Wi-Fi speed variability when using USB wifi adapter on desktop computer.

[#1]

I've a fast Windows 11 desktop PC with a wi-fi adapter dongle fitted to one of the USB sockets. I normally get around 25Mbps download reported at speedtest but quite often the speed drops to 1 or 2 Mbps and is almost unusable. If I run the speedtest app on an adjacent phone the download speed is still around 25Mbps.

I'm running a TP-Link Deco S4 AC1200 Whole-Home Mesh Wi-Fi System.  The dongle is a five year old Foktech Wifi Dongle Antenna Dual Band 5GHz 433Mbps Wireless USB Wifi Adapter for PC Desktop Laptop Tablet, Supports Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP/2000, Mac Os X 10.4-10.12

It's not feasible to run an ethernet cable from the router as it terminates in another part of the house.

Can anyone suggest a reason why it's so variable and suggest a fix?

[simonides]

Hi @simonides

If the PC is located under a desk surrounded by cables or located on the desktop next to a monitor etc, it may be suffering from interference from the cables and electronics.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/xbox/forum/all/hdmi-cable-affecting-wifi/0908a75e-6423-4d06-a66a...

I would try using a USB extension lead to move the WiFi adaptor away from the PC and monitors.

Regards

Richard

[#3]

@RichardB 

Try changing the wireless channel.

To get visibility of other transmissions that might be causing interference download a WiFi sniffer app, I use WiFi Analyzer on an Android phone. This will show all the other channels in use at your location. Choose the clearest one.

Moderator’s Note

This topic has been moved from Broadband to Tech Help

[#4 · Accepted solution]

@simonides   Why not use a pair of "pass through" powerline adapters. Using convenient mains power outlet sockets

Plug your router into one with Ethernet cable.... Plug your computer into the other one

I use a TP-Link MR6500V 4g LTE wifi router - located on top of the wardrobe in the front bedroom. 

My laptop is downstairs in a back room.... OOKLA speed tests give me betweein 25 megs to 45 megs, which is quite adequate for my use.

(I am almost 2 miles from the nearest mast, and not in a "line of sight" as it is all "urban housing"- I still get a 100% signal level though ! ) 

Being a wifi type (mobile phone signal)  connection to the internet does mean that the speed can vary depending on how many people are actually using the same mast, at the same time as I do th speed test !.

Check out specifications for different makes and models... here is my type.  eBay item number:114903590994

[#5]

@shutter Thanks for the suggestion . I was reluctant to buy a powerline adapter as I've already installed a mesh system that seems to work well but then I saw how cheap they are on ebay or amazon so I may well take your advice.

[#6]

@Baldrick1  Thanks for your suggestion but I'm not sure how to change my channel. Is that something I do on the computer? 

[#7]

@RichardB Thanks for the reminder!  Yes, I have the dongle attached to a metre long usb cable and have tried to route it away from the monitor and other cables. 

[#8]

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@simonides wrote:

@Baldrick1  Thanks for your suggestion but I'm not sure how to change my channel. Is that something I do on the computer? 

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I have just done a quick Google search and note that this is not possible with the Deco m4, sorry for not checking earlier. If you have an Android phone then download a free WiFi sniffer app, I use WiFi Analyzer. This will enable you to see if there are a lot of other signals using the same channel.

Can you change from the 2.4 to 5GHz band?

[#9]

@shutter After suggestions here I've invested in a powerline kit and so far it's been working very well. Fingers crossed, thanks everyone!

It's a TP-Link TL-PA4010KIT Nano AV600 Powerline Adapter Starter Kit