Filter
Top Products
106
Troubleshooting
Problem:
• My wireless network performance is inconsistent.
• Data transfer is sometimes slow.
• Signal strength is poor.
• Difficulty establishing and/or maintaining a Virtual Private Network
(VPN) connection.
Solution:
Wireless technology is radio-based, which means connectivity and the throughput
performance between devices decreases when the distance between devices
increases. Other factors that will cause signal degradation (metal is generally the
worst culprit) are obstructions such as walls and metal appliances. Note also that
connection speed may decrease as you move farther away from the Router (or
access point).
In order to determine if wireless issues are related to range, we suggest temporarily
moving the computer, if possible, five to 10 feet from the Router.
Changing the wireless channel—
Depending on local wireless traffic and
interference, switching the wireless channel of your network can improve
performance and reliability. The default channel the Router is shipped with is
channel 11; you may choose from several other channels depending on your
region. See the section on page 52 entitled “Changing the Wireless Channel” for
instructions on how to choose other channels.
Limiting the wireless transmit rate—
Limiting the wireless transmit rate can help
improve the maximum wireless range and connection stability. Most wireless cards
have the ability to limit the transmission rate. To change this property, go to the
Windows Control Panel, open “Network Connections” and double-click on your
wireless card’s connection. In the properties dialog, select the “Configure” button
on the “General” tab (Windows 98 users will have to select the wireless card in the
list box and then click “Properties”), then choose the “Advanced” tab and select the
rate property.
Wireless client cards are usually set to automatically adjust the wireless transmit
rate for you, but doing so can cause periodic disconnects when the wireless signal
is too weak; as a rule, slower transmission rates are more stable. Experiment with
different connection rates until you find the best one for your environment. Note that
all available transmission rates should be acceptable for browsing the Internet. For
more assistance, see your wireless card’s user manual.