AK2 does not connect to WIFI 2.4GHz

[robywan]

Hello,
I've a AK2 8GB 120GB mini pc and everything works correctly except a problem with connection on WIFI 2.4GHz that I need to perform because areas of the house are covered by power line extender only providing that WIFI freqeuncy.
AK2 seems to be connected to that WIFI network but Internet connection is not working. Many other devices in the house are working correctly in the same conditions (so is not a problem of power line extender), everything is working correctly when AK2 is located close to the router where also 5GHz WIFi is available.
I've tried driver update, WIN 10 update (except WIN 10 20H2 package update), reconfig of network connection many times, changing DNS and so on...
simply the WIFI connection to 2.4GHZ seems not working or in some occasion working extremely low...
Do you have faced similar problem, what could be the solution?
Thank you in advance for support
Have a nice day
Robywan

[admin]

If 5G WiFi is used normally, it means that the wifi module is working normally.
2.4G WIFI cannot be connected. This should be related to the environment you are using. It may be caused by interference of signal frequency band coverage. If it affects your use, we suggest you contact the after-sales mailbox: service@iacepc.com

[robywan]

Thank you for feedback,
I've performed additional "test" in the meanwhile:
- by putting outside of the mini pc box the additional SSD (in order to reduce possible obstacle to WIFI signal reception...) the connection was slightly better on the 2.4 Ghz
- by changing the ID channel on the router (from Automatic to Channel Id 6) no significant benefits have been noticed...extermely slow speed connection
- by inserting and old external usb WIFI module (only limited to 54Mbps because is ten years old...) connection immediately works well (apart limitation in speed due to antenna old version...)

I've read in another forum topic (for AK1 if I remember well) that someone had a similar problem, solving that by moving the WIFI antennas position in the mini pc box...in order to put them in a better positon for WIFI signal reception... is this a potential solution? but I do not have idea of where are located the WIFI antennas...
If not, a solution would be to buy a better external usb wifi module...also if this was not the orginal expectation for the mini pc

thank you again
have a nice day

[Gabe]

robywan,

I have an AK3, which is very similar to an AK2. Installing an SSD in the carriage under the lid caused issues with the WiFi. Pushing the SATA cable/adapter down in that little space did something to it, and appears it was as a result of that cable/adapter pushing on/manipulating the WiFi antenna wires, though I don't know exactly how that manipulation caused the problem.

Spreading the antennas further apart, and in such a way that the cable/adapter no longer pushed on their wires, solved the issue for the most part, though it took a little bit of trial and error to get the placement just right.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not necessarily recommending that you try this, as it's not very hard to break one of those antenna wires. I'm only letting you know what I did to solve the issue. And, of course, the ultimate solution is like you mentioned, as in a USB WiFi dongle/antenna. If I couldn't get the antennas and their wires in the right position, or I broke one or both, that USB solution is the way I was going to go.

[robywan]

Thank you Gabe for the detailed answer,
because I wouldn't like to run the risk of breaking something inside the atennas wires I prefer to go for the solution of an exteranl WiFi antenna via USB.
I've tried right now with a recent one (respect to the older one I tried some days ago), and it works perfectly, maybe not the most "compact" solution but anyway is ok for me.
thank you again.
Robywan

[Gabe]

robywan,

You're very welcome. I'm glad the USB solution works, and it's also good to know.

I actually "had" an AK3 and a GK1. Because the AK3 had the better CPU, RAM and storage, but the GK1 had the better case design (in my opinion), I actually swapped the system boards, which are of the same dimensions and layout. Everything went fine except the WiFi antenna leads on the GK1 board are shorter, and when put in the AK3 case it made it so I couldn't reinstall the SATA adapter cable due to those WiFi antenna wires being in the way and not having enough 'slack' in them to move enough. So, the AK3 case with the GK1 board can't use an add on SSD.

This was okay because it was now my 'lesser' unit and wouldn't be used very much, but I still wanted to be able to add an SSD, especially since it only has 64GB of onboard storage. Knowing that the USB antenna option works makes it an easy choice to literally remove the WiFi antennas inside the unit so I can add that SATA adapter cable back in and then an SSD, and then just get one of those USB antennas for the WiFi.

So now, instead of having one great unit with ample storage and one good unit with minimal storage, that good unit will have ample storage as well, and with its WiFi coming via a USB antenna.