I got a new laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad L570) and when I use it in my room, which is quite far away from the router, i get 2 bars of signal strength and internet is quite fast compared to the HP desktop computer I have in the same room.
However, I noticed that although fast, the Wi-Fi connection is often unstable when using my laptop in my room, and frequently disconnects for half a minute, while my desktop computer does not disconnect at all.
That may have absolutely nothing to do with the stability of your Wi-Fi card if your computer has a virus or malware that your router firewall can detect your router will kick you off of the internet repeatedly over and over and over again until you remove the malware or the virus
Bandwidth isn't speed… Latency is speed.
Yes your Bandwidth can effect your Latency but only depending what your doing Online.
two methods of streaming… Realtime vs Buffers.
Realtime might not require lots of bandwidth but speed yes. Think of it like a phone call… Disturbances are heard and can't be ignored and comes in as they are received, that's real-time. A text message however will wait to display the correct message, when conditions become better.
A buffer stores data to be viewed when needed… So a buffer can require a burst of Bits and store when they are needed. Unless the program/aplication/video needs that data it pulls it from buffers which extend further from networks as you have Memory buffers and disk buffers.
You can run a speedtest to get both Bandwidth and Latency… Or do a Tracert (Trace route) to your target to get speed alone but divide the outcome by 2 as the outcome result of a Ping or Tracert is to target then back to you.
The better the Wi-Fi connection the better its transmissions.
Not necessarily. There could be various reasons why you are getting disconnects
If you are connecting with a faster Wi-Fi speed you may be using a 5Ghz band range which although faster has less penetration compared with the 2.4Ghz bandwidth. Alternative you may be getting Wi-Fi interference from neighbouring networks, cordless phones, baby alarms electrical equipment
It may be that the Wi-Fi card in the laptop is not as good as the Wi-Fi card in the desktop
Initially log into the router and check if there's a 5GHz band available and see if the laptop is using that, if possible switch it off and use the other 2.4Ghz band.
While you are logged in change the broadcast channel from the default - usually 6 to something 2 steps lower or higher such as 4 or 3 or 9 or 11
Some Wi-Fi devices have compatibility issues with certain routers. This can vary from not even being able to detect that a network exists, to simply having a slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connection.
I have had several devices over the years that had compatibility issues with various routers.
I had an HP laptop that had extremely slow Wi-Fi. This did not affect other wireless devices, and it turned out to be interference from a neighbour's network. I changed the wireless channel the router was using and the problem disappeared.
I have a security camera with Ethernet and Wi-Fi capability. When I first got it, it could not detect the Wi-Fi from the router I had at the time although it could detect other networks. I used it with Ethernet until I changed the router to a different make.
I currently have an Asus mini laptop that does not like my current router. The connection is slow and unreliable. I'm now using a Wi-Fi Range Extender just for that laptop. The extender connects by Wi-Fi to the router, and the laptop connects by Wi-Fi to the extender.
I have seen similar problems many times with friends and neighbours networks.
Start by trying different wireless channels. If that doesn't help, see if there's an updated wireless driver for the laptop. After that it might be a case of switching to a USB wireless adapter in the laptop, replacing the router or adding a second Wi-Fi network with a wireless access point or Wi-Fi Range Extender. An extender will drop the Wi-Fi speed for devices that use it as each packet has to make two wireless hops instead of one.
You might look at Powerline network adapters such as:
http://www.tp-link.us/...WPA4220KIT
This can provide a second Wi-Fi network in your room, and should allow you to connect the desktop PC by Ethernet. Ethernet is almost invariably faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, especially for online gaming.
Maybe your desktop is the main device connected to your router therefore it has priority over other devices.
Honestly there can be a number of reasons why your laptop gets disconnected. And i mean a lot of possible reasons. These can involve your Location, hardware, software, blockage, conflicts and other devices. Get a Wi-Fi booster, it can help with more than half of the possible causes
Yes
Latency is the cause of a slow speed measurement, are you the Kevy that we had on here a few years ago who just used answers here to build up points to ask more questions elsewhere?
Don't know who gave you two thumbs up, ignore that answer Jacky.
https://www.lifewire.com/latency-on-computer-networks-818119
Could not add a comment to Kevy's answer.
Regards, Bob.
Ok