Solved WiFi extremely slow

Kasjiiik

New Member
Messages
5
I'm on a Toshiba Satellite C870-1HN;
WiFi adapter: Realtek RTL8723AE Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E network interface;
OS: Windows 8.1 Home;
Brand new laptop.

95% of the time I cannot do anything on the network: I can't browse the internet, I can't transfer files between this laptop and another on the network, etc. The task manager network performance indicates 0 kbps sent, 0 kbps received. Occasionally there might be a slight change: sometimes 8 kbps, sometimes as much as 100 kbps. Even then, websites load extremely slow (even in the dial-up era it didn't take 30 minutes to load a website...)

The other 5% of the time I get download speeds of 2mbps or above. This is very random. I just tried transfering a 10mb file and for the first 20 minutes it did nothing, then it jumped to 1.5mbps, transfered most of the file in 10 seconds, then it got back to 0 kbps and 10 minutes later the remainder of the file got transfered in 1 second.
Other computers on the network (running windows 7 or below) have no issues at all.

The signal strength always reads 5/5 bars. Oddly enough, if I disconnect, the network will show up having 3/5 bars. I reconnect again, and I get full signal strength (but 0 kbps). The status is "Connected" (no "Limited Access" or anything, just "Connected")

The network speed reeds anywhere between 24.0 mbps to 56.0 mbps (and 100 mbps if next to the router)

Things I've tried:
- Connected through ethernet (everything works fine, but this is no solution for a mobile laptop)
- Installed Windows 8.1 (previously windows 8, same issues)
- The standard windows problem solvers detect no problems with the adapter or the internet connection
- Set WiFi mode to 802.11 b/g (previously b/g/n) - my router only supports b/g
- Disabled windows firewall entirely (after trying various exceptions)
- Disabled IPv6 in the adapter settings
- Disabled Bluetooth adapter (what the heck, someone suggested it)
- Disconnecting & reconnecting to the network will often give a spike to 2mbps and then drop to 0 kbps. Sometimes it'll work for a while, but continuously having to reconnect is not a solution.
- Countless other things that I forgot to mention.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Home
I'm on a Toshiba Satellite C870-1HN;
WiFi adapter: Realtek RTL8723AE Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E network interface;
OS: Windows 8.1 Home;
Brand new laptop.

95% of the time I cannot do anything on the network: I can't browse the internet, I can't transfer files between this laptop and another on the network, etc. The task manager network performance indicates 0 kbps sent, 0 kbps received. Occasionally there might be a slight change: sometimes 8 kbps, sometimes as much as 100 kbps. Even then, websites load extremely slow (even in the dial-up era it didn't take 30 minutes to load a website...)

The other 5% of the time I get download speeds of 2mbps or above. This is very random. I just tried transfering a 10mb file and for the first 20 minutes it did nothing, then it jumped to 1.5mbps, transfered most of the file in 10 seconds, then it got back to 0 kbps and 10 minutes later the remainder of the file got transfered in 1 second.
Other computers on the network (running windows 7 or below) have no issues at all.

The signal strength always reads 5/5 bars. Oddly enough, if I disconnect, the network will show up having 3/5 bars. I reconnect again, and I get full signal strength (but 0 kbps). The status is "Connected" (no "Limited Access" or anything, just "Connected")

The network speed reeds anywhere between 24.0 mbps to 56.0 mbps (and 100 mbps if next to the router)

Things I've tried:
- Connected through ethernet (everything works fine, but this is no solution for a mobile laptop)
- Installed Windows 8.1 (previously windows 8, same issues)
- The standard windows problem solvers detect no problems with the adapter or the internet connection
- Set WiFi mode to 802.11 b/g (previously b/g/n) - my router only supports b/g
- Disabled windows firewall entirely (after trying various exceptions)
- Disabled IPv6 in the adapter settings
- Disabled Bluetooth adapter (what the heck, someone suggested it)
- Disconnecting & reconnecting to the network will often give a spike to 2mbps and then drop to 0 kbps. Sometimes it'll work for a while, but continuously having to reconnect is not a solution.
- Countless other things that I forgot to mention.

