Archer C20 Router Connection Issues

HuntyFtw · Jun 4, 2023

I have an Archer C20 router. You can check the system specs in my System Configuration. I am running it with latest Intel's Killer driver without the software, and it's able to connect to 5GHz sometimes but disconnects afterwards. It refuses to connect to the 5GHz network directly after boot most of the time and takes a lot of trials for it to succeed. What could be the plausible reason? Acer's customized drivers never worked even a single time since I bought the laptop. It connects to other routers' Wi-Fi 5/6 networks on 5GHZ just fine. Is it a router issue? All the phones and TVs are able to connect to its 5GHz network properly, even the old Predator laptop (G3-572) with Qualcomm network card works fine with it. I have linked the video below. Network card is Intel Killer AX1650i.
VEED - Recording 2023-06-04 214044.mp4

cereberus · Jun 4, 2023

Try turning off fast startup from power menus

HuntyFtw · Jun 5, 2023

cereberus said:
Try turning off fast startup from power menus

It's already disabled.

Fabler2 · Jun 5, 2023

Have you tried the troubleshooter?
Settings -System -Troubleshoot -Other trouble-shooters -Network and Internet.

HuntyFtw · Jun 6, 2023

Fabler2 said:
Have you tried the troubleshooter?
Settings -System -Troubleshoot -Other trouble-shooters -Network and Internet.

Yup

Winuser · Jun 6, 2023

Any chance you can borrow or even buy a inexpensive USB wi-fi adapter to test with?

glasskuter · Jun 7, 2023

You did not mention whether you can connect and run without issue using 2.4ghz connection and whether the killer will connect automatically to the 2.4 without issue. Also is the distance between your computer and the Archer very far and does the signal have to travel through very many walls or obstacles?

HuntyFtw · Jun 8, 2023

glasskuter said:
You did not mention whether you can connect and run without issue using 2.4ghz connection and whether the killer will connect automatically to the 2.4 without issue. Also is the distance between your computer and the Archer very far and does the signal have to travel through very many walls or obstacles?

2.4GHz works fine. Regarding the distance from the router, 5GHz sometimes connects and works fine even if there's an obstruction (like wall) but there are times when it doesn't connect to it even if it's at a straight line of sight to it.

HuntyFtw · Jun 8, 2023

Winuser said:
Any chance you can borrow or even buy a inexpensive USB wi-fi adapter to test with?

I have tried that and it works fine. Like I said, my 2017 laptop with Qualcomm Wi-Fi card (upto ac) works very well with it. I just expected the newer laptop to be able to connect and work fine OOTB since it's quite expensive.

glasskuter · Jun 8, 2023

HuntyFtw said:
I have tried that and it works fine.

Then you've answered your own question. If a usb wifi adapter works exactly as it's supposed to but the killer doesn't, the problem is either the driver or the killer is flaky and needs replacing..

Here' is Dell's Killer troubleshooting steps. It should apply to Acer as well. General Troubleshooting for the Killer 1535 Wireless Card | Dell US.

If none of that helps,iIt's new. I would be contacting Acer.

HuntyFtw · Jun 8, 2023

glasskuter said:
Then you've answered your own question. If a usb wifi adapter works exactly as it's supposed to but the killer doesn't, the problem is either the driver or the killer is flaky and needs replacing..

Here' is Dell's Killer troubleshooting steps. It should apply to Acer as well. General Troubleshooting for the Killer 1535 Wireless Card | Dell US.

If none of that helps,iIt's new. I would be contacting Acer.

In the Acer Predator group, people said that getting a newer router fixed it for them for the same model. Anyway, I will try out your suggestions.

glasskuter · Jun 8, 2023

Screwy problems seem to abound with the killer. From what I've read, a lot of folks seem to get tired of messing with it and find a suitable replacement. The AX200 or AX201 seem to be popular replacement choices. Which is compatible depends on whether or not your motherboard is equipped with Intel Integrated Connectivity (CNVi) or not. The AX201 is a CRF module that supports Intel® Integrated Connectivity. The AX 200 does not. They are not interchangeable so it is necessary to purchase according to your cpu and chipset. A different adapter would have cost less than the router.

I still say, you bought a new laptop so it is on the OEM to make it work right. It's not as though they don't know about all the problems with killer.

Fabler2 · Jun 8, 2023

On my ACER the Killer driver is for ethernet only.

glasskuter · Jun 8, 2023

Fabler2 said:
On my ACER the Killer driver is for ethernet only.

Out of all their wireless adapters Intel designates only 6 as 'killer'. Truth be told there's probably not a thimble full of difference in the killers and their standard wifis but it sounds impressive for high dollar gaming laptop rigs.

Fabler2 · Jun 8, 2023

glasskuter said:
Out of all their wireless adapters Intel designates only 6 as 'killer'. Truth be told there's probably not a thimble full of difference in the killers and their standard wifis but it sounds impressive for high dollar gaming laptop rigs.

Yes I agree. Total B.S.

HuntyFtw · Jun 9, 2023

Fabler2 said:
On my ACER the Killer driver is for ethernet only.

View attachment 61870

Looks like this for me.

Fabler2 · Jun 9, 2023

HuntyFtw said:
Looks like this for me.
View attachment 61942

Something to try. Open device manager and right click your wlan card, select update driver -Browse my computer for drivers -Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. Is there a list of drivers showing? If they're dated all the better. Select a driver (oldest first) or maybe one is showing Microsoft in brackets. Install that and reboot. See if that is better. You can always go back and try others there. I'm assuming you've tried Intel Drivers & support assistant and you're using the latest now.

HuntyFtw · Jun 9, 2023

Fabler2 said:
Something to try. Open device manager and right click your wlan card, select update driver -Browse my computer for drivers -Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. Is there a list of drivers showing? If they're dated all the better. Select a driver (oldest first) or maybe one is showing Microsoft in brackets. Install that and reboot. See if that is better. You can always go back and try others there. I'm assuming you've tried Intel Drivers & support assistant and you're using the latest now.

Oldest one indeed works better than the newer ones, but it didn't have encrypted DNS functionality support.

Fabler2 · Jun 9, 2023

Does this help?

Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change your DNS Server address and enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows 11. A DNS (Domain Name System) server is the service that makes it possible for you to open a web browser, type a domain name and load your favorite websites. DNS over HTTPS (DoH), or...

www.elevenforum.com

HuntyFtw · Jun 9, 2023

Fabler2 said:
Does this help?

Enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change your DNS Server address and enable DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in Windows 11. A DNS (Domain Name System) server is the service that makes it possible for you to open a web browser, type a domain name and load your favorite websites. DNS over HTTPS (DoH), or...

www.elevenforum.com

Those controls are not present in the oldest driver version.