The computer with WiFi is located about 45 feet from the router in another room. And it was not possible to connect via the phone line in the walls, because the internet cable requires more connectors than it has, so WiFi seemed like the best option.

1. The computer had internal WiFi and the signal was good.

2. But Windows 7 network indicator of the signal is just a few bars. For example "Ralink" (software driver to external WiFi adapter) has one UI with two signal bars - one for each antenna - displaying dBm and combined quality. Connecting an external WiFi adapter improved the signal a lot.

3. And moving the external WiFi adapter around, changing its two antennas direction could make the signal jump to 100%. But then after a while it seemed to fall about 15%.

4. "Well perhaps the adapter had unintentionally moved..." and moving it about again and there seemed to be a new hot spot. But then after a while the signal dropped again.

5. Got then one high-gain antenna and replaced one on the external adapter, so one of the antennas was double the length of the other. And the biggest one got about 1/3 better signal (quite a lot). Seemed like this couldn't get any better, because everything was constant about 100%. But then after a while ... strange ... only about 85-90% again.

6. Moved then the external WiFi adapter up to a clearing by a window and taped it to the wall. And that sort of solved the "range" obstacles, because now the signal was excellent again constantly at 98-100%. But then after a while ... yes down to 85%.

7. Taped then some aluminium to some large cartoon paper and placed them behind the router so to direct the signal, and that was notable on the Ralink WiFi meter for the external WiFi adapter. This was just 100% and nothing could be better except a cable. Download speed was about half the potential of the available, but WiFi probably can't do faster then, cause the signal quality was constantly 100%. Except after a while, now the signal strength is down to 85% again for the Hi-gain antenna and 65% for the normal, though the link quality is displayed as 100%.

So the question is just this: Does the Windows 7 automatically lower the signal strength, when it is increased?

Also for example on another computer with cable connection, the internet speed is normally 30Mb, but after some time or days(PCs are never turned off) it is down to 10Mb and stays there; turning router off and on doesn't change anything, but after restarting the computer with Windows 7 it is back to 30Mb. So it must be the software.

• Edited by Holotech 9 hours 29 minutes ago

or the driver

please update your Wifi driver

to isolate 3rd party software problems you can monitor this PC at safe mode with networking. If decrease signal issue didn't happen at safe mode with networking, try to disable firewall and antivirus to check, you can also perform clean boot

Also compare to another device connected to the same router

general possibilities

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/why-is-my-wireless-signal-strength-so-low

• Edited by britishdhez 1 hour 0 minutes ago

Hi Holotech!

WiFi is always a bit tricky, not to configure it self, but to understand why things happen or not, same with the strength of the signal. There are always things that interfere with the signal, sometimes things that you have no control over.

This post here explains the strength of the signal pretty good, the main point being that there is no "0" value.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/9782-43-read-signal-strength

Then, a lot depends on the quality of the equipment you use, the router it self in this case, a router for 10 bucks will not be as good as one for, lets say 120 bucks. Also, you said the router was only 45 feet away in another room, what kind of walls do you have? Plaster or concrete? This will also affect the signal dramatically, same if there are power lines in the wall that are not shielded.

As an example, had a customer a while back that complained that the WiFi dropped every single day between 10am and 2pm. The equipment was working correctly and nothing could be found until six weeks later when we saw what happened in this time frame, it was lunch... 8 microwaves going at full speed disturbing the signal...

Another thing that could be worth checking, are there any other WiFis in the area that you can reach? It could be that your WiFi is on the same channel as these WiFis, so I would check this as well. This can be done by downloading "INSSIDER". Notice that the WiFi overlaps on channel to each side, for example, if your WiFi is on channel 5, the start will be on 4 and ends on 6.

Best regards
Andreas Molin

agree with Andreas Molin, you can also start troubleshoot from the environment and router side. Mine is more to PC, driver and software side first

I also have experience with changing channel, it can improve signal a lot

• Edited by britishdhez 24 minutes ago

@britishdhez, Could it be that the WiFi adapter overheats, since the computer is never turned off. So perhaps that's why it is first hours later that the signal strength falls, everytime it is improved? Or is it in the software to lower the signal strength - not to distrub the surroundings more than necessary?

- The WiFi driver is uptodate.
- Firewall settings do no difference.
- The computer does not have antivirus. It's only got a clean install of the system and the necessary Windows Updates and then security software to preserve that state.
- Just tried a safeboot; after opening Ralink UI it showed signal quality and strength 100% (-48/50dBm) for both antennas where it before were 85% and 65%; but then after a normal boot it also showed 100% constantly again with exactly the same programs opened as before!

It's just weird that on the computer with WiFi the signal will fall after hours or perhaps next day first and then stay lower, while the computer with wire shows the maximum speed of 30Mb and then after some time also falls to 10Mb and stays there.

@Andreas Molin, Hi, there are only two other WiFis around on other channels, which the Hi-gain antenna detects and with the computer with external WiFi, the internal WiFi has been removed so not to interfere.

Yes, INSSIDER is an informative program.

The signal strength stays at 100% again now, and it does not randomly drop and rise again, it just falls about 15-20% after hours and stay down. Overheating perhaps?

Note: The internet company installs a modem and a router. They configure the router themselves and one just get the password to access WiFi. Just it's not possible to change router settings.

• Edited by Holotech a few seconds ago