Question:

What could be causing a drastic drop in wifi bandwidth when I use my pre-built PC with a USB wifi adapter?

I have a pre-built PC that does not have an ethernet port, so I rely on wifi to connect to the internet. I use an ASUS USB wifi adapter that worked fine for a month, but recently I noticed that my wifi speed is very low when I turn on my computer. I ran a speed test and found that I get only 0.5 Mbps when my computer is on, but 50.6 Mbps when it is off. I tried troubleshooting with Intel, but nothing worked. This problem started when my mother visited me for three days. Could this be related to her visit? How can I fix this issue?

Answer:

Wifi bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred over a wireless network in a given time. It depends on various factors, such as the signal strength, the number of devices connected, the type of encryption, the interference from other sources, and the quality of the router and the adapter.

If you are experiencing a sudden drop in wifi bandwidth when you use your pre-built PC with a USB wifi adapter, there could be several possible causes. Here are some of the most common ones and how to fix them:

• Your USB wifi adapter is faulty or outdated. Sometimes, the USB wifi adapter can malfunction or become obsolete, resulting in poor performance and connectivity issues. To check if this is the case, you can try using a different USB wifi adapter or a different USB port on your PC. You can also update the driver of your USB wifi adapter by following the instructions from the manufacturer’s website. If none of these steps work, you may need to replace your USB wifi adapter with a newer and better one.
• Your router is overloaded or misconfigured. Another possible cause of low wifi bandwidth is that your router is handling too many devices or has some settings that are affecting the wifi performance. For example, if your router is using an old firmware, a crowded channel, or a low security mode, it can reduce the wifi speed and stability. To fix this, you can try rebooting your router, updating its firmware, changing its channel, or enabling a higher security mode. You can also limit the number of devices that are connected to your router or prioritize your PC over other devices using the Quality of Service (QoS) feature.
• Your wifi network is interfered by other sources. Wifi signals can be interfered by various sources, such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, and other wifi networks. These sources can create noise and congestion in the wifi spectrum, resulting in lower wifi bandwidth and higher latency. To fix this, you can try moving your router and your PC away from these sources, or using a wifi extender or a mesh network to boost the wifi signal. You can also use a wifi analyzer app to scan the wifi environment and find the best channel and location for your router and your PC.
• Your mother’s visit is related to the problem. It is possible that your mother’s visit is somehow related to the wifi bandwidth problem. For example, she may have brought some devices that are interfering with your wifi network, or she may have changed some settings on your router or your PC without your knowledge. To fix this, you can ask your mother if she did anything to your wifi network or your PC, and undo any changes that she made. You can also check the devices that are connected to your wifi network and remove any unwanted or unknown ones.

These

are some of the possible causes and solutions for the wifi bandwidth problem that you are facing. Hopefully, by following these steps, you can restore your wifi speed and enjoy a smooth and fast internet connection on your pre-built PC with a USB wifi adapter.