I'm using a Windows 11 PC and regularly get timeouts while gaming. Reseating the Ethernet cable hasn't helped, and I'm wondering whether there are router settings that could improve the connection. My internet comes through a T-Mobile/UPC Home Fiber Box in Austria. I should also mention that the PC is connected through a repeater, which appears to lose its connection to the main router when the drop happens. The repeater is in the next room, separated from the router by one wall, and the interruptions happen roughly every 30–60 minutes. What should I test or change?
4 Answers
Try a different Ethernet cable anyway, especially if the cable runs through a wall or is connected to another device. Also check that both ends click firmly into place. Restart the router and repeater, then look for firmware updates in the manufacturer’s app or web interface. Avoid changing advanced router settings until you know whether the direct connection is stable.
When it drops, check whether other devices lose internet too. If only the PC does, focus on the Ethernet cable, repeater, and PC network adapter. If the entire home network disconnects, record the times and contact the internet provider so they can check the fiber box and line logs.
The repeater being only one wall away doesn’t guarantee a clean wireless link. Test it temporarily in the same room as the router, then try a different location with fewer obstacles. If it supports separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, test both; 5 GHz is usually faster, while 2.4 GHz often handles walls better. A wired access point or direct Ethernet connection would be more reliable for gaming than a wireless repeater.
Router settings probably aren’t the first thing to change. Since the PC is connected through a repeater and its lights indicate that it loses contact with the main router, the repeater or its wireless backhaul is the likely problem. Test the PC with a cable connected directly to the router, if possible. If the connection stays stable, you’ve isolated the issue to the repeater or its signal path.

That makes sense—the repeater LEDs do seem to show that it loses the connection to the main network when the timeout happens.