Intermittent slow wifi

[srochford]

I have intermittent problems. I'm using a desktop PC with internal WiFi (HP ProDesk 600DM). It's running Windows 11 22H2. When I switch on the computer and do an immediate speed test, I normally get a speed of c. 60Mbit/s. If I just leave the computer for a while (sometimes as little as 30 minutes, other times it can be 24 hours) the speed will drop dramatically. Normally it drops to about 2MBit/s, but I've seen it down to 50kbit/s.

When this happens, other devices close to the PC are still working OK - speeds of 60Mbit/s or better (I have Shell Broadband which should be "up to" 80Mbit/s) and the Google home app shows a speed of over 70Mbit/s.

The router provided by Shell is running in modem mode. 

I've checked that the Wi-Fi driver is up to date (Intel AC9560 device with the HP driver version 22.170.0.3). I've made sure that the advanced driver settings match those specified by Intel (Recommended Settings for 802.11ac Connectivity (intel.com))

Any ideas of how to fix this? It only started happening when I got the Google Nest devices. Before that I was using the WiFi on the Shell router and the speed was always good so I don't think the problem is in the PC but happy to be proved wrong!

Steve

[LovelyM]

Hello srochford, 

Thanks for posting. We appreciate the details that you provided and love to help you with this. 

Please ensure that all the drivers on your computer are up-to-date and that your password doesn't contain any special characters. If you haven't already, forget the Wi-Fi network on your device, then connect it again to reestablish its connection. You can also restart your entire network and see if that makes any improvements. Check out this link for additional steps. 

Let me know how it goes. 

Cheers,
Lovely

[LovelyM]

Hi srochford, 

Have you tried the troubleshooting steps that I suggested? Let me know if that did the trick or not, so we can try something else. 

Cheers,
Lovely

[srochford]

Many thanks for your message and apologies for the delay in replying.

The drivers are up to date (the Wi-Fi driver on the HP site is a different version from the one on the Intel site so I've tried both but the result is the same)

There are no special characters in the Wi-Fi pasword and I have tried forgetting/reconnecting on multiple occasions.

I've performed a complete reset on the Nest system and that also didn't help (I didn't expect it to help - other devices have a much more consistent speed).

One of the things I have noticed is that the computer sometimes connects to the 2.4GHz band and I think that this may be the problem. I live in a block of flats and there are about 20 routers visible; the 2.4GHz band is very congested and I think it would be better to force connection at 5GHz.

Intel have info about recommended settings - Recommended Settings for 802.11ac Connectivity (intel.com) I have checked all these settings and also set the "prefer 5GHz" option but it still sometimes connects on 2.4GHz

My previous router had an option for splitting the bands (rather than using Band Steering which I think the Nest is doing) and that allowed me to only connect at 5GHz. Do you know if there is an option like that in Nest - I can't find it.

[LovelyM]

Hey srochford,

Sorry if I was not able to get back to you sooner. Please fill out this form so that we can give you the right level of help. Let me know once you're done. 

Cheers, 
Lovely

[LovelyM]

Hi srochford,

Did you happen to get that form filled out? Let me know if you have questions about it.

Sincerely,
Lovely

[LovelyM]

Hello again srochford, 

I just want to give you a nudge since we haven't received a form from you. Please reply to this thread if you still need assistance so we can give you a helping hand.

Best, 
Lovely

[srochford]

Sorry, I did look at the form but I didn't really know what else I could say! I have filled it in now. The problem is that my computer doesn't stay connected to the 5GHz band but drops to 2.4Ghz and that is just too congested. There are 2 fixes I can think of - use the Intel settings to remain connected at 5GHz using 802.11ac or turn off band steering on the Nest device - but neither of these is available.

[LovelyM]

Hi srochford,

Got it! Thanks for the additional details and kindly bear with us. One of our senior specialists will reach out to you regarding this concern soon.

Thanks,
Lovely