A few days ago, my apartment experienced a random power outage that caused a breaker to trip. When the power came back on, my router lost its internet connection for a while, but eventually it came back online. However, now my WiFi signal to my computer is significantly weaker than it was before, and it's affecting all networks I can see—even those of my neighbors and my phone's hotspot, which has become noticeably weaker even when I'm close. I'm also dealing with intermittent speed drops that make it nearly impossible to use my internet. I've tried a bunch of troubleshooting steps, including using different Wi-Fi antennas, running Windows troubleshooting tools, performing a network reset, updating Windows, following various command-line tutorials, and tweaking some router settings. It seems like the problem is specifically with my computer, as other devices are working fine. I'm really frustrated because I work from home, and I need a stable connection. I could really use any advice or pointers on what to do next!
4 Answers
I don't think the problem lies with your computer's adapter. It's more likely related to your ISP, modem, or router. Test another device on the same network or try using an Ethernet connection. Remember, power outages rarely damage network adapters, so that's probably not the issue here.
You should definitely call your internet provider. Walk them through what you've already tried; they might send a technician to check the signal and equipment. Let them know you're working on improving your network—if it's still just your computer that's having issues, definitely update your post later about that.
I faced a similar issue after a power outage; I discovered I was connected to the 2.4 GHz band instead of the 5.0 GHz. It can make a big difference in signal strength, so check your connection band!
It sounds like the power outage might have caused some devices to switch channels unexpectedly. You should check the channel utilization of nearby networks; some routers have a feature for this, but apps like WiFiman work well too. If the channels are fine, maybe try swapping out your wireless adapter, though I know it's a long shot.
I've already played with channel settings after scanning with WiFiman, but no luck yet. I also tried different network adapters, but I'm still getting weak signals only on my desktop, not on my laptop or phone.