Wifi connection interrupted every few seconds

Try3 said:

Rick,

If it's any help, the test is whether or not it can find
http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt
in response to a DNS request & an HTTP query.
Network Connection Status Icon - MSLearn

This can be emulated using

Code:

$ErrorActionPreference = 'silentlycontinue'
$WWWTest = Invoke-WebRequest http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt 
If ($WWWTest -match 'Microsoft Connect Test') {$WWWConnection = $true} Else {$WWWConnection = $false}
$WWWConnection

which has an output variable $WWWConnection [True, False]
Attachment 388014


Denis

Many thanks for the info, link and script, Denis. Very useful.

As it turns out, for the past hour or two, my internet connection has been looking good, as evidenced by the concentric quarter circles. So none of these tests were run with the globe icon showing. Maybe my laptop saw I was connected to Tenforums and decided to go on good behavior.

First test:
Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Try the new cross-platform PowerShell https://aka.ms/pscore6 PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> Test-NetConnection -InformationLevel "Detailed"
ComputerName : internetbeacon.msedge.net
RemoteAddress : 13.107.4.52
NameResolutionResults : 13.107.4.52
InterfaceAlias : wgpia0
SourceAddress : 10.23.198.29
NetRoute (NextHop) : 0.0.0.0
PingSucceeded : True
PingReplyDetails (RTT) : 38 ms
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0>

2nd test:
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> ping internetbeacon.msedge.net

Pinging ds-c-0003.c-msedge.net [13.107.4.52] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=46ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 13.107.4.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 46ms, Average = 38ms
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0>

3rd tests:
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> ping internetbeacon.msedge.net

Pinging ds-c-0003.c-msedge.net [13.107.4.52] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=46ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 13.107.4.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 46ms, Average = 38ms
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> ping 13.107.4.52

Pinging 13.107.4.52 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=121
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=43ms TTL=121

Ping statistics for 13.107.4.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 39ms, Maximum = 57ms, Average = 45ms
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0>

I didn't really understand how to run the code for the MS connect test. I tried to enter http://www.msftconnecttest.com/connecttest.txt in my browser. All I got was a black page with "Microsoft Connect Test" at the top.

Randysea said:

As it turns out, for the past hour or two, my internet connection has been looking good, as evidenced by the concentric quarter circles. So none of these tests were run with the globe icon showing. Maybe my laptop saw I was connected to Tenforums and decided to go on good behavior.

Those results are good... and consistent. It would be helpful to know where in the world you are. I'm in the south-west of the UK so my average 'ping' response times both by IP address and by name to MS' endpoint in Washington, US, are what I would expect.

Yours are a teeny bit 'laggy' by comparison, i.e. slightly slower, but that could be due to any number of reasons... and only slower by mere milliseconds.

The point is... the connection test results show that DNS name resolution is working, i.e. the translation of a destination 'name' on the internet to a destination IP address instead... hence why you didn't see the 'globe' appear in the notification area.

As it's only your laptop experiencing this occasional problem I wonder if changing DNS provider on just your laptop might be an idea as another comparison test, even if temporarily. It's easy to change and just as easy to change back, if needed.

Have a look at Brink's How to Change IPv4 and IPv6 DNS Server Address in Windows tutorial and perhaps change just the IPv4 settings for DNS (in Option 5) to either Google Public DNS or 1.1.1.1 by Cloudflare.

It doesn't really matter which one you choose as the test is to see whether a different DNS provider helps. (You could ping both different Preferred IPv4 DNS server address in turn then choose the DNS provider with the fastest ping return times, i.e. the least 'laggy'.)

Hope this helps...

RickC said:

Those results are good... and consistent. It would be helpful to know where in the world you are. I'm in the south-west of the UK so my average 'ping' response times both by IP address and by name to MS' endpoint in Washington, US, are what I would expect.

Yours are a teeny bit 'laggy' by comparison, i.e. slightly slower, but that could be due to any number of reasons... and only slower by mere milliseconds.

The point is... the connection test results show that DNS name resolution is working, i.e. the translation of a destination 'name' on the internet to a destination IP address instead... hence why you didn't see the 'globe' appear in the notification area.

As it's only your laptop experiencing this occasional problem I wonder if changing DNS provider on just your laptop might be an idea as another comparison test, even if temporarily. It's easy to change and just as easy to change back, if needed.

I live in rural north central Washington State, USA. My connection is fibre optic to a radio link to my house, and a small dish radio connection to my router. Max speed is 6 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up.

I generally use a vpn by Private Internet Access. PIA has its own DNS servers. I've tried changing settings in PIA to Use Existing DNS with no change. I'll have to try again next time I see the globe. At this hour of the night (near midnight), I usually don't see it.

If I temporarily put the PIA vpn to Snooze, it doesn't affect the problem. But

I did look at DNS. It is:
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 208.67.220.220
63.142.200.162
It doesn't seem to matter if PIA is running, snoozed, or exited. Nor does it matter if I exit PIA and run Norton 360 vpn instead. The DNS doesn't change. That seems odd.

I probably should also rerun those test next time I'm seeing the internet go back and forth between the globe and the concentric circles.

Finally, on my older laptop also running Win 10 and PIA for VPN, never a wifi problem. I never see the globe, only the concentric circles.

