Wifi signal on 2.4ghz band keeps dropping, 5ghz fine

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nancyinwi

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Sep 20, 2015
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This problem began out of the blue about 2 weeks ago. No changes made at that time to any device, router, internet etc.

My husband's laptop is an approximately 5 year old Toshiba Satellite running Windows 7. It does not have 5ghz connection capability. It will connect to the router, but then after sitting for awhile, it shows it's still connected to the router (Belkin N600) but shows "no internet access" on the network and cannot get any webpages to load. The router is approximately 30 feet from the laptop. If I take the laptop next to the router, it connects again. I have a wifi analzyer on my android phone which shows a very strong signalif I am right next to the router, but when walking away, it decreases and sometimes disappears altogether.

I have moved all devices (2 android phones, an iPad, 3 DirecTV DVRs) to the 5ghz band, which has absolutely no problems. Prior to that, the DirecTV main receiver was on the 2.4 band and would disconnect constantly. Same with the iPad.

I have set the channel for the 2.4 band to 6 since the approximately 6 neighbors whose signals I can see are on either 1 or 11, with one neighbor on 8. I also tried using channel 1 and 11, which showed much stronger signal, but whatever channel I choose, the signal strength rating (stars if you're familiar with Wifi Analyzer) goes way down once I connect the 2.4 band to it.

I have reset the wifi card and updated the driver on the laptop.
We tried connecting to the neighbor's guest wifi (with their permission and password) and it works without a problem.
I have changed all power management items to not shut off the wifi and not put the laptop to sleep.

Is it possible for a router's 2.4 channel to go bad? The router hasn't been dropped, moved, or otherwise tampered with. It's a little over a year old, though I think it's a relatively old model.

I did a firmware update on the router a couple months ago, but it only updated to a 11-25-15 version 2.14.03.

Would a factory reset be in order? Or at the least, another firmware update if available?

I've probably forgotten some information here. This has been boggling my mind now for several days. If there's any information you need, please ask, but please know that I'm really a "newb" to all this and have only tried certain things after reading answers to similar questions here on this forum. (i.e. I have NO idea how to ping an IP!)
 
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The radio chips do fail it is not a common thing but it does happen. You could also have a lose antenna either internal or external. If it works with a neighbor then you would have to assume it is not a interference issue since you could put your router on the same channel.

Still channel 6 is the worst chose....well sorta of. Almost all routers now run 40mhz this is how they got the 150m number. The old recommendations of 1,6,11 were based on 20mhz channels. There is only 60mhz. So most routers now use the bottom 2/3 or top 2/3. This would be say channels 1&6 or channels 6&11. This means almost everyone who has a router is using channel 6.

You can not tell this with the apps that display other networks because they only display the channel the router is sending out the beacon messages on they can not see the actual data....well they can but the radio chip manufactures choose to not show you it.

You might try to set your router to only use 20mhz channels and then set it to channel 1 or channel 11.

Still because you tried it on a neighbors router which is much farther away tends to point to a hardware issue.
 
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Thank you for your quick reply bill.
The 2.4 band is set on 20mz channels. I did try it on both channel 1 and 11 with the same results. The signal is strong next to the router (-30), rapidly decreases as I get further away, and is at -80 or completely disappears. I just booted up my husband's computer and it said "connections are available." Could not automatically connect. When I tried to connect to the network, it said it was unable to connect. I looked at the wifi analyzer and it had disappeared. Walked back to the router and it appeared again. Brought the laptop to the router and it connected, no issue.

Now I'm looking into a new router and my head is about to explode. I don't need fancy with all sorts of technical stuff I don't need or know how to use, just one with good, stable, reliable 2.4mhz signal. Or we could just buy a new laptop with a newer wifi card. 🙂
 
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I wish I knew how to do that....would that be something to be replaced in the laptop?
 
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Wouldn't it be better to replace the wifi card? And all of this is way beyond my capabilities. Will have to consult with someone local who knows more about computers.
 
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It's not a matter of not being able to...looks like you just plug it into the usb port, but most of them are 2.4mhz only.
Like I said, this is way beyond my capabilities really. I don't need to be talked down to, just understood.
 
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"And all of this is way beyond my capabilities." Seems you were planning on taking it to someone in the first place. I was not in anyway talking down to you. All the one listed are dual band. You are right! Install the software, plug in the adapter and go. Disable the onboard wifi in device manager. I am only here to help people and am sorry you took it differently.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_3_21?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=dual+band+usb+wifi+adapter&sprefix=dual+usb+wifi+adapter%2Ccomputers%2C210&rh=n%3A172282%2Ck%3Adual+band+usb+wifi+adapter
 
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I apologize....I am just extremely frustrated. I didn't mean to be short with you. I AM trying to figure this out on my own because that's just what I do! And then I obsess over it. When in actuality, it would probably just be best for me to take it to someone....just don't know who at this point.

I amended my second post here. I just saw the 2.4 signal drop and completely disappear on wifi analyzer when I walked into the room where the laptop is. Brought the laptop next to the router and it connected just fine. Doesn't this indicate a signal issue? Or could it still be a wifi card/adapter issue?
 
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Unfortunately it could be either. I have been working on computers for over 30 years and have seen it all. But knowing that the 5ghz channel works just fine, I would lean towards getting a new adapter. Finding a compatible internal card for the toshiba may be difficult even for the shop you take it to. I can look for you if you like, would need model #.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpiWBPkr4vE

The hardest part is reconnecting the antennas.
 
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i have had issues connecting my phone to the mobile network when the phone is tethered to the wifi network. Even though they are in separate bandwidth, for what ever reason their is still some interference
 
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Husband's laptop stays connected as long as he is using it. If he walks away and doesn't use it for awhile, goes back and he can't get to the internet. Brings it to the router, and it works again.

Made an appointment for Tuesday at a local place. They are quoting me ballpark $140 to upgrade card and replace a usb port that isn't working. They will look at it and let me know the real estimate.

I'm still leaning toward router since it does the same drop out/off with my phone when connected to the 2.4. And even on the 5ghz, the iPad is jerky on an online game that I had absolutely no trouble playing before all the started happening.

The laptop is Toshiba Satellite C650-ST6N03

The laptop Adapter is: Realtek RTL8188CE Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E NIC

On the advice of another article I just read I changed the TX Power level from Auto to 100% (and since I have done this, 4 hours later there has been no loss of internet access) However, the internet connection on the DirecTV receiver )on 5mhz band) just disconnected. Could it be the crappy standard Time Warner internet? Up to 15mbps. However, we've had no issue until a couple weeks ago.
 
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