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Question

Help! Desktop internet connection dropping!

by Oct 30, 2012 2:28PM PDT

Hey guys, I have just recently built my first PC and I'm having some issues with the internet on it. I don't have an ethernet cable long enough or wired to reach my room from the modem (about 40 feet away) so I purchased a micro USB transmitter to connect wirelessly. I noticed immediately that the download rates were slowed down dramatically compared to my laptop which was loading webpages lightning fast on the same network. I have since troubleshot the transmitter by using it on my laptop and disabling the internal antenna and it works perfectly fine on the laptop so this leads me to believe it's something with the desktop that is causing an issue. I'm running

ASRock H77 Pro4-M Motherboard
Intel Core i5-3570K Processor
MSI GeForce GTX 660Ti GPU

If there's any additional information needed to diagnose this problem I'll be sure to provide it as needed.

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Answer
Sounds more or less normal
by Oct 30, 2012 11:51PM PDT

Sounds more or less normal. Wireless is in no way a substitute for wired when it comes to speed, especially if there are others on the same wireless network.

If you're in the US, my advice would be to go to the Monoprice website and just buy yourself a 50ft ethernet cable, maybe even 75ft so you have some slack to go behind furniture and generally keep the cable out of the way where people may trip on it.

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Connectivity dropping to 2kbps at times
by shepherdactual Oct 31, 2012 3:35AM PDT

The internet is completely dropping out though. All of the other laptops on the network are working fine. My question is if the motherboard or something is the issue

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If it's wireless, can be normal.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Oct 31, 2012 3:37AM PDT

As you find more folk trying to use WiFi exclusively you hear more complaints like this.

WiFi is a shared space and if some other device is not playing along among a long list of other reasons, complaints do happen.
Bob

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Since you mention building it ...
by Edward ODaniel Oct 31, 2012 1:29PM PDT

I'll assume a desktop model and what I would suggest is to REPLACE the micro USB wireless adapter with a paddle card model that you can install inside the PC. USB adapters are fine sometimes but often their performance leaves something to be desired such as a better antenna.

Newegg is a good place to get them although you can probably find them in a nearby office supply. I have personally found that for a home computer the cheaper ones like Rosewill makes work just fine.

Look through what is offered at this link:
http://www.newegg.com/Wireless-Adapters/SubCategory/ID-31

I have had good luck with these cheap ones:
For PCI buss http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166054
and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166011

For PCI express http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166073
and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166047

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