- - - Updated - - -

The globe is showing ("No internet, secured") so here are some new tests:
PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> Test-NetConnection -InformationLevel "Detailed"
ComputerName : internetbeacon.msedge.net
RemoteAddress : 13.107.4.52
NameResolutionResults : 13.107.4.52
InterfaceAlias : wgpia0
SourceAddress : 10.39.140.168
NetRoute (NextHop) : 0.0.0.0
PingSucceeded : True
PingReplyDetails (RTT) : 44 ms

PS C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0> Test-NetConnection -InformationLevel "Detailed"
ComputerName : internetbeacon.msedge.net
RemoteAddress : 13.107.4.52
NameResolutionResults : 13.107.4.52
InterfaceAlias : wgpia0
SourceAddress : 10.39.140.168
NetRoute (NextHop) : 0.0.0.0
PingSucceeded : True
PingReplyDetails (RTT) : 142 ms

C:\WINDOWS\system32>ping internetbeacon.msedge.net
Pinging ds-c-0003.c-msedge.net [13.107.4.52] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=119
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=119
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=119
Reply from 13.107.4.52: bytes=32 time=28ms TTL=119

Ping statistics for 13.107.4.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 21ms, Maximum = 31ms, Average = 27ms

So is the VPN a problem or your real connection?

That VPN is utter crap though and I wouldn't be surprised if the software is messing with you NIC. Many years ago when I tried PIA its ruby.exe thrashed on my SSD. Not cool.

Also note, take VPNs with a mine cart of salt. They're NOT what they seem to be. They're nice only for certain things, but even for that you need to chose the right provider; Privacy? Security? Streaming? The simple fact browsers by default have a massive fingerprint means a VPN for "privacy" is false - false advertisement in my opinion. There's a lot about tech, cybersecurity and whatnot that people (consumers) just don't know about and go with what ever is being sold under the umbrella of this or that Ad campaign without the full knowledge of what they're getting into. Take cars for example. Do you know how to diagnose and replace the MAP sensor? You know the car does this and that which is great, but don't know the inner workings is my point.

I have removed PIA and am now using Norton 360 vpn. My internet connection seems stable.

Whatever the limits of any vpn, with the traveling I do and access to wifi in all sorts of places, like airports, I still think it's better than not using any vpn.

On our iPhones, Encrypt.Me vpn. Never had any problem with it.

- - - Updated - - -

F22 Simpilot said:

So is the VPN a problem or your real connection?
That VPN is utter crap though and I wouldn't be surprised if the software is messing with you NIC. Many years ago when I tried PIA its ruby.exe thrashed on my SSD. Not cool.

I remember the ruby.exe problem with PIA. That was many years ago, and was also fixed many years ago.

Randysea said:

Whatever the limits of any vpn, with the traveling I do and access to wifi in all sorts of places, like airports, I still think it's better than not using any vpn..

Yes, for that they're alright, it's why I said this:

F22 Simpilot said:

They're nice only for certain things, but even for that you need to chose the right provider; Privacy? Security? Streaming?

No two VPNs are alike...


You can actually roll your own VPN though and save money. If you're advanced enough check out an Asus router flashed with the third-party firmware Asus Merlin. It offers an inbuilt OpenVPN server. Now you create a DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) name for your home IP with a DDNS provider like No-IP. Asus Merlin actually has a built-in facility for that, too - the option to add you DDNS name for the home IP address.

Now when you want to stay secure over a free and open Wi-Fi network you just use the Windows OpenVPN software or Android App (iOS may have one) to connect to your home OpenVPN server in the router via the DDNS name you created for yourself at No-IP.

This is great for security, not privacy in where you want to stay all incognito and whatnot. Your home IP is being used... But it is a secure VPN tunnel you can use for what you need it for.

Other third-party router firmware like DD-WRT will work too, but installing those may be a bit of challenge and more for advanced users. With Asus Merlin the install process is just like updating your router firmware. And in fact, it's hard to brick an Asus router according to literature at the Asus Merlin website. Do read their tutorials...


If you REALLY want to get balls on nerdy... LOL Then check out OPNSense or pfSense... Again, emphasis on "nerdy."

=Off Topic=


I used to roll my own OpenVPN in my Asus router for the simple task of accessing my other computer sitting here that's on 24/7 connected to a couple of "police scanners" (communication receivers). I'd VPN in and once that tunnel was established I could login to my TeamSpeak server running on the computer to hear scanner audio and also use TightVNC to control the computer. TeamSpeak and TightVNC have Windows programs and Apps...

Today, I don't use the OpenVPN method but rather a reverse VPN/proxy called ZeroTier One. Zero Tier One also has an App and Windows program... ZeroTier One is also an OPNSense plug-in for those interested... As of this writing I don't think pfSense has a plug-in for ZeroTier One.

Tidbit #221:

The "pf " in pfSense stands for Packet Filtering.

Wow, that is all way beyond me. I understand a little of it, and I am impressed.

I live in a rural area, no one close enough to listen in to my router/wifi. But my unencrypted email goes through a local ISP, so VPN keeps it private from the ISP, also keeps my surfing private enough.

As I said, my biggest concern is when I'm traveling, in airports, hotels, etc.