Could it be that something in the environment has started interfering with WiFi reception? Portable telephones could do this or microwave ovens, other wifi routers/equipment, or anything operating in the bands (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) that the reader is using.
It is possible that due to some high level of interference the reader is constantly retrying/renegotiating the connection and therefore consuming more than normal power. Try to go to another place that provides wifi access to see if the situation improves.
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