[SOLVED] Help! Wireless slows when closing lid of laptop

DanZ514 · Oct 9, 2013

Hello,
Recently I have just gotten a new Toshiba P50-A laptop. While this is a vast improvement over my old one, I seem to have run into a problem. When downloading large files, I usually close the lid overnight and let it run. However, with this new laptop, internet speeds slow from 100+kbps to just about 30kbps. This is a particular nuisance for downloading steam games. If it helps, the network card installed is the Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter.
I have researched this problem and tried the most common solutions:
- going into power settings>change plan settings>change advanced plan settings>power buttons and lid>lid close action and changing the setting to "do nothing"
- going into power settings>change plan settings>change advanced plan settings>wireless adapters>changing setting to "maximum performance"
- going into device manager>network adapters>Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter>power management>uncheck setting "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
-updating drivers to wireless card using device manager
But none have worked. I know that it is not the wireless router or modem because I can download at full speeds with lid closed on my brother's asus laptop (also running Win8). Help me!

jcgriff2 · Oct 10, 2013

What is your actual Internet speed?

Speedtest.net by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

Ethernet is rated @ 100 Mbps, but. . .

DanZ514 · Oct 10, 2013

I just did the speedtest (lid open):

I tried to do it closed, but the speed is too low and returns an error. However, the speed difference can still be shown. I am downloading the ubuntu linux distro here by torrent:

The first red line is when I close the lid. The second line is when I open it again. Green line is download speeds, blue line is upload speeds. Both stay at virtually zero when lid is closed.

DanZ514 · Oct 10, 2013

DanZ514 said:
Hello,
Recently I have just gotten a new Toshiba P50-A laptop. While this is a vast improvement over my old one, I seem to have run into a problem. When downloading large files, I usually close the lid overnight and let it run. However, with this new laptop, internet speeds slow from 100+kbps to just about 30kbps.

Oops, meant 3kbps.

jcgriff2 · Oct 10, 2013

It could be an issue with the wifi antenna/ reception.

I'd like to see wifi info, please.

Download this app - save to Documents -

http://www.sysnative.com/apps/jcgriff2/netsh_lan_wlan_jcgriff2_.exe

RIGHT-click, "Run as Administrator"

A Notepad will open upon completion.

Please zip it up and attach to your next post.

Just curious, please - (if you care to answer) -

Why do you want the laptop to continue running with the lid closed?
Does the monitor turn off?
Does the system get hotter with the lid closed while running?

Thanks.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

DanZ514 · Oct 10, 2013

To answer your questions:
Why do you want the laptop to continue running with the lid closed? So I can download miscellaneous large files overnight.
Does the monitor turn off? When I close it, yes.
Does the system get hotter with the lid closed while running? Not as far as I am aware of. There is no discernable difference in fan speed or computer temperature when it is open versus closed.

The file you have asked for I have attached.
View attachment 5532

jcgriff2 · Oct 11, 2013

Thanks for the answers.

Apologies. .. . we experienced a server issue which resulted in the loss of some attachments, including yours.

Please upload and attach the file again. Thanks.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

DanZ514 · Oct 11, 2013

Here it is.

jcgriff2 · Oct 11, 2013

Hi -

Thank you for re-attaching the output file. Again... apologies for the inconvenience.

Your wifi driver does not seem to be the issue as it is updated:

Code:

    Driver                    : Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter
    Vendor                    : Qualcomm Atheros Communications Inc.
    Provider                  : Qualcomm Atheros Communications Inc.
    Date                      : 8/7/2013
    Version                   : 10.0.0.263

The wifi signal strength is the likely culprit:

Code:

    Signal                 : 54% 
    Signal                 : 58%

The signal strength should be at or near 100%.

How far away from the router is the laptop?

Any obstructions?

The signal strength may be decreasing when the lid is closed.

To test - Try Ethernet connection and see if the night-time download speed suffers.

The other thing to consider here is that the laptop is idle overnight -- the time during which Windows Task Manager kicks in to do housekeeping.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

DanZ514 · Oct 11, 2013

I figured it out; there were updates that needed to be installed, as well as that I turned off the FastBoot. Thanks for the help.

jcgriff2 · Oct 11, 2013

Hi -

Glad you got this solved.

Thanks for posting back with the outcome - much appreciated.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

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[SOLVED] Help! Wireless slows when closing lid of laptop

DanZ514

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[SOLVED] Help! Wireless slows when closing lid of laptop

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Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

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Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Member

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
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Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
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Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
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Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)