My laptop is going deaf.

brianposter

Something has happened to my HP laptop which requires that it be close to the router to receive my wifi signal. Is this a simple hardware fault or are there adjustments that can be made ?

400ixl

Could be that the aerial on the wifi card has become disconnected, or that the card itself is failing. They are relatively cheap to buy and usually user replaceable as long as it is a standard laptop and not one of the 2-in-1's or other sealed device.

flaneurs_lobster

Assuming that the wifi signal is OK for other devices (so not a router issue) then it's likely to be a laptop hardware issue. 

The wifi antenna on laptops is routed through the hinge and up the side(s) of the screen. Any obvious damage to the hinges?

HillStreetBlues

You can buy a USB Wifi dongle cheaply these days.

FarmerHorse

Try restarting the router. In the old days it used to be worth doing a manual scan to see if there were other wifi signals from nearby on the same or similar channel numbers, but newer routers should assign channels automatically. As a start point it’s worth a go before you start buying gear that may not solve the underlying problem. 

J_B

Maybe download Inssider to try to find the best channel for your house?

https://www.metageek.com/downloads/inssider-win/

brianposter

My spare computer picks up the wifi signal without a problem so I suspect that the "aerial broken at the hinge" theory is correct. I will find a dongle as the first attempt at remediation.

brianposter

Problem solved by the USB wifi dongle. Thanks, everybody.