Weird connection lag between my two computers.

Hello,
I have my main computer (see 2nd system specs) and my Fujitsu Stylistic Q702 hybrid laptop/tablet at the same network. Both are unsupported computers running Windows 11 Pro v22H2 in legacy BIOS mode, no TPM, no Secure Boot with latest updates (22621.755), but I don't think that is relevant. The laptop is connected directly to my home Wi-Fi router, about 10m away in either the 5GHz or the 2.4GHz band with full signal. My main computer is two rooms away and to avoid having cables across all the house and my wife's complaints, it is connected wirelessly through a range extender, again with full signal. This one is 2.4GHz only because both the extender and the USB wireless dongle are 2.4GHz only. The dongle is 802.11n compliant, and in theory can reach up to 150Mbps, but because it's at the back of the tower and close to the wall, the speed is less. As a matter of fact, I ran a test at www.speedtest.net and I have about 10Mbps download speed and 2.5Mbps upload.

The issue: When I try to access my shared folder to play some videos from the laptop, it takes too long to open the video (more than a minute) and the video stutters. It takes a long time to access any file, but in videos is more obvious.

The paradox is that accessing a video from my browser using Plex (I have a Plex server running at the PC), takes much less time and plays OK. Also accessing the PC via AnyDesk doesn't degrade the image and doesn't show any lag. I have difficulty connecting to shared resources on the PC. Accessing it otherwise is normal. To avoid using passwords both computers are set to connect without password and encryption is set to 40-bit. Also all shared folders have full access for Everyone, so access rights should not be the culprit. My wireless drivers are updated. Any thoughts? Please help me, it is not convenient to copy the movie to a USB flash drive in order to watch it on the laptop (connected to the big TV at the living room). Also trying to copy the movie via network takes too long. Weird...

PS: I also have Windows Media Center installed. How can I access my shared media from WMC?

I think your issue is a combination of a bit low speeds, WiFi unreliability between the computers and the SMB protocol.

Over 2.4 GHz network using SMB tranfers are really slow and unstable. Over 5GHz I get better results but not nearly as close to what the network is capable of.

I suspect the SMB protocol. Maybe I have to enable SMB 1.0 in both computer... I will check and report.

Using a Wi-Fi adaptor placed at the rear of a desktop case is not the best setup, when installing I always use a remote antenna setup. Ideally this is an integral part of the device used but it you are using a setup without this or as an option it can help to simply use a fast USB extension to raise the location of the adaptor, these are lightweight items so can often fixed to a wall behind / Above the signal shadow due to the Metal System case, with double sided tape

I guess I have to buy a USB extension and place it somewhere higher. There are extensions with a small base that stand on top of the desk. Maybe I try one of those.

Hi
My old lappy is running on the same parameters as yours......
it has an old 802.11n Intel 5100AGN - driver dated 2012 card, allthough its built in.
System specifies it can recieve/transmit @ 150 on 2.4
BUT the odd thing on mine is that the Protocol shows 802.11G --- even when i run it on 5Ghz with 300 up/down
(both band widths achieve better than the alledged max of 54 for a G card!!!)
it has to be noted that under the driver ADVANCED tab ---Wireless mode is set to 802.11a/b/g
not sure what options you have as you didn't state dongle make/model

I am not sure if you have this brand, it is more probably a Greek importer, Powertech, and the card has a Mediatech chipset, if I remember correctly. I don't have access to my desktop computer now, but I can see it. I use default settings, haven't changed anything.

Mediatech/Ralink, drivers were used by a host of 3rd party suppliers
need the PCI/VEN to check

Most likely a Ralink model. I think when trying to manually update the driver there is a choice between Microsoft and Ralink driver. I will see the hardware IDs and tell you. I didn't install any drivers, Windows automatically found the driver. Maybe I try manually update the driver. Although I didn't notice any lag in AnyDesk or Plex. Only when accessing the shared folders.

My hardware IDs are: USB\VID_148F&PID_5370&REV_0101

I downloaded official drivers from MediaTek for my MediaTek RT5370 based USB wireless dongle and then ran speedtest. My download speed improved to 12.22Mbps and my upload speed to 5.74Mbps. I haven't yet tried to access the shared folder from the laptop, but I think there is some improvement. The driver is older from the other two, from 2015, but newer drivers aren't always better. I will test performance when accessing the shared folders and report.

Success! I can now access te shared folder successfully and play the video without lag. Trying to copy the video wirelessly has a speed of 1.5 to 2MB/sec Not perfect but much better than before. I will see performance for some days and ten mark the thread solved. Thank you all.