wireless adaptor

Heedtheadvice

The problem isn't with my router, its the PC. I keep having to reset/repair the wireless network adapter on the PC. molerate is right it is to do with a windows 10 update.

but you are considering a high gain antenna?

That indicates you think it might be signal strength issue. That is Router/PC interface not PC that is where you state the problem is.
That was really the query raised about signal level measurement either generally with the signal strength indicator or the software suggested. Easy to do and would prove if it was signal strength/interference and then a high gain antenna might be useful.

Do the diagnosis first and save a lot of trouble/expense?
However if you have to reset/repair the wireless adaptor then that might indicate it is not signal strength that is the problem (a high gain antenna would probably be wasted - do the diagnosis) A windows update would seem unlikely to make the network adaptor fail after a day or so following reset. Much more likely a wireless hardware poor performance and dropping off over time ( have seen that before with the radio frequency side of things).

Clarify what is going wrong? when it is failing measure signal strength. Do your reset/repair. Measure again.
A difference in level : adaptor problem.
No difference in level but signal level is high(ish): not a signal strength issue but might interference and possibly combined with auto channel selection between PC and router (use the software suggested - does your router auto select the wifi channel or fixed/manual selection?). No point in looking at methods to increase signal level (high gain antenna or repeater not required).
Note very poor signal strength or interference or a combination of those even intermittently will cause lots of digital wifi comms errors making it seem that the speed is very slow owing to need to keep on retransmitting data packets till 'good' ones are transmitted/received.

ooooh getting well past an old engineers bedtime! Better get somebody younger to check my logic? Pass the Horlicks please and just a dram or two in it tonight.......

bluesnake

be careful....

that it is the wifi adapter and not your router.
that you do no have things like a baby monitor, wireless door bell, cameras, or even an old microwave oven as some work on 2.4G and Issider will not find them and they will obliterate your signal.
that you do not have too many other using the same channel
that the router works for a while then drops the connection, especially on thinks like torrents could be the NAT table, and you cant fix this.
that you are not uploading, as this will greatly effect your downloads.
that you are using the latest drives and all updates have been applied. Visit the manufacturers site for the driver or the chipset supplier.

next time you PC goes down check the connection by using your phone and wifi. If both phone and PC are not working then it is router or isp. If the phone can surf then it is your PC.

Now there is a bit of free software for Android phoned called 'Ping&DNS' that may assist you, in tracking down reliance. the first number to ping is the gateway of the router, the second is something like BBC.CO.UK

Want an excellent router ADSL router for about £30 then look on ebay for a Draytek Vigor 2820n, or even better and more £ 2830n

of your wifi on your laptop is bad then I would choose a model from here http://www.wirelesshack.org/best-kali-linux-compatible-usb-adapter-dongles-2016.html. I have the old spec alfa AWUS036H and it is fantastic. At work I pick up about 10 wifi signals on my phone, but the alfa pick up over 25

You also get powerline/homeplugs with built in wifi adapter.

iammumtoone

Heedtheadvice wrote: »

but you are considering a high gain antenna?

Only because signal strength is not great in this house (so would like to keep as much of it as I can) but I know this is not the issue. It is problem with the adapter as every time I do the repair it works faster for a while then just goes back to how it was and needs repairing again. It worked fine before windows 10 decided to do an update.

I only mentioned getting a high gain as there are loads of different ones at difference prices, I now know as well as comparing prices to compare high gain something I wasn't aware of before this thread.

It is definitely the PC the wifi works fine on everything else when the PC is going slow, and the PC works better straight after I have done a repair. It does have the latest driver.

iammumtoone

thank you to everyone for your help but I think (hope) it has been resolved :j

Windows 10 updated again a few days ago and since then the internet has got a lot faster. I am able to visit sites again that previously wouldn't load, anything I had to buy via ebay/PayPal I had to do via my phone but the PC connects to PayPal again now.

It is taking a bit of getting used to, I am sitting here waiting for the pages to load but then realise they are already on the screen :rotfl:

Robisere

iammumtoone wrote: »

Looking for recommendations for a wireless adapter, at least I think thats what I need

My wifi connection is useless on my PC I keep having to re-set the wireless network. I am fed up with it now and just want it to work. Happy to pay for something that will help, its too far away to use a cable.

I have looked and read loads of reviews but have no idea which are any good. Does it matter can I just pick anyone or is there a brand that is recommended? I don't want to waste my money and buy twice, rather spend a bit more in the first place to get something reliable.

If it matters I am using windows 10

Thanks

By "use a cable" do you mean an Ethernet cable? I have a 30 Metre Cat 6 Ethernet cable in my loft, runs from the router 2 rooms and 3 walls away to this desktop. The maximum length of Ethernet cable that does not suffer any signal loss, is 100 Metres.
This is what I bought, any length supplied, ad is for 30 M:

http://www.cablemonkey.co.uk/cat6-rj45-patch-leads/41845-long-length-cat6-utp-rj45-patch-leads.html#/58-length-30mt/10-color-black

It is really good quality stuff. I nominate Cat 6, because that will give you Gigabit speeds from the router if the router supplies Gigabit speed.

esuhl

Robisere wrote: »

It is really good quality stuff. I nominate Cat 6, because that will give you Gigabit speeds from the router if the router supplies Gigabit speed.

There's no point using Cat6 if you only need gigabit Ethernet. Cat 5e cable does that, and it's cheaper and more flexible.