Failed-network error when downloading

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 14:51

Hi I appreciate it is quite a broad error but I noticed in chrome or another browser when I'm downloading large or even small files the connection starts off ok and then eventually dies out (this is using wifi 5ghz)

I got myself a new wireless adapter and it is the same outcome.

Today I just plugged a networking cable in and the downloads worked straight away so it def means the problem is over wifi (all other devices on said network are 100% okay, my macbook is flawless) but on this windows machine with wifi the downloads are failing

anyone got any tips on how to get the downloads to work successfully via wifi?

Firegod · 13 Oct 2022 at 15:42

Anything electical near the windows PC or anything obstructing it significantly? How far away is the router for the windows PC? I know you said other devices are OK but have you rebooted the router just in case / see if that helps? Tried a different 5Ghz channel?

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 15:45

Firegod said:
Anything electical near the windows PC or anything obstructing it significantly? How far away is the router for the windows PC? I know you said other devices are OK but have you rebooted the router just in case / see if that helps? Tried a different 5Ghz channel?

Nothing electrical I can think of or is obvious

PC is on first floor and router on ground whats interesting is if I bring my macbook into the same room as the PC that downloads all ok.

I'm left wondering that it has to be a specfic thing on the PC. system restore isnt an option as it was stupidly turned off somehow (turned on now though)

I can try change the wifi channel does it usually mean that all devices will be temporarily interupted?

Firegod · 13 Oct 2022 at 15:49

psd99 said:
Nothing electrical I can think of or is obvious

PC is on first floor and router on ground whats interesting is if I bring my macbook into the same room as the PC that downloads all ok.

I'm left wondering that it has to be a specfic thing on the PC. system restore isnt an option as it was stupidly turned off somehow (turned on now though)

I can try change the wifi channel does it usually mean that all devices will be temporarily interupted?

Yeah changing the channel will temporarily drop the radio and any connected clients. So if it's being used best wait or risk someone shouting at you.

What kind of wireless adaptor did you get, a USB one or a PCI/e jobby? If USB then I guess check in Device Manager that any listed USB "hubs" aren't set to "save power" (I think it is a tick box under the advanced properties). And perhaps a TCP/IP stack reset might help on the windows PC - https://www.howtogeek.com/803098/how-to-reset-the-tcpip-stack-on-windows/

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 15:52

thanks and yes it is a USB adapter
I just got a new one TPLINK today thinking that'd fix it no luck so far

i will look at that setting

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:01

Btw what in theory is my max throughput on a 5GHZ wifi network?

When I plugged the cable in I was getting about 8/9mb per second I beleive which isnt too bad

my broadband is set at 80 download speed and its a wifi 1300 connector

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:02

the USB thing was enabled, I have now powered it off
the download seems to be working so far.....

Firegod · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:10

Great stuff. See how that goes and keep monitoring.

Oh aye also - if your broadband is 80Mbps then if you are reading 8-9MB/s with the cable that is looking good. 9MB/s is about 72Mbps.

If you have the TP-Link T4U AC1300 adapter, then in theory, the max throughput on 5Ghz (according to TP-Link specs) is 867Mbps. Obviously also make sure it is connected to a USB3.0 port.

So things to try / summary:

1. Check it is in a USB3.0 port
2. Check that all USB hubs have their power saving tick-box deselected via Device Manager
3. Try a TCP/IP Stack Reset (if necessary)
3. Pick a different 5Ghz channel (higher if possible - less interference)
4. Reboot router (if possible)

Cheers.

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:18

thanks that's great steps

that is exactly the one I got I was thinking if I should return it?

the old adapter is a generic one it has a blue usb connector so im guessing it is also usb3.0? but is it worth keeping the TPlink
I would have throught their products are generally really good

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:20

Wired connection is really good like 8-9 MB per second but on the wifi adapter it flactuates 2-6MP per second

I will try a diff higher channel

Firegod · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:33

psd99 said:
thanks that's great steps

that is exactly the one I got I was thinking if I should return it?

the old adapter is a generic one it has a blue usb connector so im guessing it is also usb3.0? but is it worth keeping the TPlink
I would have throught their products are generally really good

I like TP-Link products, they seem resonably well built / perform well for their price. I've had a few of their routers and powerline adapters over the years and never taken issue with them.

