I recently switched to Spectrum and am using the provider's modem/router. My Apple devices have no connection problems, but both of my desktops are having separate networking issues.
Desktop 1, using a B660 DS3H AC motherboard, shows only one bar of Wi-Fi even when it is next to the router. Its Ethernet connection is stronger but only reaches about 3 Mbps. I reattached the screw-on Wi-Fi antennas, which improved the signal to two bars, but the connection is still very slow.
Desktop 2, using a Z890M Aorus Elite WiFi 7 motherboard, has a strong Wi-Fi and Ethernet signal but disconnects from Wi-Fi about every five minutes before reconnecting. Both systems use the same Cat6 Ethernet cable, are set to a public network, and have already had power-saving options disabled, Windows and motherboard drivers updated, saved connections removed, and the PCs and networking equipment restarted. The internet provider also reset the service.
Both computers worked with Spectrum previously, although Desktop 2 sometimes needed a restart to reconnect after waking from sleep, while Desktop 1 used to have fast Ethernet speeds. What should I check next?
3 Answers
The Wi-Fi 7 adapter in Desktop 2 may not be negotiating well with the provider’s router. In Device Manager, open the wireless adapter’s Properties and check the Advanced settings. Temporarily disable 802.11be or Wi-Fi 7 mode and test with Wi-Fi 6 or an older mode instead. Also check whether the adapter has a newer driver from the motherboard manufacturer. Since Ethernet is stable on that computer, using a wired connection may be the simplest workaround while troubleshooting wireless compatibility.
Start with Desktop 1’s physical setup. The B660 DS3H AC requires both screw-on antennas to be attached to the gold connectors on the rear I/O panel. Without them, a very weak signal is expected even beside the router. For the slow Ethernet, check the connection’s negotiated link speed in Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet. If it shows 10 or 100 Mbps instead of 1 Gbps, try another router port and another cable. That will help determine whether the issue is the cable, port, or network adapter.
For both machines, test with a known-good Ethernet cable and a different router port, then check whether the link speed changes. A cable that works on one device can still have a damaged pair or poor connector. If the link speed is normal but the internet remains around 3 Mbps, run a speed test directly beside the router and compare it with another device. If only Desktop 1 is slow, focus on its Ethernet adapter, driver, or motherboard settings rather than the ISP connection.
Both systems used Spectrum before. Desktop 2 mainly had trouble reconnecting after sleep, but its speeds were fine. Desktop 1 had always been wired because its Wi-Fi was poor, although Ethernet used to be much faster. Reattaching the antennas improved Desktop 1 from one bar to two, but the speed is still low.