Laptop keeps dropping Talktalk connection or can't see Talktalk network.

[freelander303]

My Windows 11 laptop either has a very weak Talktalk wifi connection that keeps dropping out or it can't see the Talktalk connection at all.

It will connect perfectly with the connection icon fully lit if I use my mobile phone as a wifi hotspot through EE..

I've reinstalled the correct Realtek PCi drivers, forgotten and restarted the Talktalk connectionrun TalkTalk supersafe anti virus and Malwarebytes soft, xtra Eero, I now have 3. This hasn't helped.

Has anyone got any suggestions please?

[freelander303]

Sorry for the delay in reporting back.

I did a reset of the Gateway Eero and this seemed to have resolved the issue but if I shut down my laptop it frequently either won't connect or with a weak signal. 

It has currently connected on channel 36 with 100% signal strength. The CMD prompt show Channel 36. Wi-fi scanner shows 42(36).

I'll check after my next shutdown and if the problem recurrs I'll get back to you with the channel information. How would we get a patch applied to restrict the channel range?

[KeithFrench]

Hi @freelander303 

When tethered to your phone, which WiFi band & channel is it using? If you are not sure, please repeat this from the command prompt:-

netsh wlan show interface

Then PM me the output.

I have been researching the WiFi adapter in your laptop and the problem looks like it does not work unless the channel range is between 36 & 48. In the screenshot you sent me, it shows you as using the 5GHz band on channel 149, but with a very low signal strength.

I therefore think it would be best to get a patch applied to your eero, that restricts it to this channel range. However, I will wait for the netsh output before going down that route.

[freelander303]

A second thought.

If I connect to the internet using my phone as a hotspot I can connect to  Ee with a strong signal so would that rule out a hardware issue.

Yes I have uninstalled and reinstalled all network drivers.

[freelander303]

I dont but i was thinking about getting one of the small usb wifi dongles.

Can you suggest one?

[KeithFrench]

It certainly looks that way. Have you tried uninstalling it & reinstalling it? Do you have access to a USB WiFi adapter to test with?

[freelander303]

Hi Keith,

The only electrical equipment is the Talktalk telephone equipment and this has never caused any issues. The Eero is in the corner of the living room with a clear line of sight to my laptop, about 5 m away.

If I move the laptop nearer the Eero the signal doesn't get better.

Therr is no metal or glass in the area.

An old Windows 10 laptop gets full signal from the Eero even though it's upstairs.

My Wifes laptop gets strong signal at the otherr end of the settee but further from Eero.

Could it be a hardware problem with my laptop?

Mark

[KeithFrench]

Hi @freelander303 

I have looked at the information that you have sent me. You do have a very weak WiFi signal where your laptop is. Where is your eero located, and what is around it in terms of other electronic equipment, large metal objects, glass & water tanks etc? Where is the laptop and is that near any such obstacles?

[freelander303]

Zip files as requested

[KeithFrench]

Hi @freelander303 

You have not sent me the password, also you have not included the netsh command that I requested. Please can you PM both of these to me?

Thanks.

[Gliwmaeden2]

Actually was really just alerting you to the fact they were there, @KeithFrench!  - I see it's the password that has to be PM'd. 

A kneejerk reaction to seeing important files attached!

[KeithFrench]

Hi @Gliwmaeden2 

No, they weren't, you cannot attach files to a PM. This Zip file should be password protected & anyway, I am just about to download & remove it.

[Gliwmaeden2]

These were meant to be sent by PM to @KeithFrench.

[freelander303]

Here's the zip files you requested

[KeithFrench]

If it is from WiFi Scanner follow my instructions to create a password-protected zip file & attach it to your thread & PM me the password. For any other analyser, use the insert photos of the toolbar within a PM.

[freelander303]

Keith,

I've compiled the info and it's in a zipped folder.

How do I attach the folder to my PM reply?

Mark

[KeithFrench]

Hi Mark,

Do not worry about interpreting the results, I will do that for you. I will send a PM to you that contains a link for a guide of mine on Wi-Fi interference. It is quite long (about 30 pages), but you will probably only need to look at three or four pages in total. Initially look at the section called "Are you suffering from interference – prove it first". This is the first link in the table of contents. This section includes full details of free Wi-Fi analysers that I recommend for Windows, Windows phone, Android and Apple operating systems. However, I have no way of testing the Apple product. Select the analyser of your choice & my guide explains how to use it.

If you are using Wi-Fi Scanner, then please attach the zip file to this thread. As soon as I have downloaded it, I will remove the attachment from your post, to preserve your privacy.

With all other analysers, please follow my instructions below.

Collect the screenshots that I require and include them in your reply.

Please post the screenshots to me in a PM (to protect your privacy), which I have requested in my guide. No photos please as they can be difficult to read, because the text can get out of focus when zoomed in. Please ensure that the analyser window is maximised (if Windows) before taking the screenshots & upload them via the "Insert Photos" button (in a mobile browser it's the picture icon) on the post editor's toolbar with the Size parameter set to Large.

[freelander303]

Hi Keith, will you send the guide to me please? 

Do you need my email address?

Mark

[KeithFrench]

Slow speed, intermittent dropouts, breaks in the signal or no signal on some or all devices or no internet access might be caused by Wi-Fi interference from other local networks, which can also lead to a permanent reduction in speed. No ISP can be responsible for your local environment, this is mainly a byproduct of the popularity of Wi-Fi.

Generally speaking, the 2.4GHz band suffers a lot more from interference than the much faster 5GHz band, but the 2.4GHz one can sometimes have a better range, but this all depends on your local area.

In other words, I try to help you optimise your Wi-Fi connection. The next stage involves sending out a guide to you to help you get me some important diagnostic results so that I can analyse them for you and recommend changes to your router configuration to solve them.

I only send this out to people who request it.

Whilst the eero is supposed to manage Wi-Fi interference, if this is very bad, particularly in the 2.4GHz band, then it cannot do anything about it, no router can. The same goes for any router at that point. Other things that may then need to be investigated are its location within your property and the WiFi bands that you use.