One device much slower than others on home wifi - why?

asus2016 said:

Quick question. I am unable to ping google.com from my work computer. However, adding -4 to the command allows this to happen. I realize this forces the command to use ipv4 and not v6. Does this have something to do with what you want me to try with the slow PC once I get home?
I hate myself for thinking this, but maybe we're getting close to a solution.

(1) Were the last two ping summaries in post #58 from the troubled PC?

(2) In your original fault description you had described sub-par download performance. Was this fault more specifically describing the poor speed test results or the actual downloads of files?


Please clarify your question above, show the command line that functioned successfully. You can redact any IP details if required.

Network rules in most commercial environments can be tweaked into different states, anything is possible. My former employer blocked icmp on their entire National business network but not on the Engineering side, thankfully.

W10 Tweaker said:

(1) Were the last two ping summaries in post #58 from the troubled PC?

Yes, the two ping summaries at the very conclusion of Post 58 were from the slow/troubled PC.

W10 Tweaker said:

(2) In your original fault description you had described sub-par download performance. Was this fault more specifically describing the poor speed test results or the actual downloads of files?

Good question. The "symptom" is that the computer is just gallingly slow - often - on the web. I'm not one of those people who checks speed - ever - as long as my user experience is tolerable. When I feel like things are taking a while I'll run a speed test. And, on this computer at least, yeah, it takes my breath away to see it getting 0.5-3.0 as typical download speeds, when everything else in the house is in the 15-100+ range.

BUT... web performance, even streaming from youtube, is often manageable. The straw breaking the camel's back is when trying to download/install new software, the file download is so slow as to render it unusable. I noticed this a month or so ago trying to fix his phone from itunes. Itunes needed to be updated, and the updates were taking hours. Earlier this week, when I tried running the driver install for the Intel 7260 card, I started the download on his computer, then went upstairs, downloaded the driver installer onto a thumb drive in seconds, took care of a few other things, went downstairs, and the download on his computer was about 25% done - versus taking seconds on my computer, after starting five minutes later there, and ending probably 10 minutes before I resumed on the slow computer.

Just not acceptable.

W10 Tweaker said:

Please clarify your question above, show the command line that functioned successfully. You can redact any IP details if required.

Is this what you mean? Shot from my work laptop, on my office network.

W10 Tweaker said:

We may be able to squeak a slight improvement and I'm suspicious that the problem PC is not optimized and/or has a marginal internet signal. A bit more exploration might give a slight improvement but don't ever think it will even come close to 802.11ac .

From the slow computer, just now, ping google.com -4 -t summary:

Ping statistics for 172.217.6.14:
Packets: Sent = 82, Received = 82, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 33ms, Maximum = 418ms, Average = 88ms

Speedguide test, over Jacksonville server, right after that:



Turn off ipv6:



Run speedguide test again from same server - darn:



- - - Updated - - -

Okay, and the last requested piece of the puzzle to this point, which is my wife's ping google.com -4 -t results. Hers is, other than the slow computer, the only other wi-fi connected Windows device in our house. Her results:

Ping statistics for 172.217.0.14:
Packets: Sent = 64, Received = 64, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 30ms, Maximum = 49ms, Average = 34ms

So is your wife's wifi connected computer connected to the same wifi signal as your slow PC?

Disabling IPv6 wasn't supposed to be the magic solution, it's about reducing the variables in order simplify troubleshooting. Managing any complex fault is often easier to resolve by reducing variables.

I'm concerned with the problem PCs unstable connection performance.

Here's a theoretical test for you to ponder. Get another PC that is performing well on speed tests and ping tests, disable IPv6 on it as well. Then while connected to the same wifi signal, perform the same ping tests, speed tests and compare the results. Use the netsh wlan show interface on each PC to confirm they're both using the same wifi signal. Then the only item remaining will be the wireless card in the problem PC and the PC itself. Does that make sense?

W10 Tweaker said:

So is your wife's wifi connected computer connected to the same wifi signal as your slow PC?

Disabling IPv6 wasn't supposed to be the magic solution, it's about reducing the variables in order simplify troubleshooting. Managing any complex fault is often easier to resolve by reducing variables.

