Intel 8260 Wireless Card - XPS 9550

Hey! Here we are with issues again lel.

So the thing is, I changed the wireless card of my XPS 15 because sometimes, like 3/5 times I connected my BT headsets, they would sound like absolute crap, weird.
Anyway, I decided to get a new one, and the mayor choices were between Intel 7260, 8260 and some killer wifi card, so I went for the newest one.
So with this new card, WiFi works great, BT works great (APT-X support is a plus), buuuut for some reason, the moment I toggle the BT on, my WiFi speed drops to like 1/10!!! (Pictures below)
I have all the lastest drivers from Intel, tried to reinstall them, try the windows default ones, changed the energy settings to allow max power, so I don't know what to do anymore.
I know that BT and WiFi share 2.4GHz, but sadly my router doesn't support 5GHz wifi, and it's kind weird that the default XPS 15 wireless card is able to keep BT and WiFi at the same time, and this one not.

Anyone here has the same issues and have some idea on how to solve this?

WiFi only, no Bluetooth:

Bluetooth ON:

 

How do you solve it? Get a router with 5Ghz!

Or use Ethernet. Or learn to live with it!

On a related note, is this speed drop actually affecting you in some real-world way? Or is it just your OCD-computer-enthusiast-must-have-everything-perfect-and-maxed-out talking?


Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

Well that drop makes even watching YouTube imposible sometimes, so yeah it kinda affects me in a real-world way.
I was looking for a solution about the drop itself, as I don't really find such a drop normal though. If it actually is, well, I'll have to get a better router or just switch the wireless card back to the stock one and try to live with the BT issues.

 

I hada similar issue with my XPS 13 9350 and the answer there also was to switch to 5GHz. I did and the performance problem was solved --

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/4s6i3g/xps_13_9350_bluetooth_enabling_severely_degrades/

 

Honestly, I think the answer to this is to buy a new router.

If your router doesn't even have 5Ghz, it tells me your router is several years old. And just on principle, I'd suggest you replace that router. It's actually amazing to me that you own a consumer router that has lasted several years, without dying (becoming non-functional) in some way.

 

Actually, the router is quite new, and the funny thing is that is the one that my ISP gave me with fiber optic, and I can't ask for a better one because they are only giving those to "new customers". Ridiculous, but whatever, I'll have to get a new one I guess.

 

Oh. Toss that router.

The ones that you get with your ISP (cable or F.O.) are garbage. Think about it... their only obligation is to give you a "WiFi router." So does it make more sense that they give you an awesome router, or the cheapest router possible? Even the cheapest piece of junk router is still a "WiFi router."

In my experience, the "cheap" consumer routers tend to die in about 1-2 years. The "expensive" consumer routers tend to last a bit longer than that. So there are two ways I look at buying routers:

1. Buy the cheapest router you can (that meets your needs). When it dies in 12-24 months, throw it away and buy another router.
2. Or, invest in a "good" consumer router that will last you longer than that. You will also get the benefit of things like faster speeds** and more features.

** - This includes faster speeds between internet and your laptop; but only if you have a fast internet connection (75Mbps+), and/or if you use your laptop in areas where you have medium-to-weak WiFi signal.

Personally, I always buy the good routers, because I'm the kind of person who thinks, "What do I have to buy, so that I don't have to think about this problem again?" And if you think the same way, or just want a good router, I'd suggest you go with an Asus RT-AC66U for $116 on Amazon ( link). That router, and its predecessor the Asus RT-N66U, are universally praised as just one of the best routers out there, period.

Buy that, connect to 5G, and your speed-when-Bluetooth-is-on problems will go away.

 

Second that. I have the Asus RT-N66U and it's far and away better than the Linksys routers I previously used. Strong coverage throughout my house allowed me to ditch my repeaters/extenders. My next update will definitely be another Asus.

 

A downside to all this is that when you go out, the available WiFi in hotels, etc. is generally 2.4GHz so you'll continue to see this problem. I use a Bluetooth mouse but when I travel I switch it to USB wireless.

 

I'm with you. I don't actually own an Asus RT-AC66U. But I do own an Asus RT-N66U (the previous generation, without 802.11AC support) that bought 4 years ago, and is still running flawlessly.

I was so pleased with it, that my parents, in-laws, sister, and cousin all bought Asus RT-N66U's from my recommendation. I told them: "If you just want to know 'What do I have to buy so that I don't have to think about this problem again,' spend a little bit more money and get a router that will last. Get the Asus RT-N66U.

Awesome line of products. I'm going to buy Asus routers from now on, no question.

 

Interestingly, I just ran a Bluetooth-2.4GHz simultaneous connection test using my iPad Air 2 and the same Asus router and found no degradation in WiFi (multiple measurements using SpeedTest app). Used my BlueBuds X earbuds as the Bluetooth device.

 

The problem is not the speed in my home, I barely use my laptop there, I have a desktop for that.
The main problem is outside, at work or university or any other place, most places don't have a 5GHz connection, so the moment I want to use my BT mouse, I'm kinda screwed.
I'll put the Broadcom Wireless back, at least I didn't have these drops with that one (I have other issues with it though)

 

During install of the Intel card I deleted the installation of the WidComm Bluetooth software and now with the reinstall of the Broadcom card I can't get my Bluetooth mouse to pair again. Tried to reinstall the Widcomm from Dell Bluetooth drivers but it fails installation. But my WiFi throughput is back. sigh ...

Edit: after 2 further install/reinstalls of Bluetooth driver through Device Manager, I was able to get the Bluetooth mouse working.