Slower internet connection using USB Wi-Fi adapter
Slower internet connection using USB Wi-Fi adapter
I understand the situation. Your sister's laptop uses an Intel Dual Band Wi-Fi 6 AX201 adapter and experiences fluctuating speeds. The link speed changes appear to vary between different ranges. What causes these fluctuations?
WiFi connection speeds can fluctuate because of many elements like device-to-modem distance, network type (2.4GHz vs 5GHz), and local interference. To understand the full complexity of WiFi behavior, consider reviewing Duckware's detailed guide on WiFi networks. https://www.duckware.com/tech/wifi-in-the-us.html
The USB adapter is likely set to 2.4GHz, and it’s very unlikely the access point is configured for channel bonding, operating at a narrow 20MHz channel spread. That means roughly 54Mb will be the maximum available. I can address the laptop issue. Unlike smartphones, laptops—particularly those using PC hardware—often have poor antenna design. The chipset is packed onto the motherboard in an awkward spot, and the antenna is usually added at the end. This makes even small shifts in orientation impact performance significantly. Premium access points meet FCC broadcast standards, but laptop Wi-Fi receivers might function as if inside a Faraday cage. Smartphones, by contrast, are built for top Wi-Fi efficiency. That’s why high-end USB Wi-Fi adapters connected to a laptop’s port often outperform the built-in Wi-Fi.
Thanks for the feedback. I discovered a YouTube tutorial and adjusted the frequency settings to 2.4 GHz (G+N). The channel width was lowered to 40Hz from 20Hz, and right away the download speed reached 150/150Mbps, which matches the maximum speed of my USB adapter. I’m not sure about the technical details, but it seemed to work for me. I noticed online discussions suggesting that 40Hz on 2.4GHz isn’t ideal, while B+G+N is better for older devices, but in this case it performed well. Here’s the video link. Now I experience speeds above 80 Mbps even when I’m in another room from the router.
I've never heard anyone mention this before, yet it seems most people avoid buying premium USB adapters because they prefer compact designs without visible antennas. That's a misconception—40MHz usage occupies two-thirds of the 2.4GHz spectrum, which can cause interference with neighbors and lead to packet loss or slower speeds as devices vie for bandwidth. Your WiFi adapter operates only on 2.4GHz, so switching bands won't help. If you encounter issues later, consider a model supporting 802.11ac at 5GHz, provided your router can handle it. You might also look into newer internal cards like the AR9462-based miniPCIe chips that support 5GHz 802.11n.