Pretty much every G router will require a firmware update in order to work "properly" with Windows 8.

I've already fixed quite a few that way so might work for you as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
I have a small Toshiba a NB255-N250 (MK2565GSX) it has a Intel Atom N450 processor, not a power house. I am running Win7 connected to the 2.4gh band of my Netgear AC1900 Night Hawk Router. It loads web pages quickly with no problems. My online youtube videos run without any buffering.
So I don't feel the problem is with your Toshiba laptop I think it's with your WiFi adapter and wireless Lan.
I might add your Win8 OS is also not helping matters.


l
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8
    Computer type
    Laptop
Both windows update and toshiba updater tell me I'm using the latest version. That said, the linked version is newer so I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens. But frankly, I think it's a shortcoming of Toshiba if they sell windows 8 certified laptops with drivers that don't work...

As for my router: it's a router+modem in 1, provided by my ISP that also serves digital TV (and forces their own routers on us... damned ISP monopoly). That means I can't use a different router nor can I upgrade the firmware (updates are automatically pushed). It's used by hundreds of thousands of customers here and I can't find anyone with this issue online. I'll try to contact them if upgrading the adapter firmware doesn't work and see what they have to say. Well, I'm assuming they'll say the problem is on my end, even if it's not...

So I don't feel the problem is with your Toshiba laptop I think it's with your WiFi adapter and wireless Lan.
That's not particularly helpful, as it's a different model and a different OS. Besides, I'm not using an external adapter, it's internal to the laptop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Home
Try running Netalyzr: ICSI Netalyzr it should pinpoint problems. It requires Java, and you need to wait until "Start Analysis>>" appears and click on it. Once the analysis is complete, you submit and view the results. Problems are highlighted in red, warnings in yellow, green OK. You can expand any of the results with a + sign next to them for details.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Both windows update and toshiba updater tell me I'm using the latest version. That said, the linked version is newer so I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens. But frankly, I think it's a shortcoming of Toshiba if they sell windows 8 certified laptops with drivers that don't work...

As for my router: it's a router+modem in 1, provided by my ISP that also serves digital TV (and forces their own routers on us... damned ISP monopoly). That means I can't use a different router nor can I upgrade the firmware (updates are automatically pushed). It's used by hundreds of thousands of customers here and I can't find anyone with this issue online. I'll try to contact them if upgrading the adapter firmware doesn't work and see what they have to say. Well, I'm assuming they'll say the problem is on my end, even if it's not...

So I don't feel the problem is with your Toshiba laptop I think it's with your WiFi adapter and wireless Lan.
That's not particularly helpful, as it's a different model and a different OS. Besides, I'm not using an external adapter, it's internal to the laptop.

With the rest of the computers accessing the router and not having any problems, I figured your router not being an issue. Router makers don't put routers on the market that can't communicate. Windows 8 didn't mysteriously change 802.11 communication protocols either.

There is a more recently updated driver located here: Version V2010.9.0906.2013 Realtek Wireless Lan Driver and Application 41,26 (MBytes) 2013.10.18 update
It's listed on Asus' website, but it's the correct driver.

When I upgraded to 8 and then 8.1 from 7 in one sitting, I experienced driver issues as well and needed to reinstall them to regain functionality. Win8/8.1 does whatever it likes, causing driver malfunctions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
Both windows update and toshiba updater tell me I'm using the latest version. That said, the linked version is newer so I'll try that tomorrow and see what happens. But frankly, I think it's a shortcoming of Toshiba if they sell windows 8 certified laptops with drivers that don't work...

As for my router: it's a router+modem in 1, provided by my ISP that also serves digital TV (and forces their own routers on us... damned ISP monopoly). That means I can't use a different router nor can I upgrade the firmware (updates are automatically pushed). It's used by hundreds of thousands of customers here and I can't find anyone with this issue online. I'll try to contact them if upgrading the adapter firmware doesn't work and see what they have to say. Well, I'm assuming they'll say the problem is on my end, even if it's not...

