Odd wifi issue
 

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[Closed] Odd wifi issue

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I'm experiencing an odd wifi issue, can anyone help?

I've got a 18 month/ 2 year old Win10 tablet / netbook which doesn't want to connect to my home wifi - only 2g, not 5g.

The wifi password is definitely correct - if I put an incorrect one in, I get the wrong password warning, put the correct one in then it tries to connect for 10s then get a "unable to connect to this network" warning.

If I try to connect netbook to either of my two phones as hotspots, no issue connecting to internet.

If I go into router settings (192.168 etc) and unsecure the wifi I can connect no bother.

Router was on WPA auto. I noted my phones were using WPA2-psk security so changed the home wifi to that format, netbook connected for a few mins OK then dropped off, now won't reconnect.

Wiped netbook and did a fresh install of win10 using system re-set yesterday (took all morning) and wifi worked ok afterwards for the day, all updates seemed to load fine.

Turn on netbook today, and back to same old wifi connection issue...

Phones / work laptop / wife's work laptop all connect to home wifi no bother

I've not reached the limit of my very limited IT knowledge and can only deduce that it is haunted.

Can anyone give any hints as to what may be the issue...?


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 12:57 pm
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Slight update, over lunch the netbook connected to the internet for 10 mins, browsed the internet fine, managed to check for any windows updates but randomly disconnected itself and now refuses to reconnect...

pain the arris!


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 1:42 pm
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See if there's power-saving on the wireless NIC, disable it if so.

Are you using any "home security" software aside from Windows Defender?


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 1:47 pm
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See if there’s power-saving on the wireless NIC, disable it if so.

Are you using any “home security” software aside from Windows Defender?

No other security, it's a virgin Win10 install, bar the addition of any updates Win10 did automatically, Trainer Road and Opera browser


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 2:07 pm
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Power management, then.

Might be worth checking for updated drivers on the manufacturer's website and the chipset manufacturer's.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 2:11 pm
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Do all your devices support 5GHz ?
Are all your other devices connecting to the 5GHz network?

If they do turn off 2.4GHz support on the router.

If your netbook doesnt support 5GHz use a different SSID for 2.4GHz , that might fix it.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 2:15 pm
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What router? As said splitting the networks and changing the SSID can sort issues.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 2:29 pm
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I read the OP as though the router only supports 2.4GHz? It's kinda ambiguously worded though.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 2:29 pm
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Has the router been set up to apply access rules to certain devices..eg like limiting kids access to internet after 8pm etc?


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 3:21 pm
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I read the OP as though the router only supports 2.4GHz? It’s kinda ambiguously worded though.

My apologies, the router - a virgin media standard one, can do 2 & 5g. phones/laptop etc can connect to both 5 and 2g. Netbook can only "see" 2g. All other devices (x6) can all connect to the 2g network no problem, but default to the 5g.

Netbook is only device which cannot reliably connect to virgin router but no issues connecting to phones hotspot.

No rules set up for router for kids etc.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 3:36 pm
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Double check the location settings on the netbook and make sure it thinks that it's in the UK (or at least Europe).

It could be that the channel used by your router is one that it's not allowed to connect to.


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 3:46 pm
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So, I have done a factory default reset on router - no joy.

Changed the channel from auto/1 to 13 and netbook connected for a few mins. Now back offline and won't reconnect.

netbook's location is set to the UK. No onboard gps to give better location


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 4:04 pm
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This may just jinx it, but I changed the SSID on the 2g network - 15 mins later and we're still online. So far so good!


 
Posted : 30/03/2020 4:22 pm
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Ok, so the changing the SSID worked for nearly a day.

After browsing the net ok yesterday/this morning, the netbook disconnected and now will not connect again.

Back to square 1


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:17 pm
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Did you try what I suggested?


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:29 pm
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The driver updates Cougar?

If so, they claim to be up to date


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:32 pm
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Power.


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:34 pm
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How would I view / change those settings?


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:37 pm
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Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections (or hit Start and type "network connections")

You should see an old-style (pre-W10) window with all your network adapters. Right-click the wireless NIC, pick Properties. Hit the Configure button.

Select the Power Management tab. Take the tick out of the box which says "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:42 pm
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Tahnks Cougar, I don't have a power tab - options are;
General / Advanced/ Driver / Details/ Events.

Under advanced the further options are;
Antenna Diversity / bandwidth / Multi Chanel Concurrent / Roaming sensitivity level / wake on magic packet / wake on pattern Match / Wireless mode.

None of these seem to relate to power saving.


 
Posted : 31/03/2020 12:55 pm

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