It's Critter Time!

This is an issue I've had ever since moving from ethernet to a USB dongle after we moved into a new house. It seems like the mere act of downloading a file or update for a game just utterly decimates my internet, discord will show a 5000ms ping, and if I'm lucky I'll reconnect every few seconds, but more often then not my wifi keeps getting set to 'Not Connected' until I either end the download for disconnect from call. Is there any fix I can do to solve this? I can't just use ethernet as I don't have a cable for it in my room.

I'm assuming this a PC (not a laptop) and the USB dongle is for wifi.

If the dongle is very short and you're plugging it into the back of a big PC, it might be getting interference from the case and other PC components. Some sort of USB hub / USB extension cable with a cradle could help. That way the dongle wouldn't be right up against the PC case.

Buying a PCIe Wifi adapter that has external antenna to use instead of the dongle might get you better results too.

Yeah I'd second looking at the dongle and seeing if its being blocked- personal experience is higher is better, and less cluttered is better. But of course, your mileage is going to vary. If you can't get a wifi signal to stay strong, another alternative that I have had success with is powerline adapters!


Notable that the distance and wiring of your home can make a notable difference in connection strength. But powerlines are far more stable, and just need to be hooked to a power outlet at both where you'll be using it, and where the modem is. I couldn't run an ethernet cable across my parents place the like ~15ish years ago I lived with them and this solved it immediately. I would imagine (hope) they've since gotten better.