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A little over a year ago, I bought a new desktop tower computer. I had a very difficult time connecting to the internet and determined that the internal WiFi antenna was inadequate. I purchased a NetGear antenna that I plugged into a USB port on top of the tower. This seems to have worked until Windows 10 did an update that conflicted with the driver. Even after updating drivers, the problem persisted every time there was a Wondows 10 update. So I replaced it with my current TP-Link T9UH antenna. It's ability to maintain a steady WiFi signal has been hit or miss. Some days it works fine. Other days it drops every couple of minutes and may be out or intermittent for hours. Since I work from home and require internet access, this has been extremely frustrating and gets in the way of making my living.

I have been unable to determine if it is my computer, the antenna, the router, or our Optimum WiFi provider since there has been no consistent pattern to the problem. The router is in the living room and it is not practical to move it anywhere else. Our building is older and there are some thick masonry walls between the router and my office. So it is also possible that this is a problem with how the equipment is positioned.

Here are some possible clues:

- Sometimes the internal antenna that came with the computer is working and I have connectivity, albeit sometimes slow. But at the same time that is working, the TP-Link external antenna is not working - the blue light is flashing and the utility shows no connection. Sometimes neither works. Is it possible the two antennas are conflicting with each other?

- Sometimes, but not always, when the connection drops from the TP-Link, the computer makes the sound it normally makes when a USB device has been disconnected. I have tried plugging the antenna into different USB ports in case there was something faulty with the specific port, but it has made no difference. Again, it does not always make the sound when the signal drops.

- When my wife uses her laptop in the same room as the router, she will have connectivity when I don't, but sometimes we will both be down. This makes me wonder if some of this is being caused by the router or a drop in Optimum's service. It may not be the whole problem, but it may be contributory.

- Sometimes when the TP-Link is down, I can re-establish connectivity by pressing the WPS on the antenna and router. Today, however, it took five attempts to reconnect (this has been by far the worse day for connection drops I have had in weeks!).

- I reinstalled the driver (the latest version is from 06/20/16, before I bought the antenna) and it did not fix the problem.

Is there anything in this mess that makes sense to anyone as to what the problem might be? If it sounds like an issue where the computer is placed in relation to the router, would a signal relay or extender be an option? I could possibly position one between the office and living room and leave the doors open.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received! If any other information is needed, just ask. Thanks in advance for any help!

Gordon