WiFi Only Works When Near Router

[KikiD15]

About 3 weeks after buying the new Spectre, I started to have WiFi issues. At first it couldn't detect the network in my home, then it started to sporadically connect and disconnect and now I either can't load webpages altogether or everything will be extremely slow to the point I can't even stream anything on Netflix (and it still disconnects, giving me that asterisk above the WiFi bars and won't be able to connect to our WiFi when I hit the "Connect" button). If I get within feet of the wireless router in my home, everything works fine but I need to be able to work at my desk in another room in the house (where I have all the issues) and this is a brand new computer so I don't understand why the WiFi adapter isn't able to pick up the signal or stay connected from a little bit further away.  I live in a very small house and never had an issue on my old Sony Vaio laptop. I've tried everything from turning off the WiFi sleep function in the adapter settings, adjusting the power settings, updating the BIOS, reinstalling the wireless driver and resetting the whole computer. We've reset the wireless router in the house twice too. Sometimes the laptop will be fine for a week and then it starts having connectivity issues again. There are 2 other laptops, 2 tablets and 2 phones in my house that don't have the issues I have. I spent 2 hours on the phone with Tech Support last weekend and I'm still having the issue. This has been the most frustrating thing as my laptop is basically now an overpriced word processor so if there's anything other tips anyone can offer or if you've had the same issue, that would be much appreciated! 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

What model wireless network card does your model have installed?

I'll see what the latest wireless driver for it is, and perhaps installing that will help resolve the issue.

[KikiD15]

It has the Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265. I've already done all Windows and HP Solution Center Updates and reinstalled the driver itself but if there's a more recent version of the driver, will try that.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is a top of the line wireless card, and with that card you need two antenna leads.

HP cheaps out on some notebooks with low end single band wireless cards, and only installs one antenna (which explains why some folks get lousy reception--even the cheap wireless cards have two antenna terminals).

Try the latest W8.1 driver directly from Intel and see if that works better.

The second driver listed is for W8.1 x64.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24864/Intel-PROSet-Wireless-Software-for-Windows-8-1-

There are also some advanced settings you may want to tweak and see if that helps too...

A typical Intel card will have several advanced settings (found by clicking on the card in the device manager, then click on the advanced tab).

http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-025393.htm

Some you may want to change...

Roaming Aggressiveness -- change to lowest.

Transmit Power -- make sure that is set to highest (default).

[KikiD15]

First of all, thank you for being the first person to give me some actual helpful tips and info on this that I wouldn't have thought to try (and not talking to me like I'm stupid in the process). I've installed the updated driver and will try that to see how it works. I was looking around the Advanced settings for the wireless adapter also but didn't know which ones I should try mess with so thanks for giving me some suggestions on that also. Much appreciated. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If none of that helps, then check the service manual for your notebook and see how easy it is to access the wireless card.

On some models it is easy and some it is hard.

There is a slim but realistic chance that one of the two wireless antennas is not securely fastened to the wireless card.

If you can easily get to the wireless card, you may want to give that a look-see.

As I said, you should be very happy with the performance of that card, so if the driver update and advanced settings tweaks don't help, then one of the antenna leads is off or not securely fastened to the card, or the card is defective.

[twister0k]

Go to Control Panel->Power Options->Change Plan Settings->Change Advance Power Settings->Wireless Adapter Settings and set to Maximum Performance