Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Win 10 = weak Wifi

Sep 13, 2015 11:07AM PDT

I have a workstation with wifi connection. It has worked flawless with Windows 7.

When I did a clean windows 7 install and upgraded to Windows 10, the signal strength varies extremely. Even with two meters between router and wifi card, it might loose connection.

I have tried two netcards and two routers. No problems before, huge problems afterwards.

I can see a lot of posts on the net with similar problems. Any advice?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
You wrote a lot about the OS but nothing about drivers.
Sep 13, 2015 11:46AM PDT

Are you relying on Microsoft for drivers? A lot of folk new to Windows try that.

- Collapse -
Answer
The manufacturer of the components also
Sep 14, 2015 5:10AM PDT

design the drivers. MS uses generic drivers but the proper drivers are supllied by the maker of the component.

- Collapse -
I agree.
Sep 14, 2015 8:46AM PDT

Generic drivers are there to let the machine limp along until the person that installed the OS has time to get the correct driver if it's out.

- Collapse -
Answer
Drivers tried
Sep 14, 2015 11:43AM PDT

I have tried downloading drivers from suppliers homepages. Same issue.

From what I am told, Win 10 has the same driver arcitechture as older Windows and as such should a Win 7 driver be perfectly ok.

I guess, that some MS is teasing behind?

- Collapse -
I'm not there to check your work or router.
Sep 14, 2015 12:13PM PDT
- Collapse -
Channels on router
Sep 15, 2015 7:12AM PDT

You must clarify this a bit. Can I set both router and netcard to European channels? I am pretty newbie with this option.....

- Collapse -
Either you can or not?
Sep 15, 2015 7:25AM PDT

It's your choice on the router. The netcard usually finds the channel so no, so far not one client has been able to manually set the channel. It's more often called the region which gives the options of what channels can be used.

I don't mean to upset you but this is exactly why WiFi needs to evolve. We are asking everyone to be network specialists.

The details are missing in this discussion. If you had come back and shared what channel the router was on, I could have focused on the client region setting or dismissed it.

- Collapse -
Problem still exists
Sep 15, 2015 9:37AM PDT

Just tried another couple of channels (6 and 4). No other activity on these channels, but same problem

- Collapse -
OK, not the channel issue.
Sep 15, 2015 9:51AM PDT

I'm working without full details so what's next?

1. Distance. I never go more than say 40 feet from the router without getting complaints. For Smart TVs it's half that and since consumers want it to just work, we use wired or powerline networking. Callbacks are too expensive.
2. WPA WPA2? Which? Certainly don't use both and never WPA.

3. Go get WiFi Analyzer on an Android phone to see what else is near the router and client device.

4. Forget 802.11n for a test run. Go with 802.11g and try channels 1,5,11.

- Collapse -
PS. WiFi Analyzer picture.
Sep 15, 2015 10:03AM PDT