Check your Wi-Fi antenna and port for any damage or issues.
Check your Wi-Fi antenna and port for any damage or issues.
Recently, my internet upload speed has been fluctuating unexpectedly. Usually, a speed test indicates around 10-11 Mbps. However, over the past few days it has sometimes fallen below 10 or even 5 Mbps. I’m unsure if the issue lies with the router, the server, or my computer. With multiple devices connected at once, the connection has been stable before. Now, occasionally it drops to between 3 and 9 Mbps. I tried resetting the router and reattaching the antenna on my PC. It seems one of the connection ports is slightly loose—plugging it in works, but shifting it a bit won’t help. The other port is firmly connected. I suspect the antenna might be damaged or misaligned, possibly due to a small mistake during removal. Despite cleaning the PC regularly, including the back and antenna area, this problem persists. I’ve been running speed tests for an hour now, and the upload speed hasn’t dropped again, though it could happen later. Please see the photo attached: the one on the right is the loose one. It moves freely even without the antenna. What should I do? Should I stop cleaning that part? I hope I don’t face another complicated hardware problem. Thank you ahead of time.
Its extremely common for those sockets to come loose, as long as you do not continue to rotate it then its probably fine. Its certainly possible the little cable on the inside has disconnected or been twisted to death, though I've had many loose and not killed one yet. One important thing to check is when that PC is going slow, do other devices too? What are you using to test your upload speed? Does moving the PC make a difference as once the socket comes loose you will no longer be able to able to position that antenna as it will flop down (or is the antenna on a cable?).
I don't always notice the changes. Sometimes my phone slows down unexpectedly, especially in the bathroom, and it's hard to tell if it's the same at different times. Download speeds also vary, usually staying between 100 to 200 Mbps. It seems random. I think it gets worse when other devices are running. I noticed some websites would show a "connecting..." message and need refreshing. I checked Ookla's speed test and saw similar swings. Moving the PC doesn't seem to help much. The antenna angle matters—using 135 degrees instead of 90 often improves speed. They aren't always connected to a cable; you can detach them without losing internet. It might be best to stop touching that part if it bothers you.
It's a challenging situation, as the setup will probably become unstable over time. The resistance here is that you might not be able to secure them firmly without crossing into the IO shield area. I hope the nut on the opposite side has a recessed design that secures it in place, allowing you to tighten the outer nut instead—though finding the right tools inside the shield can be tricky. If possible, avoid handling it more than needed while you tighten. You might consider using an antenna on a cable so you can adjust the antennas without touching the PC back panel. Also, I always suggest keeping the antennas away from the case to prevent signal interference.