Wireless Connection Keeps dropping

[nmc.5]

The problem is my wireless connection keeps dropping for several minutes, only to come back and drop again. This will happen on and off continuously throughout the day/
I'm using a Dell Inspiron 5558 laptop with an Intel wireless adapter, and a dual band Plusnet router.
When connected to the 802.11 b/g/n interface, the problem occurs, but will work fine when I change the interface to 802.11 b/g.
I have updated the wifi driver and still no improvement, but I noticed the "802.11n mode" is missing from the wifi adapter configuration drop-list.

Some help would be greatly appreciated.
OS: Windows 10 (updated recently)
PCI adapter (Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160)

 

[anotherdrew]

This is common if you have interference and the faster the connection speed, the more detrimental interference is (n is faster than b or g). It just like talking to your friend. The faster your friend talks the more a bit of background noise will interfere.

There are 2 ways to combat this. One, try to get the router and computer as close to each other as possible. Walls and other electronics (microwaves!) are your enemy. Two, log into your router and look for the wireless setup. You should see that you have a choice of channels (this page might help https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-user-guides/). Manufactures will often set the channel to 1. That means you, your neighbor, your kids (?), your printer ... they are all on channel 1. Changing channels can help. People who change their channel tend to use the bottom, middle, or top channel, so I prefer 8.
If none of this helps, then you may need to consider a repeater or other methods of getting your access point closer to your computer.

 

[nmc.5]

This is common if you have interference and the faster the connection speed, the more detrimental interference is (n is faster than b or g). It just like talking to your friend. The faster your friend talks the more a bit of background noise will interfere.

There are 2 ways to combat this. One, try to get the router and computer as close to each other as possible. Walls and other electronics (microwaves!) are your enemy. Two, log into your router and look for the wireless setup. You should see that you have a choice of channels (this page might help https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-user-guides/). Manufactures will often set the channel to 1. That means you, your neighbor, your kids (?), your printer ... they are all on channel 1. Changing channels can help. People who change their channel tend to use the bottom, middle, or top channel, so I prefer 8.
If none of this helps, then you may need to consider a repeater or other methods of getting your access point closer to your computer.

I have tried different channels (1,11,6) and on all of them I have encountered the interference. What's strange is that other devices including desktops and phones connected to the same 2.4GHz channel don't experience interference, even though they're further away than my device is.
I have now connected to the 5GHz channel and so far there has been no connection dropping so far.

 

[anotherdrew]

Glad it seems to be working better. While distance is a factor, it often isn't the biggest. A good friend lives in an older home and he can get a signal 40 feet down the hall, but not 5 feet to the next room because the walls are so much thicker than what we build today (I also think there is chicken wire in the plaster). Try to consider what is between you and the router.

Another thing some people don't think about is WiFi is 2 way communication. The router sending to you and you sending back to router. Routers normally can put out a much stronger signal than your apater, so the issue might not be receiving data, but sending a response.

Lastly, remember also that while a "perfect" radio antenna will send the same strength signal in all directions, real antenas don't. They tend to send more signal horizontally and less vertically (depending on the antenna orientation.. To combat this some routers will have multiple antennas.