I'm concerned with the problem PCs unstable connection performance.

Here's a theoretical test for you to ponder. Get another PC that is performing well on speed tests and ping tests, disable IPv6 on it as well. Then while connected to the same wifi signal, perform the same ping tests, speed tests and compare the results. Use the netsh wlan show interface on each PC to confirm they're both using the same wifi signal. Then the only item remaining will be the wireless card in the problem PC and the PC itself. Does that make sense?

The router has a 2.4 band and a 5.0 band.

Connected to the 2.4 band are the slow computer, the thermostat, and two iphones (that I think, when the users were looking for the network, just grabbed the slower band - no real big deal).

Connected to the 5.0 band are my wife's computer and my phone.

It's not exactly the same, but I just ran a speedtest from one of the 2.4-band phones, and it got about 29 Mbps on wifi.

I'll keep poking - and love the idea bones you throw - but it does look inevitable that it's the card that needs replacement.

- - - Updated - - -

Another mildly material piece of information.

I remembered this morning to check the Windows update history on my computer and the slow computer, both of which are 64-bit Windows 10 machines.

Didn't compare point-by-point, but both had two minor May updates; mine installed 5/12 and slow computer installed 5/13.

The only difference I saw in my quick check was 2020-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems (KB4528760). Mine was installed on 1/14. Slow computer, mentioned that a restart was required - today - to complete the installation. The computer is restarted once or more per day. So I am guessing that this update downloaded, slowly, very slowly, for four months before being ready to install (all the Windows updates on that computer are done automatically; no manual intervention).

So this confirms the PC has been slow for quick a while, but the presence of the May updates indicates that, however inelegantly, it's surviving.

As much as I enjoy the adventure and we're learning things, we haven't resolved this PCs difficulty yet and we can only guess a replacement wireless card is the solution.

If it were me in this situation, here's how I would proceed;

My first choice would be to locate an Ethernet cable long enough to connect the problem PC to the router. A minimum specification of cat 5E or better. This is a temporary connection, toss it across the floor and block with chairs or other where required. They're always useful to have available and only $15 for 100'.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/CableVant...lack/708419018

This would allow a proper assessment of the PC and possibly to correct deficiencies promptly with tools like dism /online, if required. I use an Ethernet connection when building or testing PCs.


My second choice would be to temporarily relocate the problem PC closer to the router so as you can connect using Ethernet. I know it might be a PITA but investing this short amount of time will result in a much faster assessment of this PC.

Once the PC's performance has been deemed sufficient, you can decide if having the wireless card upgraded is preferred over possibly using an AC type wifi range extender with Ethernet. And connect the PC using Ethernet.

Is there value in upgrading an older PC versus using a less expensive band-aid solution that could also serve to extend your wifi for all users, that's your decision to make.

Thanks to W10 Tweaker especially, plus the many others who worked with me through six pages of questions and back-and-forth.

I am happy to say that the computer is back from the shop now and working fine.

They confirmed that their original bill-of-materials for the computer included an Intel 7260 wireless card, but that I was correct in saying it was a Dell 1397 installed. So they put a 7260 and updated driver in, and the computer is getting about 50 Mbps download and 7-10 upload.

No charge. They said they made a mistake 3 1/2 years ago by putting the wrong card in. I left a good tip.

asus2016 said:

Thanks to W10 Tweaker especially, plus the many others who worked with me through six pages of questions and back-and-forth.
I am happy to say that the computer is back from the shop now and working fine.
They confirmed that their original bill-of-materials for the computer included an Intel 7260 wireless card, but that I was correct in saying it was a Dell 1397 installed. So they put a 7260 and updated driver in, and the computer is getting about 50 Mbps download and 7-10 upload.
No charge. They said they made a mistake 3 1/2 years ago by putting the wrong card in. I left a good tip.

Excellent news and you're most welcome for the assist. Your attention to detail made everything much easier. Happy high speed adventures.

Michael

asus2016 said:

...They said they made a mistake 3 1/2 years ago by putting the wrong card in. I left a good tip.

That is one really good and helpful shop, I'm sure they'll be your first port of call next time you need a new machine