HP Spectre Notebook keeps loosing WiFi connection

[EddieTopps]

Hi Community,

I have been putting this issue off for far too long (over 12 months) and I need to get on top of it, and your help would be greatly appreciated please.

Error: pinging - "transmit failed, General failure"

I have with relatively regular occurrence my HP Spectre dropping it's connection to the WiFi network. I know this because I have an open ping window running and often see "transmit failed, General failure" and I know that for about 30 seconds or so I have no connectivity and I have to wait for it to reconnect. It looks to me I have the "Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260" card in my laptop, with I assume is the latest driver 20.70.3.3 dated 03/09/2018? I also have the "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" unticked and also the profile settings for on power and battery set to 'maximum performance'. I know that it is not my router as all other devices on my network do not loose their connection.  I can't say what event occurred when this problem started as my initial investigations for quite some time was going down the path of other components on my network, thinking the then new notebook would not have the problem.

Thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated please?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

There are newer drivers for that card which you can try and see if that resolves the problem.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28876/Windows-10-Wi-Fi-Drivers-for-Intel-Wireless-Adapters...

It is also possible one of the two antenna cables has become detached from the wifi adapter, or was never attached in the first place.

Another software fix would be to set the roaming aggressiveness setting in the advanced settings for the device to lowest.

See this link for the typical Intel wifi card advanced settings...

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005585/network-and-i-o/wireless-networki...

[EddieTopps]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your reply with your advice.  I have updated the driver to the latest version, and for a while I thought it had fixed it however the issue did return.  Maybe it's my optimism as I perceive it not to be happening as many times, but then again it was random.

I have made the change to the roaming aggressiveness from 'medium' to 'lowest' and I shall see how that goes.

Regarding the two antenna cables and inspecting them, could I ask if you know of any videos or instructions online that I could follow to help me get in to investigate?

Thank you once again for your guidance.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Here is the link to the service manual.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05121444

The wifi card removal and replacement procedure can be found in chapter 5.

Check to make sure the antenna cables are securely fastened to the wifi card.

Any potential damage to the antenna cables would most likely be located near the hinges area--fraying or breaking from opening and closing the lid.