So I don't feel the problem is with your Toshiba laptop I think it's with your WiFi adapter and wireless Lan.
That's not particularly helpful, as it's a different model and a different OS. Besides, I'm not using an external adapter, it's internal to the laptop.

Now we have a lot more Info. about what your using as the ISP provided hardware. Nothing anyone can do to help with this item. My ISP Cox Cable provides a modem for connecting to the Net and phone service, T.V. is cable direct and has nothing to do with their modem.
We can use their router or use any router we want.
As for Toshiba and their drivers for Win8, today we are forced to get Win8 with all new non Apple computers. Microsoft has made so many changes with the 8.1 upgrade, I can understand why many people are having problems.
Let us know what youre ISP has to say or if they can solve the problem.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8
    Computer type
    Laptop
I've already fixed many different connection problems with Windows 8 and 8.1 by doing firmware updates on routers, there were many changes to the network stack which is why new drivers were also required so I'm really at a loss as to why someone would say that updating firmware won't help when it's already fixed countless problems. :confused:

Wireless G routers really aren't worth using with clients running Windows 8, although I'm finding it hard to believe that any ISP would issue a modem/router which is over ten years out of date, probably a Motorola SB something or another which are notorious hunks of junk.

Those ISP provided modem/routers are junk. At the very least you could try adding another actual "real wireless N router" to test out connectivity.

You would need to plug them in LAN port to LAN port then disable DHCP on the secondary router, this will allow the first router to provide an IP which is in the same subnet as the first. The first router then becomes the gateway for the network.

I should also mention that the problems and complaints about this particular wireless NIC Realtek RTL8723AE are countless with similar reports about slow connections and dropping connections although I'm at least partially sure this can be fixed by either updating the drivers and or using the correct firmware on an actual router.

I learned this by doing research on this particular wireless NIC, I don't guess at this. :geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
If you'd like an internet argument chev65, take it privately. If you have a real/serious problem directly with me, we can go on any TeamSpeak server and talk about it like real adults. Don't make any assumptions here. You have no idea about me at all. What you do in your personal life, the amount of time you spend on forums, and your total rep points does not give you the right to throw your 7/8Forums weight around and outright call anyone's free advice rubbish, nonsense, very misinformed, bogus, and FUD. That's being abusive and totally against the T.O.S. here... You've been reported.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
If you'd like an internet argument chev65, take it privately. If you have a real/serious problem directly with me, we can go on any TeamSpeak server and talk about it like real adults. Don't make any assumptions here. You have no idea about me at all. What you do in your personal life, the amount of time you spend on forums, and your total rep points does not give you the right to throw your 7/8Forums weight around and outright call anyone's free advice rubbish, nonsense, very misinformed, bogus, and FUD. That's being abusive and totally against the T.O.S. here... You've been reported.

Maybe you shouldn't be in here declaring my advice isn't worth hearing.

As it stands I've fixed these problems countless times with simple firmware updates and it's still the easiest way to fix problems like this so your comments weren't very well informed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
...Other computers on the network (running windows 7 or below) have no issues at all....

Maybe you should try getting off your high horse, stop reading in to other's comments, take it down a few notches, and realize people with your exact knowledge and much more frequent these forums as well, but haven't made them their sole source of vindication hereunto.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    .
Your comment about routers not changing or not requiring firmware updates was off target.

This fact has already panned out on multiple occasions. Probably best not to put down the advice of others in the first place, especially when you aren't very sure.

In this case I believe the outdated ISP modem/router may be part of the problem, as I've seen many problems with these in the past.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
... ignoring the feud...

Okay, so I've just updated the driver. Didn't help. Tried downloading java so I could run ICSI Netalyzr but it's going to take me 8 hours. Plugged in ethernet and it downloaded in a blink.

