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sc29's avatar
sc29
Tuning in
2 months ago
Solved

New Ubuntu Laptop and wifi speed issue

I've just bought a new laptop running linux/ubuntu and experiencing wifi speed issues which I don't have with other devices, including another laptop running ubuntu. The problem I have is that the speed is fine when in the same room as the router but when I go upstairs the speed drops off dramatically. I have 250Mbs broadband and upstairs the speed can be down to 10-20Mbs. Other devices in the same location can get about 80Mbs.

Investigating the wifi signals using LinSSID I've found other wifi signals nearby on channel 11 2.4Ghz so I was wondering whether the issue was due to this. My laptop provider said that the wifi "card" in the laptop is low powered and the the clash of channels could be the issue. So in order to diagnose the problem I decided to change the channel from 11 to 6 on the 2.4Ghz connection.  I have a hub 3 and had to Disable Channel Optimization to do this. However, it seems to have made things worse doing this.

Before I start looking into ubuntu/linux configuration, or returning the laptop, does anybody have any ideas as to what might be causing this laptop to lose its wifi speed, or maybe configure the router better.

Thanks in advance

 

  • sc29's avatar
    sc29
    2 months ago

    Ok I think I've got to the bottom of the issue. I realised while I was performing speed tests around the house that the room above the hub 3 router was still lightning fast, so I thought maybe it's a directional thing. I then pulled the router out a bit, and angled it on its side, and came back upstairs to the rooms I was having problems with and the laptop wifi performance was now fairly respectable.

    I think what confused me was that my mac sitting alongside the laptop performed a lot better and I thought it was a problem with the laptop. I think what may have been going on was that the laptop couldn't handle weaker signals as well my mac or any of the other devices, which I guess is what the supplier suggested. Maybe it's just the way the intel ax210 card worked.

    Anyway as Alessandro Volta said I really need to sort out my wifi coverage.  I never really realised I had to until this laptop came along.

    Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions.

10 Replies

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    2 months ago

    If other devices upstairs are returning 80Mb/s download, they are on the 5GHz band.

    You mention the Ubuntu laptop has a low power Wi-Fi adaptor ( that is unusual ) and that its speed was worse with the Hub 3 on 2.4GHz channel 6 than on 11 i.e. the Ubuntu laptop when up stairs is using the slower 2.4GHz band unlike other kit that is on the faster 5GHz band.

    If upstairs is at the fringe of Wi-Fi reception the Ubuntu laptop on 2.4GHz is at a considerable speed disadvantage.

    Consider improving the Wi-Fi coverage in the upstairs of the house so the Ubuntu laptop can revert to the faster 5GHz band.  

    • sc29's avatar
      sc29
      Tuning in
      2 months ago

      Hi Alessandra

      Thanks for your very useful information.

      I don't know if I mislead you slightly as I'm not a wifi expert. The new linux laptop has a Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) AX210/AX1675* 2x2 [Typhoon Peak] wifi 6 card which I was told has power saving or lower power.  I have read of issues with that card and low speeds, which is why I'm trying to diagnose where the issue is, especially since no other devices I have have speed issues upstairs.

      If I understand what you were explaining, does a device drop down to 2.4Ghz automatically if the signal is too low for 5Ghz, which makes me wonder why the mac next to it upstairs is still using 5Ghz? It seems to me that the linux laptop can't pick up signals as strongly judging by the fan icon at the top of the screen.

      Anyway, if the new laptop is using the 2.4Ghz band I was trying to change the channel so that it wouldn't conflict with neighbours nearby also on 11.  It did seem to be slower after updating the router, I could be wrong, and I have no wonder why changing the channel from 11 to 6 on the 2.4Ghz would do this. Maybe I didn't update hub 3 properly.

      So in conclusion I don't know whether to update the router to a wifi6 mesh as you suggest, or return the laptop if I'm going to keep getting issues connecting to other networks at different locations.

       

      • Cardiffman282's avatar
        Cardiffman282
        Community elder
        2 months ago

        You need to disable the power saving. I can't post the Linux code on here but it is easy enough to search for. 

  • sc29's avatar
    sc29
    Tuning in
    2 months ago

    Ok I think I've got to the bottom of the issue. I realised while I was performing speed tests around the house that the room above the hub 3 router was still lightning fast, so I thought maybe it's a directional thing. I then pulled the router out a bit, and angled it on its side, and came back upstairs to the rooms I was having problems with and the laptop wifi performance was now fairly respectable.

    I think what confused me was that my mac sitting alongside the laptop performed a lot better and I thought it was a problem with the laptop. I think what may have been going on was that the laptop couldn't handle weaker signals as well my mac or any of the other devices, which I guess is what the supplier suggested. Maybe it's just the way the intel ax210 card worked.

    Anyway as Alessandro Volta said I really need to sort out my wifi coverage.  I never really realised I had to until this laptop came along.

    Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions.