WiFi range dropped in Windows 7 and Windows 10

Question

I had Windows 10, then 1 day my wifi range dropped. It shows only one signal when I'm on the same floor of the router, and no signal found when even go out of the door. For many other reasons (and for this one too) I switch from Windows 10 to Windows 7. But the problem is same. I tried to update the drivers but nothing happened.

It also sometimes shows Limited Access and a yellow triangle on network indicator, but all the other devices connected via that network (wired AWA wireless) showing Internet Access and also fine range. So it may not be the problem of the router. I can't even open the router page (192.168.0.1) when Limited Access shown. So I think It's not the internet, but the router is not connected to my system.

Here's my WIFIcard: Realtek RTL8723BE 802.11 bgn Wifi Adapter

What I do is troubleshoot the problem and after waiting 10-18 seconds my internet came back.

Is it my system's hardware problem or something else? Can I resolve this thing?

Answer 1

I list below some operations which might help. As there are many possibilities, it is best to try them sequentially, undoing the ones which didn't help.

1. Go to Activity Center (Windows+A) and turn off Location.

2. Update your network adapter drivers (let us know its model if you wish us to verify the driver).

3. Ensure that the Windows 10 driver is installed by running Device Manager, right-click on your wireless adapter and choose Uninstall, then reboot.

4. Set the wireless adapter to work in maximum performance mode by in Control Panel / Power Options, locate your current plan and click Change plan settings, click on Change advanced power settings, locate Wireless Adapter Settings and set the Power Saving Mode to Maximum Performance, finally click Apply and OK.
   Or, alternatively, you can just switch to High performance mode in Power Options.

5. Change the Sensibility value by in Device Manager, right-click on your wireless adapter and choose Properties, then in the Advanced tab:

   • Locate Roaming Sensitivity Level, Roaming Aggressiveness or Roam Tendency and set it to Highest or Aggressive.
   • Set Transmit Power or Transmit Power Level to Highest
   • Set Antenna Diversity to Auto
   • In Band Preference choose Prefer 802.11a if your wireless network is using 5GHz, or to Prefer 802.11g/b if using 2.4GHz.
   • In some cases, setting Antenna diversity to Auxiliary solved the problem.
   • Save changes and restart the computer.

6. Disabling the Bluetooth adapter sometimes fixes WiFi range problems.

7. Update your router firmware.

8. Change the router frequency to 5GHz may encounter less interference (if supported).

Answer 2

You have not specified what model WIFI card you are using, but it could very well be a WIFI driver issue - particularly if you are using a Realtek card.

Despite what others say, drivers can make a huge difference to WIFI performance. This is a well known issue with Linux - where its very common to install an OS and get the kind of abysmal WIFI performance you describe, and everything starts working correctly when you remove the old driver and use the correct one. (The same issue happens on Windows, as per this link)

Another interesting link shows an RTL8188CE WIFI adaptor having problems with Windows 10 by getting into a low power state after going in to sleep mode.

Answer 3

I also had the wifi range limitation problem on my Acer v3-471 with Windows 7.

I used Ubuntu try for internet access. With Ubuntu there was no range limitation or speed problem. I installed number of drivers from Acer and Atheros sites for Windows 7 but problems remained same.

When I google the problem I found a link where Mr.Kahlo kahlow said I might find a disconnected antenna connector of my wifi card.

After reconnecting the antenna the problem is solved.