Network throughput drops to 0Kbps (send and recieve) every 8 seconds, adapter fine on other PCs

Question

System:
HP 290 G1 Microtower PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7500 CPU @ 3.40GHz 3.40 GHz
Installed RAM 8.00 GB (7.89 GB usable)
Device ID EA9D01FF-A2BC-4AF7-99C6-36A4BAF78CC2
Product ID 00330-50826-60474-AAOEM
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 21H1
Installed on ‎12/‎07/‎2021
OS build 19043.1415
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0

Wifi speed drops to 0Kbps every 10 seconds or so for about 2 seconds both send and receive
I have two identical USB Wifi adapters and it’s the same for both adapters but just when in this PC.

Resource monitor shows the same issue
What I have tried:

• Testing with data from the web or transferring data from my NAS on the same subnet. Both have the issue so it’s not an issue with broadband.
• Swapped to another identical 802.11ac USB network adaptor – they both work fine in another machine – so I don’t think the adapter is the issue.
• Switch to another brand adapter (802.11n only) – works fine
• Another PC with this adapter in the same room has no problems and is on same wifi 5GHz channel so that rules out the Wifi signal having problems. Same wifi/network setup, same driver, same update version of windows.
• Tried manual DNS configuration to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
• Latest update to router
• Latest update to Windows
• Latest f/w for adapters
• Latest BIOS for PC
• Turned off adapter power management
• Tried latest manufacturer and latest MS drivers for adapter
• Different USB ports tried both 2.0 and 3.0
• Airplane mode on/off
• Router reboot (full power off)
• PC reboot (full power off)
• “Forget” and reattach to network
• Uninstalled VPN
• Reboot with all start-up programs and all non-Microsoft services disabled
• Link speed to router checked = 585Mbps
• Set the adapter as the only connection on the 5GHz channel
• Set the adapter as the only connection on the 2.4GHz channel
• Tried Static and DHCP IPV4 addressing
• Network RESET in settings
• Network troubleshooter
• Network Adapter Troubleshooter
• Incoming Connections troubleshooter
• Internet Connections troubleshooter
• HP Network Check
• Tried switching off local firewall
• Tried switching off router firewall
• HP Hardware diagnostics 1.8.0.0

Hardware properties:
SSID: xxxxxxxx
Protocol: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Security type: WPA2-Personal
Network band: 5 GHz
Network channel: 60
Link speed (Receive/Transmit): 585/585 (Mbps)
Link-local IPv6 address: xxxx::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxxxx
IPv6 DNS servers: xxxx::xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxxxx
IPv4 address: 192.168.1.83
IPv4 DNS servers: 192.168.1.1
DNS suffix search list: broadband
Manufacturer: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Description: Realtek 8812BU Wireless LAN 802.11ac USB NIC
Driver version: 1030.38.712.2019
Physical address (MAC): 1C-BF-CE-7D-75-D4

I have spent so many hours on this - it's driving me nuts. Any input or suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Nick

Answer 1

Hello Nick,

There are lots of possible next steps, but rather than spending effort weighing the merits of each, let's just start with a simple test:

• Issue the command netsh trace start report=disabled overwrite=yes provider=Microsoft-Windows-WLAN-AutoConfig tracefile=why.etl.
• Wait 3 or so minutes.
• Issue the command netsh trace stop.
• Issue the command netsh trace convert why.etl why.txt

There should be some readable information in why.txt.

Looking directly at why.etl using my tools and filtering some junk, I see on my system:

The events highlighted in green happened when I performed a search in Google - I have enabled Google to request my location when performing searches.

I think that we will see a scan being initiated every 10 seconds on your PC and, if so, we will then have to search for the client that requested the scan.

Gary

Answer 2

Hi Gary,
Had very fast shower -

here's the file

2021-01-01 why.etl

Gotta dash

:-)

Answer 3

Hello Nick,

I think that we might be narrowing in on a partial explanation.

From the trace data, here is the timing of the ICMP traffic:

There is certainly an example of problem when the ping request 13.0 seconds into the trace is answered 2.8 seconds later; I believe that the ping request 4.6 seconds into the trace (answered at the 5.8 second mark) is also an example.

This is what might be causing the problem:

It seems that "every" 10 seconds, the adapter switches to channel 100 for 2.4 seconds before switching back to channel 106 ("every" is perhaps a bit strong based on just two events).

The problem title mentions "every 8 seconds", but I think that that needs to be interpreted as: after 8 seconds of good throughput, the throughput drops too zero for 2 seconds.

Whether this scanning/switching behaviour is normal (in its behaviour and frequency) or not and, if not, what is causing it still remains to be determined...

Answer 4

Hi Gary.

Lunch break at work so no access to PC., home 1am.
This looks like excellent progress.

Is the channel change because of lack of response or response not recognised?

To rule out thoughts of network interference etc. Previously I tried on a 2.4gHz only subnet on the same router and still had same issue. Also the other PC 2m away in same room has no issue when this adapter installed. I will re-verify in the morning. Also will run by as network analyser In be have on my laptop and see if there is any other network creating spikes in their signal dB.
The pc is away from all other kit. it was close to a speaker amplifier but moving has made no change.

Will update any change found tomorrow and re-verify networks as above. Unlikely to be any of this but a recheck wouldn't hurt.

Nick :-)

Answer 5

Sounds good to me.
You really are a very clever chap. There can't be many people who know Windows this well.

Speex tomorrow :-)