the whole time, nothing different "

What game?

Is your modem actually a modem/router combination? If not what make and model router do you have? Service connection (coax, DSL, fiber?)

On your computer run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) via the Command Prompt. Post the results.

Are you near any airports, military bases, transmitting towers?

Do try the LAN (Ethernet) cable when it arrives. Just for the record, what Ethernet cable type did you get? Source? There are lots of fake cables being sold and there is a good chance that using an Ethernet cable may not make any difference - could even be worse....
 
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Dec 22, 2021
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Thanks for replying.

So the game I was playing when the lag started was League of Legends, but I played other things after just to test if that was the problem and nothing helped.

I did some reasearch since I never really understood the difference between modem and router, but I think mine is a modem/router combination. Ayways, in case I'm wrong, the optical fiber cable is connected to the modem "box" and any device can connect to the same box via Wi-Fi (or Ethernet).
The modem/router is a FASTGate (or that's how my ISP calls it). Real product name being MediaAccess FGA2130FWB. As I said, fiber connection.

I ran ipconfig /all in the prompt and came out a bunch of things, I'm going to copy them inside a spoiler so it doesn't become a text wall:
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-29H3QQR
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : lan

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 6C-4B-90-0F-7C-03
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Connessione alla rete locale (LAN)* 13:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #5
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : CA-3D-D4-F5-99-6F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Connessione alla rete locale (LAN)* 14:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter #6
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C8-3D-D4-F5-99-6F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 2:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Kaspersky Security Data Escort Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-FF-BC-E9-AF-71
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : lan
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek 8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C8-3D-D4-F5-99-6F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:b07:add:7af3:79cd:2c14:ec90:edfb(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2001:b07:add:7af3:f9ee:f0c:241a:9d9a(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::79cd:2c14:ec90:edfb%22(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.190(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : giovedì 23 dicembre 2021 19:47:11
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : venerdì 24 dicembre 2021 19:47:10
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::22b0:1ff:feee:696c%22
192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 415776212
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-26-C3-8B-FC-6C-4B-90-0F-7C-03
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2001:b07:add:7af3::1
192.168.1.254
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled
Connection-specific DNS Suffix Search List :
lan

Ethernet adapter Connessione di rete Bluetooth:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C8-3D-D4-F5-99-70
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

And no, I'm not living anywhere near something that could cause such an interference. The only thing I could think of are the different bluethoot devices (tried unplugging them, not the problem) or the neighbours' wi-fi. But that would still be strange because who installs a new wi-fi connection after dinner time that is capable of "killing" my connection every 30 seconds?

The Ethernet cable I bought is the first one I've found, over 30k reviews so I decided to trust the people. It should be a CAT6 with up to 1Gbps transfer speed. 75ft. Probably the signal will be weak as hell but at least it might work. The color is cool, too. I was used to see those yellowish or white cables, not that cool.
I'm not really a top in this field so I just did a quick research. First time in my life I (try to) use a wired connection tbh.
https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-...refix=kabeldirekt+etherne,aps,151&sr=8-3&th=1
The link is to Amazon.com so you don't have to translate, but it should be the same product I bought on Amazon.it. I also paid just 9 euros so I'll be happy even if it's slower than my wi-fi as long as it works (which is relatively slow since my pc is a bit far from the modem/router, it goes up to 120 mbps on the lucky days, 70 on the average).
 

Ralston18

Titan
Moderator
This:

"But that would still be strange because who installs a new wi-fi connection after dinner time that is capable of "killing" my connection every 30 seconds? "

So what ever happens only happens within a certain time span (after dinner) - how long does the time span actually last?

Again pattern being: 29 pings 1 ms between them, a one full second pause, then 29 pings again with 1 ms between each ping - correct?

Run the ping command again and then capture a screenshot showing the both the full ping command used and the results. Post accordingly.

= = = =

As for the Ethernet cable - have you plugged the Ethernet cable in to test it?

The "ipconfig /all" results indicate that the wired network adapter is disconnected.

To test the Ethernet cable you need to enable the wired network adapter and disable the wireless network adapter.

I am not familiar with that cable manufacturer. However Ethernet cables should be good for up to 100 meters. The signal should not be weak with respect to a quality cable and the color is completely irrelevant.

Modem/router - this one?

https://www.hwupgrade.it/forum/showthread.php?t=2931006
 
Solution
Dec 22, 2021
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Wait, sorry I didn't explain myself correctly. It started happening after dinner time, yesterday. But it's been almost 24h and it's still like this. Has been like this the whole night and this morning and also 2 hours ago when I tested again.
The pattern is that one. 29 pings with an average of 1-5ms and then a one second pause. After the pause I get the timed out message or a very high ping (like 2000) - either way it loses the signal -, then it starts again with the pings.
I should also say that this is what I see when I test it now:
https://ibb.co/mR5VxJL

https://ibb.co/T43L0SY

https://ibb.co/2c9fJRt
and that's strange because the timed out message is not every 29 pings anymore, like this morning, but every 28, with the 29th being the message. It looks like the pattern changed a bit, but it's still a regular pattern, except for the last part, where there are even 30 pings in a row without any pause. Again, that's strange because until this morning it was exactly every 29 pings without any particular exception. It's still a very tiny difference between 28 and 30 pings so don't know if that's relevant.

The Ethernet cable should arrive tomorrow, let's say in 15 hours or so. I'll be sure to enable the adapter and to notify you when I test it.

My modem/router is that one you linked.
Also, I forgot to mention that this morning there were some other problems with the modem/router itself and my ISP fixed it after I called to check. It was an internet connection problem, with the typical red lights, probably a coincidence unrelated to the issue with my desktop since, as I said, no other device in the house has experience this "30 pings" issue (laptop, smartphone).
 
Dec 22, 2021
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QUICK UPDATE:

I didn't receive the Ethernet cable yet, it should arrive on monday 27.
BUT
SOMEHOW today I turned on my PC and I noticed I was not having that problem anymore. Like if it was nothing, it fixed by itself. After 4 hours of playing, it started having the same problem again at midnight.
What do you think it could've been? If it was the network adapter, why did it work today when resetting it for 2 days didn't do anything? And why did it stop working again?
If it is the modem/router's fault (which I also resetted twice), why is every other device in the same house working fine?
Anyway, I will wait for the Ethernet cable and hope it will work.
 

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