Laptop constantly drops Wi-fi

[CS1983]

Searched through my email to see if I had done the smart thing and send myself the commands that worked. Unfortunately hadn't but I did find this chat transcript with a buddy:

So weird occurrence with the computers yesterday... both XXXXX's and my laptop wouldn't get online. BUT iPad could and iPhone could, so router issue was out. Also, could ping, tracert, etc. Reset winsock and Netsh whatever...
no dice
But here it gets weirder
I was able to access internet from my laptop through VM using NAT

the winsock reset had worked for a while... but the VM solution always worked.

Which leads to the question: why?

I'm wondering if it's a HIPS issue and if VM somehow bypassed HIPS, but I dunno how much of the hardware and networking features of the host are shared with the VM. Would be an interesting lab if able to be consistently re-created.

Are you using Norton AV or something? Might try turning that off to test, or otherwise looking at logs to see if it's blocking outbound traffic.

[Jimmy]

Also, I’ll have to look it up but there’s an app that lets you see a graphical representation of all of the WiFi signals where you are. There were about twenty of them in my home and a large portion of them kind of overlap each other. Made some setting adjustments in my router and now I’m not competing with everyone else’s signal and my internet works great.

Not sure if any of that helps you. I’ll try and find the name of that app. Might be after Christmas though.

The app I use is Wifi Analyzer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...analyzer&hl=en

The router we have from Xfinity sucks for wifi. I resorted to running ethernet cable to the more demanding devices (desktops, smart TV, gaming console, etc.); I realize this isn't an option for all. It doesn't help that our router is on the top level of the home and most everything is below/downstairs from it... last time I read up on this topic, as a general rule, it's best to have the wifi hotspot low, and the devices above/higher.

Wifi routers are definitely not created equal.

[Irving]

I've already changed the power settings, and I'm not using Norton anti-virus. I'll probably go through the steps to update the drivers next. I don't think it has anything to with the router channel since nothing else drops.

[CS1983]

So you’re running not running a 3rd party AV, just Defender?

[Irving]

Hmmm, it appears so. I thought I might have had MacAffee on here, I just knew it wasn't Norton. Sorry, I thought you were specifically asking about Norton.

[Gman]

Wow. No shortage of hits on Google for "Thinkpad W520 drops wifi" going back to 2011.

I've also used the Android Wifi Analyzer app for many years to find the best channels for my gear within my home and in dealing with neighbors. Sure would be nice if the neighbors understood that 1, 6, and 11 are the only channels that don't overlap on 2.4GHz.

This is Lenovo's troubleshooting guidance: Frequently drop or intermittent wireless connection Window 7, 8 and 10

[68Charger]

Good suggestions so far, I'll add looking at event viewer on your laptop, see if there are any events that coincide with when it drops... could provide a clue if the wifi "card" is resetting, or if the software or drivers are crashing.

[Irving]

Wow. No shortage of hits on Google for "Thinkpad W520 drops wifi" going back to 2011.

I've also used the Android Wifi Analyzer app for many years to find the best channels for my gear within my home and in dealing with neighbors. Sure would be nice if the neighbors understood that 1, 6, and 11 are the only channels that don't overlap on 2.4GHz.

This is Lenovo's troubleshooting guidance: Frequently drop or intermittent wireless connection Window 7, 8 and 10

I came to post the link in the above post. It was the one I found earlier. I just wanted to run it by everyone to see if there is one of those options to try first, or one to avoid. I've already done the power management thing.

The event log is a good idea, but I don't know how to check that.

[TFOGGER]

Do you have a google chromecast or home device on your network, with a TP Link router? I came across issues on my own network, and there is apparently a bug...


http://variety.com/2018/digital/news...es-1202665282/

[CS1983]

Method 1 of resetting TCP/IP stack seems like something to not do if you aren't aware of how to set it back. I'm not a fan of changing configs when I have no idea how to undo it if everything goes bad.

The settings it will change aren't absolutely necessary, but I'm reminded of the scene in the Goonies where one dude wants to move a rock and Martha Plimpton's character says, "God put that rock there for a reason." Default settings are often not a bad thing.

I'd try Method 7 first, and then once you do it, if it works, change it back to 802.11n and see if that works.

Question -- does this work on any other wifi? Have you tried making your phone a hotspot and see if that works?