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Troubleshooting
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Troubleshooting
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. As a result, the typical indoor range of
your wireless devices will be between 100 to 200 feet. Note also that
connection speed may decrease as you move farther 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, from five to 10 feet away
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 “Changing the Wireless Channel” on
page 19 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.