Many Wireless Options

Posted on February 2nd, 2008 in Wireless 101 | No Comments

Some wireless connections to the Internet can be slower than connections through a high-speed wired Internet connection (such as a LAN or a DSL or cable modem service), but they’re much more convenient when you’re away from home base. However, there are several types of wireless network access, each of which has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

Wireless Data Services

The most common wireless services include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WiMAX and several digital cellular data technologies. EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), 1xEV-DO (Evolution-Data Only), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone Service, also called WCDMA, or Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access) and 1xRTT (Radio Transmission Technology), are all methods for sending data through a cellular mobile telephone network.

With a few exceptions, the data transfer rate decreases as the coverage area increases; in other words, you can exchange files and Internet services faster through a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot than through a cellular data service that covers an entire metropolitan area. The exceptions are a mobile modem, which uses the mobile voice network, and WiMAX, which is not yet available in most locations.

Eventually, the radios and network interfaces that support wireless access to the Internet will automatically find the type of signal that can handle the fastest data transfer to and from your current location, and set up a link to your computer. In the future, when you’re in an airport waiting area or a coffee shop, the computer will find and use a fast Wi-Fi service; but when you’re visiting your elderly aunt, it will use one of the slower cellular data services instead. Today, that kind of seamless handover is not yet possible so you must set up each type of link separately

I Can’t Detect Wireless Access Point

Posted on January 31st, 2008 in Wireless 101 | No Comments

When you first try to connect to your network, your wireless adapter’s software will scan the area for available networks and then display a list of networks. If you don’t see your own list in this network, you may have disabled the router’s SSID feature, which broadcasts the SSID to local wireless adapters. Disabling the SSID broadcast is a common security method, as it effectively stealths your network, making it that much harder for would-be hackers to spot.

The good news is that your adapter doesn’t need to see the SSID to connect to your router. Your adapter’s software includes a manual connection feature that lets you enter your network’s information, including the SSID. Once you enter the appropriate SSID and encryption information, you’ll be able to connect to your router without any trouble.

How To Resolve Weak Wireless Connection

Posted on January 29th, 2008 in Wireless 101 | 1 Comment

Determine whether physical obstacles are weakening the signal. Not surprisingly, wireless networks offer the strongest signals in open spaces, but unless your home resembles a big hall, your wireless network must negotiate walls and floors, both of which can reduce the strength and range of the signal. Today’s home networking equipment can reach as far as 300 feet in the very best circumstances, but your home’s metal and concrete will savage your router’s signal strength. If the computers closest to your wireless AP or router aren’t dropping the wireless connection and the computer that is dropping the connection is at the far end of the house, you can probably blame your network troubles on distance and physical barriers.

There are two popular types of signal-strengthening devices on the market for home users: range boosting antennae and repeaters. Several manufacturers offer APs and wireless routers that have removable antenna. If you can detach your router’s antenna, you can replace it with an antenna that offers more dBi. Chances are, your router’s manufacturer also offers an optional range-boosting antenna.

Outdoor Ap Cb Repeater Router Signal Strength Led Indicator Power Injector by EnGenius

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How To Resolve Wireless Adapter Connection To Wireless Router

Posted on January 27th, 2008 in Wireless 101 | No Comments

Make sure your AP or router supports the same wireless networking standard that your adapter uses. For example, you can use 802.11b and G devices without any compatibility problems, but you can’t use an 802.11a adapter to connect to an 802.11g network. This may seem like a no kidding sort of solution, but if you’ve ever fretted over a seemingly dead PC, only to discover that the power cord was unplugged, you’ll agree that sometimes the obvious answer is the one.

Renew the router’s DHCP settings. Your router most likely uses the DHCP networking protocol to automatically assign IP addresses to all of the PCs on the network. You can often fix a dropped connection by entering your router’s firmware menu and using the firmware’s DHCP Release/Renew feature. Read Basic Troubleshooting Routers and Hubs
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Switch your wireless connection software. Chances are, you’re using the adapter manufacturer’s software. Windows XP includes the Wireless Zero Configuration Utility, but your adapter’s software overrides it by default. You can switch to the Zero Configuration Utility only if your adapter’s software permits it. Find the adapter’s icon in the System Tray and then right-click it. You may see Use Windows XP Wireless Configuration. Click the link, open the Control Panel and then open Network Connections. Next, double-click the Wireless Network Connection icon to view available networks.

