Hardware

But more likely it is something else and has something to do with the way that WiFi Signals Propergrate.

If you can change the plane that the adapter is in either by it if flips up flipping it up or down depending on which way it was previously being used or stick it on the end of a USB Extention Lead and hang it in a different plane. So if previously it was parell to the floor have it at right angles to the floor.

Then if that doesn't make any difference you can look at where the WiFi Router is in relation to this adapter. If it is on a different level that will most likely be the problem as WiFi Signals tend to propergrate on the same level as the device that is producing them. To change this you need to change the areial or if it is one of these WiFi Routers that has everything internal put the router on it's edge instead of it's base or vise versa depending on how it is sitting now.

Then there are the things thta really mess things up while the Adverage WiFi Signal will cover a 500 metre radius things can interfere with the signal so things like metal walls or screened walls/windows will stop the signal traveling through them or if there is a lot of metal that is earthed around a room you may have effectively what is called a Faraday Cage which is meant to stop all RF Energy passing through.

Then there are the things that Activelly Interfere with WiFi Signals so another WiFi Producing device may be overpowering the receever and causing it to loose conectivity or something like a Microwave Oven or Fluro Light Fitting may even actually stop the signal in it's tracks or interfere so badly that it is effectively stopped.

If you can rule out Driver Problems between the chip set of the device and the OS in use which in most cases just means installing the driver for that OS then you have to start getting involved with the way that RF works and how it forms the shape of the signal and what can interfere with it.

Of course it could also just be a Device that is faulty and has a High Impedence joint which causes the signal to be lost while still showing that it is working.

As for Utilities to fault find doing it from the device that is loosing signal is hard but if you have a different system that you can use then something like Wireshark may be useful. as it will tell you what is actually happening tot he signal and you can then start investigating what is happening.

Yes I know WiFi is great when it works and a Pain when it isn't.