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?

[KeithFrench]

You may not find anything with the AX210 chipset, as that is possibly not available with USB.

Yes, Wi-Fi 6 is the same as 802.11ax.

These days, I would look for:-

• WiFi6E (OK, the eeros support WiFi 6, not 6E, but it is a bit of future proofing). Plus, a WiFi 6E card is more likely to support the complete range of 5GHz channels.
• USB 3

This is NOT a recommendation, just an example:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-WiFi-Adapter-A8000/dp/B0BT7PYRLT/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=12L... 

[freelander303]

Thanks for your reply. Like you said USB adapters are a minefield.

I'll follow your advice and return it and do a bit more research on them. 

Am I correct that it's an 802.11ax adapter I'm looking for?

[KeithFrench]

You have bought a very old WiFi adapter, it does not support WiFi 6 as you thought it did. It is a slow variant of WiFi 5, as well. It only supports a link rate to the router of 433Mbps, whereas other WiFi cards work at least double that speed, with WiFi 6 even faster (at least 1201Mbps).

It certainly will not support the high channels that your eero is using. Personally, I would return it if you can for a refund & get something better, but of course whatever you decide is totally up to you. 

[freelander303]

It's a tp-link Archer T2U Nano.

There are some drivers to download but I haven't installed them as everything seemed to be working much better than it has been.

I don't know whether the software that comes with the driver package allows you to select 2.4 or 5ghz.

Thanks again for all your help.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @freelander303 

The simple answer to that question is yes & no (don't you just love a reply like that)! Let me elaborate. The client (your TP-Link adapter) decides which WiFi band it wants to use, normally based on the signal quality (signal strength/levels of WiFi interference) and in the case of the 5GHz band, the channel in use. I would guess that if the adapter is not using a similar chipset to the Intel AX210, for example, the TP-Link may not support the channel being used by the eero. This takes us straight back to the patch to reduce the eero to channels 36 - 48, or if you prefer the new 802.11ac numbering, this is all channel 42.

What is the model number of the TP-Link & I will try & check out the 5GHz channels that it supports, but that won't be until the morning now.

[freelander303]

I've obtained a tp-link usb adapter, disabled the internal network card and installed the adapter.

I'm immediately getting 96% quality and -52 dBm strength.  These are both on channel 4(6) on 2.4ghz band. 

It's also showing some hidden networks on channel 114(100) that appear to relate to the extender Eero in another room.

Also a couple of unidentified SSID's that I think must be neighbours. 

Is there a way to force the connection ont 5ghz or does Eero work that out for itself over time?

Thanks for your help.

[freelander303]

I've ordered a wifi usb adapter that claims to work on Wifi6 and 5ghz to see if that works.

It's really puzzling that only my laptop is affected.

I've tried old laptops and even they work ok.

Thanks for your help.

[KeithFrench]

If it is not the WiFi card in the laptop, I can't see what is going to so drastically reduce your signal strength, unless there is some sort of RF interference (not WiFi) from something in your property or nearby it.

[freelander303]

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't and there is no pattern to which one it connects to though most times it's channel 3.

[KeithFrench]

Channel 155 is the 5GHz band, does the laptop connect to it? If not, the patch is probably worth pursuing with TalkTalk on here. Channel 3 is the 2.4GHz band.

[freelander303]

Keith,

I've switched off and unplugged every electrical device in the room Grandstream box, TV, Talktalk set-top box, Amazon Dot/Alexa, settee recliners, TV aerial booster, surround sound box, landline portable phone, wifes laptop. 

It made no difference to the connection. Sometimes when I restart my laptop it goes to channel 155 on the WiFi Scanner and the connection quality is 100% , other times it's channel 3 and quality is low, currently hovering around 7%.

Did you say that the Eero patch wouldn't help?

I can order a wifi adapter and see if that helps.

[KeithFrench]

Hi @freelander303 

It can be a nightmare for USB ones, I would look to its chipset. Be careful; there are still quite a lot of older specification adapters available. I use a PCIe one that uses the Intel AX210 chipset, which is OK. 

[freelander303]

Hi Keith

The Eero is in the open but in a corner as thats the only place the cables for the Eero & phone will allow.

Ill try switching dwvices off and report back.

I'll need to buy a usb adapter but they're not expensive.  Are there any brands you wiukd suggest to buy or avoid?

[KeithFrench]

You could disable the Dot or eero built-in in the eero app. The simple way to prove a point though, is just to turn the Dot off for a while to see if it is having any effect. 

I am not worried how you have 3 eeros at all. However, you have proved by swapping them about that this is not an eero problem, leaving only the WiFi adapter in the laptop, or the airwaves between them. I know you have said in the past that the laptop works OK tethered to your mobile, so that is less likely, but not impossible. I would try to see if you could borrow a fairly modern USB adapter from someone. You have said in the past that the eero is in the position the old router was in & only telephone equipment nearby. Is the eero in a cupboard or something, it needs to be out in the open. Is the telephone a DECT cordless system and is it the base station that is nearby the router? If so, try turning the base station off for a while. Whilst I can't see it causing a problem, but try turning your Grandstream DVA off as well.

[freelander303]

Just a thought....

I have an Alexa Echo dot that the Eero mesh has recognised but it is auto disabled as the Eero app says I already have great coverage.

Could that affect anything? 

I don't know that I've done anything to add it to the mesh.

[freelander303]

I've tried 3 Eero 6's as the Gateway but only ever having 2 in use at any one time, resetting them before changing them round.

The problem occurred on all of them.

If you're wondering why I have 3 Eero's Talktalk insisted I didn't have enough coverage in spite of me telling them I don't live in a mansion.

[KeithFrench]

Once again you are forced on to the 2.4GHz band and the signal strength is very low. Have we tried a replacement eero before, I can't remember. You also need the patch for the 5GHz band, as your router was using channel 155 when you took the trace for me. I should be able to ask TT to arrange all of this when I know if you have had a replacement eero before.

[KeithFrench]

I'll look at them now.

[freelander303]

Here are the zipped folders, hopefully they work.

I recall you had to run 7 Zip in amdnistrator mode last time to open them.

Thanks

[KeithFrench]

The patch that you refer to @freelander303 only stops the eeros from using channel 155. The difference between what the laptop tells you is the channel and that on WiFi Scanner is all down to a change of how the channel numbers are displayed from 802.11ac (WiFi 5).

If you still have problems please PM me a new set of diagnostics in case something has changed.