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Basic Troubleshooting Wireless Access Cards

Posted on January 25th, 2008 in Wireless 101 | No Comments

Wireless access cards, also known as wireless adapters, replace standard Ethernet cables to create a wireless link between your PC and a wireless AP or router. Although wireless networking equipment offers convenience to users who want to place computers in multiple rooms without running Ethernet cables around the house, the equipment isn’t foolproof: You’re bound to run into network problems at some point.

Make & Model
Whether you plan to call tech support or simply want to search for drivers on the manufacturer’s Web site, you’ll need to know your device’s model number. In most cases, finding the model number is a snap: If you don’t see the model number on the device itself, you can find it via your computer’s Device Manager. Click Start, Control Panel, and then open System. Click Device Manager and then click the plus (+) sign next to Network Adapters. Your adapter’s name will appear and will most likely include a model number. The adapter’s software will also generally display its model number.

Update Your Drivers
Software publishers and hardware manufacturers tweak their products for months and sometimes years after they release them. Software publishers update their programs via patches, while hardware manufacturers tweak their hardware with firmware updates and new driver releases. Updated drivers sometimes add functionality, but they also often include important bug fixes. If you’re experiencing any problems with your wireless adapter, always download and install the latest driver for your adapter.

To determine your driver’s version number, click Start, Control Panel, and then open System. Click Device Manager and then click the plus sign next to Network Adapters. Right-click your wireless adapter and then click Properties. Finally, click the Driver tab, which will display your driver version and driver release date.

Next, visit the Support section of the manufacturer’s Web site and see if a newer driver is available. If it is, download the driver to your hard drive. To uninstall your existing driver, open the adapter’s Properties window, click the Driver tab, and then Update Driver.

When the Hardware Update Wizard appears, click the No, Not This Time radio button and then click Next. Click the Install From A List Or Specific Location, click Next, and then check the Include This Location In The Search box. Click the Browse button, navigate to the downloaded driver on your hard drive, and then complete the wizard.

If your adapter connects to one of the PCI slots in your computer, keep in mind that you may need to remove the adapter before you start the driver installation. Keep a screwdriver handy.

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Basic Troubleshooting Routers and Hubs

Posted on January 15th, 2008 in Wireless 101 | 1 Comment

A router or hub is the cornerstone of the average home network. An Ethernet hub, which has several Ethernet ports, lets users share folders and files among all of the computers connected to the home network. A router generally has a built-in hub and also has features that let it share a broadband Internet connection with the networked PCs. Routers also usually include other features, such as wireless connectivity and a hardware firewall that can protect your computers from many of the digital threats floating around the Web.

Because the router is the center of your network, many network problems can be traced back to it. A defective device, bad settings, old firmware, and firewall issues can all put your network on the blink. We’ll show you how to troubleshoot your router or hub so you can spot and fix common problems.

Know Your Model
To download the right updates, you’ll need to know the unit manufacturer and model number of your device. Many routers and hubs bear the model number on the front panel and other information, such as the serial number, on the bottom of the device.

An Introduction to Computer Networking and the Internet with Practical Engineering Examples, and an Internet Server Silo Video Tour: Part 2 of 2

How To Tell If The Router Or Hub Is The Problem
You can determine whether your router is the source of your network troubles by eliminating other network devices as the problem sources. Chances are, there are only a few potential troublemakers beyond your router:

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Why Your Wireless Network Underperform

Posted on January 13th, 2008 in Wireless 101 | No Comments

Many wireless network card stated that it supports speeds that are much faster than the 802.11g or 802.11a specifications allow, but most of the time, you never achieve those high speeds when transferring network files.

802.11g and 802.11a operate at up to 54Mbps, but most manufacturers add speed boosting technology to their wireless products that allow for much faster speeds. Unfortunately, these technologies are not standardized and therefore do not work with similar products from other manufacturers, so stick to products from the same company because they use the exact same speed-boosting technology to benefit from a faster connection

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