Wireless card (Realtek RTL8821CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC) suddenly slowed wifi network

[Carol362]

Hi

I was working on my HP x360 laptop as normal, when suddenly noticed that the wifi network started to fail and dowloads started to break - i had to pay attention in order to resume them. I also checked distance to hotspot, when noticed that sitting 1/2 meters away from it will show full signal; but when sitting 4/5 meters away will show 1/2 signal bars only. I have also checked response time from google server (ping -t 8.8.8.8) and I saw the following:

Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=73ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=62ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=338ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=51ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=27ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=141ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=133ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=341ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=22ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=124
Reply from 8.8.8.8: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=124

In some cases it could take up to 3500ms for a packet to arrive.

I have turned up the max batery for wireless networks in batery options and it has not changed anything on the wireless performance.

I have checked the driver version and compared it with the one available online (at Realtek, which is older & HP, which is the same i have) and there does not seem to be any difference (removed then installed from Device Manager).

At this point i think there is a problem with the card itself (i already had issues with the screen which had to be replaced!) so i would prefer to solve this before i lose the laptop for a couple of days in HP warranty.

Could you please help me? thanks!

Carol

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Carol:

See if the driver I have zipped up and attached below resolves the problem...this came from the Microsoft update catalog...

DriverVer = 04/12/2019, 2024.0.9.101

Unzip the file to its folder.  Do not do anything with the files in the folder.

To install the driver...

Go to the device manager.

Click to expand the Network Adapters device manager category.

Click on the Realtek 8821 wifi adapter listed there.

Click on the driver tab.  Click on Update Driver.

Select the Browse my computer for driver software option, and browse to the driver folder you unzipped.

Make sure the Include Subfolders box is checked, and the driver should install.

Then restart the PC.

[Carol362]

Hi Paul thanks for your reply,

I followed the steps and I can see on device manager the updated version, however the issue remains.

Any advise before I contact the HP warranty?

Kind regards,

Carol

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Carol.

Unfortunately, I don't have any other suggestions for you to try.

It could possibly be a defective wifi card, which needs to be replaced.

[Carol362]

Many thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Sorry there was no easy fix for your dilemma.