If you have a wireless router chances are you have experienced loss of connection at some point. This temporary loss of connection or erratic connection is related to interference. The interference comes from other devices in your surrounding area and are not limited to your area, and also can come from your neighbor for example. Listed below are the most common interferences known to cause loss of wireless connectivity amongst the most common brand name wireless routers:
Interference is
present. Such devices include:
a. Microwave oven
b. Florescent lighting
c. Bluetooth(R) wireless devices
d. 2.4 gigahertz cordless phones
e. High powered audio equipment
f. Television sets or computer monitors
g. Electronic insect "zappers"
h. Any other electronic equipment that may produce Radio Frequency (RF) interference
Here are some tips& Tricks on how to prevent wireless interference:
Going wireless is an exciting milestone. Whether you're in the process of setting up your network or you’ve already been working happily without wires, you're probably familiar with Public Enemy Number One in the wireless world: interference.
If you've experienced interference, you know how annoying it can be: now you have a signal; now you don't. It's like hide-and-seek…without the fun. But wait! Don't throw your hands (or your laptop) in the air. We'll tell you how to determine what might be affecting your signal, and how to get back to being your old productive self.
What is it?
Think of a time when your favorite radio or television station wouldn't come in due to bad weather. When the storm passed, the signal became clear again. Similarly, because your wireless network relies on radio waves traveling through your home, your signal may waver for a variety of reasons. How will you know if you're experiencing interference in the first place? We'll help you identify and solve potential problems.
Check your signal
Thankfully, the client software that comes with almost all wireless network adapters can help you monitor your network's performance. With most systems, there will be a signal-strength meter in the Windows system tray (usually found in the bottom right corner of your screen).
In addition, the client software itself probably has a more in-depth system for testing signal strength. This feature is commonly called a link test function, although it may be called something else (depending on the manufacturer). Check your manual or the online help system, which usually measures:
- Signal strength: Measured in decibels compared to one milliwatt (or dBm), the signal strength is sometimes referred to as signal level. The higher this number is, the better chance you have for a full-speed connection between your access point and your PC.
- Noise level: Ideally, you want the noise level (also measured in dBm) to be as low as possible. Cordless phones and microwaves are common culprits for increasing the noise level.
- Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): This is the most telling of the numbers because it compares the strength of the signal with the noise that is interfering. SNR is measured in decibels (dB), and a higher number is good news.
Placing your access point
The location of your access point (AP) is key. With a little planning, you can avoid potential interference and save yourself time, money, and frustration.
Here are some pointers:
- Pick a place near the center of your home.
- Avoid mounting your AP on the wall. The best place is six or more inches from the wall.
- Keep the AP out of the line of sight of microwaves, cordless phones, refrigerators, and other appliances that contain metal.
- Your computer can cause interference, so try keeping the AP separate.
- Avoid putting the AP low to the ground. Instead, keep it on a table or a shelf.
- If your house is large, you may need two access points.
Troubleshooting tips
If your wireless network is all set up and you're experiencing interference, here are some ideas for improving the signal:
- Move the access point. See the above section for pointers, and if all else fails, walk around with the AP while someone else monitors your signal strength.
- Change channels. If you've got a neighbor with a wireless network, you may be operating on the same channel. You can change the channel in the software that came with your wireless access point.
- Move the antenna. Not all antennas have the same range of coverage, so finding the best position is a matter of trial-and-error. Try moving yours around and changing the angle.
- Change phones. If you have an 802.11b or g network, consider one of the newer 5GHz cordless phones. If you have an 802.11a, try a 2.4GHz phone. Better yet, an older 900MHz phone won't interfere with either type of network.
- Check other network obstructions. Other network obstructions include ceramic tile, concrete, and even stacks of newspapers, as well as Blue tooth-enabled devices such as laptops and PDA's.
- Consider an upgrade. If you're using 802.11b, you might have better luck with the newer 802.11g devices that have more non-overlapping channels and less interference. Plus, they're almost five times as fast!
SECURING YOUR WIFI NETWORK!
4 steps to securing your home wireless network
You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to install than you think.
There are 4 steps to creating a wireless network:
For Windows XP users, Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not required for wireless networking, but it does make things much easier. Service Pack 2 also helps protect you against hackers, worms, and other Internet intruders.
1. |
Choose your wireless equipment
The first step is to make sure that you have the equipment you need. As you're looking for products in stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend 802.11g, because it offers excellent performance and is compatible with almost everything.
Shopping list
| • |
Broadband Internet connection |
| • |
Wireless router |
| • |
A computer with built-in wireless networking support or a wireless network adapter |
A wireless router
The router converts the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not a wireless access point.
A wireless network adapter
Network adapters wirelessly connect your computer to your wireless router. If you have a newer computer you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case, then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network.
Note: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from D-Link, Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer, make sure that you have an available USB port to plug the wireless network adapter into. If you don't have any open USB ports, buy a hub to add additional ports. |
2. |
Connect your wireless router
Since you'll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any further.
First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.
Next, connect your wireless router to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you've hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet.
Next, connect your router to your modem:
Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with your equipment for additional assistance.
| • |
If you currently have your computer connected directly to your modem: Unplug the network cable from the back of your computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the back of your router. |
| • |
If you do not currently have a computer connected to the Internet: Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. |
| • |
If you currently have your computer connected to a router: Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router replaces it. |
Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.
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3. |
Configure your wireless router
Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn't labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.
Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the address to configure your router.
You might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.
As a quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router manufacturers.
| Router |
Address |
Username |
Password |
3Com |
http://192.168.1.1 |
admin |
admin |
D-Link |
http://192.168.0.1 |
admin |
|
Linksys |
http://192.168.1.1 |
admin |
admin |
Microsoft Broadband |
http://192.168.2.1 |
admin |
admin |
Netgear |
http://192.168.0.1 |
admin |
password |
NOTE: PLEASE CHANGE YOUR DEFAULT USERNAME AND PASSWORDS FOR SECURITY PURPOSES
Internet Explorer will show your router's configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you should configure three things:
1. |
Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none of your neighbors will be using. |
2. |
Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is unique and long (you don't need to memorize it). |
3. |
Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you'll need it if you ever have to change your router's settings. |
The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.
Now, you should disconnect the network cable from your computer. |
4. |
If your computer does not have wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.
Note: The steps below only apply if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you're running Windows XP and you don't have Service Pack 2 yet, plug your computer into your wireless router and download and install Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Windows XP should show an icon with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.
Follow these steps to connect your computer to your wireless network:
1. |
Right-click the wireless network icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter. Don't be afraid to call their tech support. |
2. |
The Wireless Network Connection window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with the network name you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower-right corner.
 |
3. |
Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect. |
4. |
Windows XP will show its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You're done. |
Note: If the Wireless Network Connection window continues to show Acquiring Network Address, you may have mistyped the encryption key.
For assistance please call us, we provide quick pleasant and professional wireless setups in your home or business.
Call today!
403-396-4396 |
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