Low Wi-Fi signal on HP 250 G4

[meymigrou]

Hello, I have the HP 250 G4 laptop (it came with no OS) and I have installed Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS. The problem with the laptop is that I have it exatcly side by side with my router and still have a very weak Wi-Fi signal (2-3 bars). This is happening in both Windows 10 and Ubuntu.

Here's what I've tried:

• I did a clean format.
• I have installed the latest updates (both from Windows/Ubuntu updates and from HP's website).
• I tried with Windows 7 and 8.1 (same thing).

I fixed the problem for a few minutes by downloading and installing this driver: sp75249.exe but the Wi-Fi signal (after a few minutes) is getting weak again.

Another way to fix the problem (again, for a few minutes) is by changing from 20/40 Coexistence to Antenna Diversity from the Wi-Fi properties on Windows 10. But again, this is just for a few minutes and then it stops working and the Wi-Fi signal is weak again. Here's a screenshot:

I have the problem since I brough the laptop (a year ago if I remember correctly) but I used to work with it using a LAN cable. Now that I'm traveling I really need the Wi-Fi signal to be strong so I can do my job.

Any ideas?

[mdklassen]

Do you live in an apartment block, or condominium, or co-op, where you find a LARGE number of available wireless networks?  If your WiFi router is set to use a "channel" that many of those other WiFi routers are using, you could be getting interference, until you switch it to a different channel.

Also, unplug the "base-station" if you have any wireless telephone handsets.

It's another wireless device that could be causing interference.

Another possibility is that the antenna wires that connect to the wireless adapter inside your computer are not making good contact. Can you physically inspect those wires, where they connect to a tiny "post" on the adapter?

[meymigrou]

Thank you for the quick reply! This happens everywhere, in my house, on the cafe, in other houses etc. I disconnected all the devices that are using the Wi-Fi and still the same weak signal.

Right now I'm in Sweden traveling and in the apartment block I am living, there are a lot of Wi-Fi's, but only my laptop has weak signal (the other laptop that my girlfriend has, it has strong Wi-Fi signal).

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @meymigrou

This is the latest W10 driver that HP has for your model...You may want to give it a try...

This package provides the Broadcom Wireless LAN drivers for supported notebook models running a supported operating system. Broadcom Wireless LAN drivers are required to enable the integrated Broadcom Wireless LAN adapter. 

VERSION: 7.35.351.0 REV: A PASS: 1    EFFECTIVE DATE: October 25, 2016

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp78001-78500/sp78044.exe

[mdklassen]

> I have installed the latest updates (both from Windows/Ubuntu updates and from HP's website).

Given those two completely-different software environments, it probably is not a device-driver issue.

Maybe, it's time to purchase a WiFi adapter that connects to one of the USB ports on your computer, and then to "disable" the current WiFi adapter, so that you can have a good connection while travelling in Sweden.

Were you able to check the connection of the antenna-wires to the internal WiFi adapter?

[meymigrou]

I installed the driver but it didn't help. Actually, I gave my laptop to a shop in Greece (now that I am back) and they told me that the problem is with HP's drivers for the specific model. I also used my brother's HP 250 G2 and my best friend's HP 250 G3 and all the laptops are running really well with great Wi-Fi signal (we all love HP here).

I started searching for people who purchased the HP 250 G4 and I found two guys with the same specific model. Both of them are having the same problems as me, weak Wi-Fi signal. One of them purchased a Wi-Fi USB adapter to have a better connection. I am do the same thing because I started traveling a lot these days. But shouldn't HP give us a better updated driver? I mean, with a quick search you can find a lot of people who are having the same problem as me with the same model laptop.

[mdklassen]

---

I installed the driver but it didn't help.

They told me that the problem is with HP's drivers for the specific model.

But shouldn't HP give us a better updated driver?

---

Previously, you wrote:

> [I]  have installed Windows 10 and Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS.

> This is happening in both Windows 10 and Ubuntu.

Presumably, when running Ubuntu, you are NOT using any of HP's device-drivers, but you still have the same problem.

That seems to shift the problem "away" from the device-driver "onto" the actual hardware.

Do your friends have the same part-number for the wireless adapter as you do?

Can you borrow their wireless adapter, and try it in your computer?

Can you try your adapter in their computer?