I'd probably say keep the TP-Link device over the generic one but it is of course up to you.

psd99 said:
Wired connection is really good like 8-9 MB per second but on the wifi adapter it flactuates 2-6MP per second

I will try a diff higher channel

Wired will always give the best results.

How is the signal strength looking for the windows PC with the TP-Link adapter? Task Manager and/or quick glance at the system tray wifi icon will show if you have full bars / full strength. Low signal strength would contribute to low throughput. And to fix that it would be a case of moving the Router to a closer location, or buying mesh, for example. I use WiFi for my PC but I have a PCI card which then connects to the external antenna that I have sitting on top of my speakers. So it's up off the ground and it gets a good, full signal. Sometimes the little USB dongles aren't the best sadly.

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:36

thanks I will keep the tp link

I got 4/5 bars and the connection is set to 585MB per second

is that really low? product says 867mbps but what does the 1300 mean then?

right now sounds like im getting 585 out of a possible 867

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:37

oh and the plastic is still on the product lol

Firegod · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:42

psd99 said:
thanks I will keep the tp link

I got 4/5 bars and the connection is set to 585MB per second

is that really low? product says 867mbps but what does the 1300 mean then?

right now sounds like im getting 585 out of a possible 867

Well that sounds good. Nothing wrong with that.

So AC at the start means 802.11ac (i.e. WiFi 5). Then the numbers after are like the sum of all the bands put together. So in this case your adapter is 867Mbps on 5Ghz and 433Mbps on 2.4Ghz = 1300Mbps. So that is your AC1300.

But remember these figures are the theoretical max bandwidths.

I use the TP-Link Archer TX3000E adapter (basically the Intel AX200 chip). That is AX3000. AX = WiFI 6 (802.11ax) and 3000 because on 5Ghz it is 2402Mbps and 2.4Ghz is 574Mbps = 2976Mbps (you get the idea lol). But mine has negoiated a link speed of 1201Mbps.

psd99 · 13 Oct 2022 at 16:55

Firegod said:
Well that sounds good. Nothing wrong with that.

So AC at the start means 802.11ac (i.e. WiFi 5). Then the numbers after are like the sum of all the bands put together. So in this case your adapter is 867Mbps on 5Ghz and 433Mbps on 2.4Ghz = 1300Mbps. So that is your AC1300. But remember these figures are the theoretical max bandwidths.

I use the TP-Link Archer TX3000E adapter (basically the Intel AX200 chip). That is AX3000. AX = WiFI 6 (802.11ax) and 3000 because on 5Ghz it is 2402Mbps and 2.4Ghz is 574Mbps = 2976Mbps (you get the idea lol). But mine has negoiated a link speed of 1201Mbps.

nice that card looks great
how would i know if that will work on my setup?

I got a bt router guess it depends if that router supports 802.11ax

Firegod · 14 Oct 2022 at 10:29

psd99 said:
nice that card looks great
how would i know if that will work on my setup?

I got a bt router guess it depends if that router supports 802.11ax

Sorry for late reply.

So only thing you need to know is if your PC has a spare PCIe slot. Which most motherboards have but you'd have to check inside your case. Hopefully underneath the GPU you have one or two spare unused slots. I have mine in the bottom most one but I don't think it matters. And that is it - not much to it. Click it in the spare slot, and then screw in the cables on the rear and then place the stand somewhere on your desk for example (and install the latest Intel AX200 drivers - not the older TP-Link drivers).

I must admit I bought some extension cables online so that I could place the base even higher. Standard cable length was about 30cm too short for where I wanted to put it. Typical.

And yeah Router wise, you'd need the model and just check if that particular BT router supports WiFi6, or not. Even if your Router does not do 802.11ax, the TX3000E will still run 802.11ac. So it's not like it wouldn't work. And compared to the T4U adapter you have at the moment it has slightly higher transmit power - which is always helpful. Add to that the more advantageous placement possibilities and it should give you a better WiFi experience.

Hope that helps.

psd99 · 15 Oct 2022 at 08:41

Thanks not sure the new adapter will fix the problem

ok same thing happened again
it was fine the day i typed here

the usb power setting is fine - any other suggestions?

Im tempted to run a wired connection here but might look bit unsightly as the ethernet wall box is like on the other side of the room.

psd99 · 17 Oct 2022 at 11:01

Tried windows update today
downloads seem to be working better now