Results: ICSI Netalyzr ? Results
After changing my DNS to google's DNS: ICSI Netalyzr ? Results
On a different laptop, same network: ICSI Netalyzr ? Results (for comparison)
Note that I ran this during a time that there were no apparent problems. Ironically enough, when I'm having extremely slow wifi again, it's impossible to load the page...

Haven't been able to contact the ISP yet, since it's a sunday.

I will try to find a different router somewhere and see if I can connect. That might take some time though. In the meantime, any suggestions are welcome.

Just to clarify a few things:
- I did not upgrade to windows 8, it was already installed. I only updated to 8.1 *after* having this issue.
- This is the only device on the network running windows 8. The other computers are running windows 7 and windows XP.
- The router is a B-Box 2, which I think is based on a Sagem F@st 3464 but with custom firmware to support their own flavour of digital TV.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Home
The 3 Netalyzr checks indicate that there is little wrong at all with the WiFi from the point of view of the different laptop, but something wrong regarding the Windows 8 machine. I don't think that you need to worry about ISP or the Router.

So it is either the Toshiba or the Windows 8 installation. It could be as simple as a loose internal connection - which would require opening up the case, and reseating the module and antenna connections. I've seen laptops with single antenna connections, which improve greatly when a second antenna is fitted. It could be a defective wireless adapter module.

In any case it should be under warranty, and Toshiba are pretty good regarding repairs, especially if you are near a service centre. If brand new, I would reject the laptop as faulty, and demand a replacement from the supplier.

I don't know if you could run a live CD of a Linux distro to see if the hardware on the Toshiba has a problem, or if it is solely the Windows 8/8.1 wireless networking that is broken. If the wireless hardware proves OK, but the Windows problem persists then the next step is either reinstall Windows or to attempt repair:

The usual routine is to perform a disk cleanup, run SFC /scannow, to run Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Failing that a system Reset.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Small update:

I returned the laptop to the shop and they've streamed for 2 days without any problems. So yeah, lost 1 week without making any progress because it's still not working at home.

I can't seem to run linux because I think it's on some kind of fast booting, and it goes straight to windows in mere seconds. I can't even access the bios to enable booting from cd or usb.

I'll try a different wifi access point tomorrow and contact my ISP. Until then, I'm afraid I can't make any progress. It's really starting to get on my nerves though. If this turns out to be a router problem after all it might be the last drop needed to screw Belgacom to oblivion.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Home
Small update:

I returned the laptop to the shop and they've streamed for 2 days without any problems. So yeah, lost 1 week without making any progress because it's still not working at home.

I can't seem to run linux because I think it's on some kind of fast booting, and it goes straight to windows in mere seconds. I can't even access the bios to enable booting from cd or usb.

I'll try a different wifi access point tomorrow and contact my ISP. Until then, I'm afraid I can't make any progress. It's really starting to get on my nerves though. If this turns out to be a router problem after all it might be the last drop needed to screw Belgacom to oblivion.


The test with the other network basically proves that it's a router problem. These ISP issued modem/routers are not very good at all and often times you can't even update the firmware without jumping through ISP hoops. You would be much better off with a regular modem and router instead of using a combo unit but maybe this one can be made to work.

You could even purchase another router and plug it into a LAN port on the BBox, disable DHCP on the secondary router and then use the wireless on the secondary router.

As for the slow wireless problem, WPA2 personal and try using AES encryption and not TKIP which is outdated, in fact the drivers for Windows 8 won't even work with TKIP as it's before the final 802.11n draft.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
Okay, so the isp gave me a replacement router (different model) and now everything works. They had never heard of the problem before...
I still don't know what caused the problem, but as long as things work I'm fine I guess. Thanks for the help though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Home
Okay, so the isp gave me a replacement router (different model) and now everything works. They had never heard of the problem before...
I still don't know what caused the problem, but as long as things work I'm fine I guess. Thanks for the help though.

Well that's good then and it was a router problem as predicted. G routers are so ten years ago and are bottom of the bucket for sure which is why I suspected it could be the problem.

I would think they would have upgraded you to a wireless N router.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
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