Surface Pro 3 Slow WiFi - 72Mbps Max (driver)

I noticed that my Wi-Fi speed drops considerably when I get further from the access point.  I took my Surface 3 to a Microsoft store and compared it with the same model in the store.  Both units worked fine with 5 "bars".  But when I walked outside the store to where I was getting 2 bars on each system the stores unit was able to bring up a speed test where as my unit would time out or fail the speed test.

My supposition was that the Wi-Fi antenna in my unit was defective or not properly connected.  After I showed them the "test" results they replaced my system.  Fortunately all of my setting were fully backed up and I walked out of the store 30 minutes later with a fully functional Surface 3 and all of my setting and applications were installed.

I wonder if those with issues are using IPv6. I have found less issues if I disable it in my Asus Router. Again, I'm not proposing any solution, I'm just trying to find the cause.

Frank, there shouldn't be an issue with IPv6, provided there are no strange bugs in the router. I know various vendors working on various IPv6 bugs, but speed should not be an issue.

I agree as well, changing/disabling *any* setting so that the tablet works is not acceptable.  

Give then fact that Microsoft has not posted anything since their last windows update, it makes me believe that the problem may be more difficult to solve and it could even be hardware related.  I gave up on trying to solve this issue for now.  Incidentally if you call Microsoft for tech support on the subject, they will still not acknowledge that there is a problem.  

Let's wait and see what happens I suppose.

If in fact , the problem is connected standby, and I suspect you are correct, Mosoft has a big problem with these units, but it's not a Microsoft Problem and it's not a Wifi Problem, it's an Intel Problem.  Connected standy works flawlessly on Atom Powered devices that go back two chip generations.  Instant On, Instant Off - Always connected in a low power state.  On my Clover Trail Tablet, when close the cover, the tablet sleeps instantly - When I open the cover it lights up instantly - and every thing is up to date.  That's not the case with my SP3 - I have to bang keys and press the power switch to get it to turn on after any length of sleep.

I have an SP2 with a Haswell i5 and 8GB Ram, but no connected standby because connected standby was never supported in the Core iX Haswell Architecture.   For the SP3 - Intel tweaked the Core i3,5 & 7 to provide connected standby functionality.  This tweak is where I think the problem must be.

The fact that MS has been so silent on this is completely unacceptable and inexcusable but I suspect there is a a hardware flaw at chip level and the symptom shows up in the WiFi because of connected standby hardware issues.

If my theory is correct Intel, doesn't know to fix it, so a recall will do nothing.  No Driver is going to fix this one and MS Needs Intel to fix it because it's not a Marvel Network adapter Problem, it's not a driver problem, it's an Intel Processor problem.........

You may be on to something, for me, as soon as I moved to using the TP-Link USB nano WiFi adapter, all the problems vanished.  The one issue you mention that when you try to wake up the SP3 and it took forever to respond, is also solved by using an USB wifi adapter.  Basically if you disable the onboard wifi card and use other hardware for it, everything works beautifully!!!  Like it should be.  

That is why I can live with the SP3 now without worries, believe it or not, the connected standby does work with the USB adapter as well.  All this is at the expense of some battery life of course, but it is not awful.

So, yes, I think it is a hardware issue plus more software as well.  Maybe Microsoft should bundle in the USB Wi-Fi adapters :)

I do think it is crazy that they are not even acknowledging that there is a problem and users have to resort to ask the community for answers.  This is supposed to be a premium device and I personally feel like I just bought something on eBay because I have no support of any kind.  

Not many units may be flying off the shelf, otherwise they would have a major press issue as well.