Edit - Super User

You are not logged in. Your edit will be placed in a queue until it is peer reviewed.

We welcome edits that make the post easier to understand and more valuable for readers. Because community members review edits, please try to make the post substantially better than how you found it, for example, by fixing grammar or adding additional resources and hyperlinks.

Rev

Required fields*

Why can’t my Aetheros Wi-Fi adapter on an Asus Vivobook keep a stable connection?

I have a Windows 10 Asus Vivobook laptop with Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter, which can’t keep a stable connection to any Wi-Fi network. Sometimes it can detect the network, sometimes it does but won’t connect, other times it connects and then disconnects after a minute or two.

What I have tried so far:

Connecting to three different devices: TP-Link Router, Asus Router, Android Phone hotspot.
Changing the driver installed using third party software Driver Booster.
Manually download the latest driver I have found which was dated 2019 from a site called “Driver Identifier.”
Doing a fresh install of Windows 10.
Going through command prompt command to make sure the adapter itself is intact, which is:
```
netsh wlan show interfaces
```

Which gave me the following status, every thing seems to be OK hardware wise:

Name                   : Wi-Fi
Description            : Qualcomm Atheros AR956x Wireless Network Adapter
GUID                   : 24f978e4-e363-4903-b686-9764f57af0a7
Physical address       : d0:c5:d3:11:8c:97
State                  : disconnected
Radio status           : Hardware On
                         Software On

Update: Versions of Wi-Fi each device supports:

Qualcomm Atheros AR956x: 802.11b Preamble.
TP-Link modem W8961N: 802.11n.
Redmi Android phone: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band.

Answer*

First, check signal quality and strength. There are applications such as Nirsoft's free [WiFiInfoView][1] or an [alternative][2], which can show that, as below.

[![WiFiInfoView][3]][3]

* [**RSSI** (Received Signal Strength Indicator)][4] is the electrical power, in dBm of the signal.
* **Sig...** is the Signal Quality, from 0 to 100, based on number of missed packets. This takes into account noise and interference, as well as power.
* **Avera...** is the time-averaged signal quality.

Since dBm is *negative* logarithmic, a *lower* absolute value indicates a *stronger* signal (-54 is better than -65). For signal *quality*, a higher number is better (86 is better than 80).

If the signal quality is *low*, perhaps below 50, the issue is likely *hardware*. The WiFi adapter antenna may have come loose (likely after service to the PC), the router and PC may be too far apart, there might be intervening walls, another device might be sharing the band and channel (also shown above), or electromagnetic noise from an appliance could cause issue. You might find it worthwhile to buy an inexpensive USB WiFi adapter with antennae, which could improve reception.

If the signal quality is *good*, then look to OS (operating system) issues. To eliminate Windows and it's drivers, as well as Qualcomm's, as a possible cause, *boot from another OS.* One easy way to do so is to create live Linux installation media, such as for [Ubuntu][5]. There is no need to install Linux, just boot from USB, and see if there is a solid WiFi connection. If Linux works, then the issue is in Windows, or with the drivers, or a background application causing disconnection. 

<sub>BTW, if you winder why I use a weaker signal on the 5 GHz band, rather than the stronger 2 GHz, it's to take advantage of faster I/O.</sub>


  [1]: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html
  [2]: https://alternativeto.net/software/wifiinfoview/
  [3]: https://i.sstatic.net/3Gturbwl.png
  [4]: https://www.oscium.com/training/understanding-rssi/
  [5]: https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop

Required fields are marked with *

Edit Summary*

Cancel

Thank you for your response, I have used the software you suggested, and the signal quality is good. So I moved yo the next step and booted from Ubuntu. The connection was seamless and stable. So I think it's a windows and/or driver issue, how can I find the correct driver for my adapter? Is there any software or some way I can match my OS version with the right version of the driver?

sam ibraheem
– sam ibraheem

2026-06-17 03:35:46 +00:00
Commented 7 hours ago
It's doubtful the issue is due to the driver, if you can connect at all. However, download directly from Microsoft, then in Device Manager, Network Adapters, double-click Qualcomm Atheros AR956x and update the driver. More likely, you've got some background app messing with the connection. Check Autoruns and Task Manager for suspicious processes. (Or switch to Ubuntu, which does work, and is still supported. Support for Win10 ended months ago.)

DrMoishe Pippik
– DrMoishe Pippik

2026-06-17 06:57:41 +00:00
Commented 3 hours ago

Add a comment |

Correct minor typos or mistakes
Clarify meaning without changing it
Add related resources or links
Always respect the author’s intent
Don’t use edits to reply to the author

create code fences with backticks ` or tildes ~
```
like so
```
add language identifier to highlight code
```python
def function(foo):
print(foo)
```
put returns between paragraphs
for linebreak add 2 spaces at end
_italic_ or **bold**
indent code by 4 spaces
backtick escapes `like _so_`
quote by placing > at start of line
to make links (use https whenever possible)

<https://example.com>

[example](https://example.com)

<a href="https://example.com">example</a>

formatting help »
answering help »