PCI WiFi card issues

jabales · 03 Nov 2019

Device Name: Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
Product Name: ASUS PCE-AC55BT
Windows Version: x64 Windows 10 Home Ver.1903(OS Build 18362.449)

So, my issue started occurring after installing some optional windows updates. The updates were; 2019-10 Cumulative Update for windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based systems (KB4522355), and 2019-10 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for windows 10 version 1903 for x64 (KB4522741). Since then I've been experiencing both drops in the WiFi signal and it's speed. The issue is remedied temporarily(~2hrs) by toggling the WiFi on and off in Windows. I've tried reinstalling the device software and doing a network reset in windows, but still the issue remains. I've tested other computers on the network whilst my system is experiencing these issues and their connection speeds seem to be unaffected.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

EDIT:
I've attached some pics of speedtest results of when the issue is present(Capture2) and when it is normal(Capture1). From looking at prior test results from when the issue was present it would appear as though the upload speed is largely unaffected. Even though in the second pic the upload speed is a bit lower, though that is because it takes my upload speed longer to throttle up completely in some instances than others.

EDIT: Sorry if the images are hard to make sense of. Leftmost number is ping, middle is download speed in Mb/s, and right is upload in Mb/s. Disregard the '< 50'.

Samuria · 03 Nov 2019

Have you checked to see if any new network has come on close to you often a new router on the same channel can cause this

jabales · 03 Nov 2019

Samuria said:

Have you checked to see if any new network has come on close to you often a new router on the same channel can cause this

Yeah there seems to be another network on the same 5g channel(ch.155) as my router. My WiFi analyzer app on my phone cant ID the signal that has near(sometimes greater) the same strength as my home network. I believe windows IDs it as 'Hidden Network', though this has been intermittently present on my connections list for some time and hasn't caused me any issues.There is also another network that does have an actual SSID that is significantly weaker than my own network and it appears to be on the same channel as mine as well. Also for some reason I'm seeing duplicate SSIDs for my network as well.

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Samuria · 03 Nov 2019

So try changing you router channel if you have 2+5g it will show two networks

bro67 · 03 Nov 2019

Speedtest results will vary on the test you use, the traffic between you and the test server. Helps to know who your ISP is, what the mfg and model of the Gateway/Wireless Access Point that you are using, the results from netsh wlan show all.

jabales · 03 Nov 2019

Samuria said:

So try changing you router channel if you have 2+5g it will show two networks

I did. That seemed to fix the connectivity issue. Both networks are 5ghz connections according to windows.
SSIDs: 'WIN_704287' and 'WIN704287 2'
^ notice there's no descriptor that would indicate which be 5 and which be 2.4
EDIT: Alos my router has no mention of WIN_704287 2 SSID. I just have the default and Guest. All of which are 5ghz. Actually have no settings that allow me to manage the SSID for the 2.4ghz band. The router will let me change the setting for the 2.4ghz but, like I said it doesn't display the SSID.

Router info: Actiontec T3200 | Support | Windstream

- - - Updated - - -

bro67 said:

Speedtest results will vary on the test you use, the traffic between you and the test server. Helps to know who your ISP is, what the mfg and model of the Gateway/Wireless Access Point that you are using, the results from netsh wlan show all.

Thanks, I'll be sure to add this info next time I have network issues. Though, as it stands now the only problem I have is the fact that I have two 5ghz SSIDs for the same router. I think I'll try a network reset and see if that helps anything.

bro67 · 03 Nov 2019

A hidden SiD can be a utility unit for reading sensors for residential/commercial or even status of a device. I use Channel 3 for 2.4ghz and channel 149 for 5ghz on my Access Point. You can have the same SSID show up in a scan for the same device. It all depends on the software handling the Router.

Use 40mhz Channel Bandwidth for 2.4ghz and only G/N or just N if available. For 5ghz, use 80mhz channel bandwidth and N/AC. Since they have now started making the two bands a single through Band Steering (The router automatically will dump devices from the 2.4ghz to 5ghz and vice-versa, which can be a headache at times). If you can disable Band Steering and set your own channel with separate SSID’s for the two bands, do so. I use _2 at the end of the SSID for my 2.4ghz band and just the SSID without anything at the end of it for 5ghz (i.e. home_1081 for 5ghz, home_1981_2 for 2.4ghz, home1981 for the 5ghz of my ISP provided eMTA).

jabales · 03 Nov 2019

bro67 said:

A hidden SiD can be a utility unit for reading sensors for residential/commercial or even status of a device. I use Channel 3 for 2.4ghz and channel 149 for 5ghz on my Access Point. You can have the same SSID show up in a scan for the same device. It all depends on the software handling the Router.

Use 40mhz Channel Bandwidth for 2.4ghz and only G/N or just N if available. For 5ghz, use 80mhz channel bandwidth and N/AC. Since they have now started making the two bands a single through Band Steering (The router automatically will dump devices from the 2.4ghz to 5ghz and vice-versa, which can be a headache at times). If you can disable Band Steering and set your own channel with separate SSID’s for the two bands, do so. I use _2 at the end of the SSID for my 2.4ghz band and just the SSID without anything at the end of it for 5ghz (i.e. home_1081 for 5ghz, home_1981_2 for 2.4ghz, home1981 for the 5ghz of my ISP provided eMTA).

Thanks, my issue is now effectively solved. Just a question, should I at all be concerned with the Hidden Network? It only shows up intermittently and has very high signal strength. Any possibility it could be malicious?.

Berton · 03 Nov 2019

jabales said:

Thanks, my issue is now effectively solved. Just a question, should I at all be concerned with the Hidden Network? It only shows up intermittently and has very high signal strength. Any possibility it could be malicious?.

I show a Hidden Network on my list of Wireless Routers nearby but it has poor connectivity and is Secured. Since my Router is also Secured I don't worry about it. It could just be a Router that was named that way when set up.