In many cases, the issue with "...i'm getting a good connection when im close to the router.. but once i step a few meters away .. the signal drastically drops..." is a sign that the Linux driver is unable to sense and change to the antenna connector that is active, that is, has the wire connected. This is a well-known issue with the rtl8723be. There are a few options.
In the case of the rtl8723be, a revised driver has been written that allows antenna selection. In other words, if you have low or poor signal strength, the driver allows a parameter: ant_sel=2
. In most cases, selecting antenna connection #2 provides excellent strength.
I have examined the latest driver for rtl8821ae and I find these manipulable parameters:
parm: swenc:Set to 1 for software crypto (default 0)
(bool)
parm: ips:Set to 0 to not use link power save (default 1)
(bool)
parm: swlps:Set to 1 to use SW control power save (default 0)
(bool)
parm: fwlps:Set to 1 to use FW control power save (default 1)
(bool)
parm: msi:Set to 1 to use MSI interrupts mode (default 1)
(bool)
parm: debug:Set debug level (0-5) (default 0) (int)
parm: disable_watchdog:Set to 1 to disable the watchdog (default 0)
(bool)
parm: int_clear:Set to 0 to disable interrupt clear before set (default 1)
(bool)
There is no ant_sel
parameter.
Another option is to open the computer, following, of course, all the precautions listed in the service manual that I am confident that you can find on line. Find the wireless card and change the antenna connector to the opposite post: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Nzk2WDg3Nw==/z/XmYAAOSweW5VRppE/$_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F In this example, which may or may not be exactly like your wireless card, if your wire is on post A, change it to post M.
Replace the cover, battery, etc. and restart the computer. Is the wireless signal strength good? If so, you have confirmed that this is an ant_sel
issue.
If that is the case, I suggest you file an issue against the driver here: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtlwifi_new/issues