Number 306 - November 2008

Wishy-Washy Wireless Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connection Problems
May 2008, The ASCII Clipboard, Arizona Society for Computer Information, Inc,
For all of the conveniences of a wireless network, connection problems can make users yearn for the halcyon days of plugging in those blue Ethernet cables. But for every connection problem, there's a solution that can get your wireless network up and running again.    Following are the most common issues related to getting and staying connected, whether they're caused by interference, configuration problems, or hardware issues. In the following scenarios, we attempted to provide solutions from a general approach that can apply to all makes and models of wireless devices, so don't worry if your particular router or adapter isn't mentioned by name.    Problem: I installed a new wireless adapter in my PC, but I can't connect to the network.    Solution: Like other hardware, wireless adapters can ship with outdated drivers, particularly if the products have been sitting on store shelves awhile. If you installed your adapter exactly as instructed and are unable to connect to the network, you should verify that the adapter is working properly.    First, right-click My Computer on your Windows Desktop, click Properties, click Hardware, and click Device Manager (alternatively, click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc in the Open field, and click OK). In the Device Manager, click to expand the Other Devices section and check if your wireless adapter appears there. If it does, this indicates that no driver has been installed for the devices.    If you didn't install a driver for your device, use the installation disc included with your adapter. If you don't have an installation disc, visit the adapter manufacturer's Web site and download the most recent drivers for the device (you can generally find drivers in the downloads or support section of manufacturers' sites).    If your new wireless adapter can't connect to the network, check the Windows Device Manager to make sure your PC recognizes the device and that it's working properly.    If the adapter appears within the Network Adapters section, double-click the adapter entry and check the Device Status box. If you see a message other than "The device is working correctly," you should download and install the latest drivers for your adapter. If your adapter doesn't appear anywhere in the Device Manager, you'll need to reinstall the adapter from scratch using the most recent drivers.    Problem: My wireless connection is sporadic - sometimes it stays connected, and other times it disconnects for no reason.    Solution: Although we'd love to outline a sure-fire, lightning-quick fix for this problem, the reality is that sporadic connections can be caused by a wide range of potential problems. As such, diagnosing this issue requires a troubleshooting process that starts with the obvious and extends into the less obvious.    First, simply try turning your router off and then on again. If that doesn't help and you're encountering the problem for the first time, the trouble might be occurring with the network card that's trying to access the router. If you're using a notebook or other mobile device with built-in wireless, reboot the device and try to reconnect to the network. If your PC or notebook uses a wireless PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) or PC card or a USB stick, shut down the computer, remove the wireless adapter, reinsert it in the slot, and start your computer.    If you're still having problems, check that you're actually connecting to your own network. Although this might sound silly, routers ship with a default SSID (Service Set Identifier), which represents the name of the network. If you haven't changed your SSID to a name other than the default, it's possible that when you're connecting to "default", "linksys", "netgear", or another network that appears in your list of networks, you're actually connecting to a nearby network that's not your own (such as your neighbor's network).    Changing your network to a distinctive name (without giving away personal information) is always an excellent idea.    If that's the case, whenever that network's owner disables the network, your connection is going to cease. As such, if you haven't changed your SSID from the default SSID, change it immediately (as a side benefit, changing your SSID also helps to improve security). To do so, you'll need to enter your router's administration console -- if you're not sure how to do this, consult your router manual. D-Link routers, for example, require users to browse to http://192.168.0.1 in a Web browser to access the console.    Again, when changing your SSID, be sure not to use any personal information, nor any name that could tempt outsiders to break into your network. Further, it's best to use an SSID that mixes both letters and numbers.    Another potential, albeit less likely, cause of sporadic, on-off wireless connections is overheating. If your wireless connection gives out during periods of heavy usage for example, when downloading large files or playing resource-heavy online games your router might be overheating and subsequently failing. If you suspect overheating could be a culprit, place a fan blowing on the router the next time your connection fails. If the connection returns soon after, chances are good the router is overheating, so try placing the router in a less congested area of your desk or office. If that doesn't work, you'll need to exchange the router for a new one.    Problem: My connection is frequently weak and sometimes disconnects altogether.    Note: Electronic devices, including 2.4GHz cordless phones can interfere with wireless networks because they use same frequency as some wireless equipment.    Solution: These symptoms are the classic signs of a weak wireless signal caused by poor equipment positioning and potential interference from other devices. In most cases, this problem can be addressed by repositioning wireless equipment to a more compatible location.    If you're trying to connect to your wireless router from a room outside of the router's room, be aware that walls and ceilings can easily degrade the signal. Try moving your computer closer to the router to receive a stronger signal, or reposition the antenna on the router or face the computer in a different direction. Also, it's important that there's a direct line, if possible, between the router and the computer - angles work to "increase" the thickness of walls because the signal must travel through the length of the wall, instead of straight through it.    In addition to distance, walls, ceilings, and angles, the actual composition of the building materials makes a difference. For example, wireless signals tend to travel more effectively through drywall than aluminum or heavy wood, so always position your equipment so that signals aren't forced to pass through stubborn materials.	Interference is yet another factor that can degrade or even eliminate signals, and the ever-increasing number of electronic devices in today's homes means this problem is more rampant than ever. Always keep your wireless router at least six feet away from microwaves, UPSes (uninterruptible power supplies), and any devices with electric motors.    Also, be aware that other wireless or cordless devices can interfere with your wireless network, particularly if they use the 2.4GHz frequency. If your network's connection is unstable when using your cordless phone, consider buying a phone with a different wireless frequency, such as 5.8GHz.    Problem: I disabled my SSID broadcast to improve security, but now I can't connect to my wireless router.    Solution: This problem can occur when Windows XP's wireless auto configuration utility has more than one network indicated in its preferred networks section, and one of them is broadcasting its SSID. Although this behavior is by design, it's a huge inconvenience if Windows no longer connects to your own network and instead connects to another nearby network that's listed in your preferred networks.    WinXP's wireless auto configuration uses a complex formula for determining which network to connect to, but you can usually circumvent this problem by removing the other network from the list of preferred networks. Open your Network Connections control panel, right-click Wireless Network Connection, click Properties, and choose the Wireless Networks tab.    In the list of preferred networks, remove all networks except your own network by choosing each entry and clicking Remove. Click OK when finished. If you need to connect to any of those networks in the future, simply return to this window and click View Wireless Networks to see the list of available networks at your location.    Problem: The computers on my network have an active connection with my wireless router, but can't connect to the Internet.    If you're having problems keeping your encryption keys consistent across the network, consider using Windows XP's Wireless Network Setup Wizard, which will generate and assign keys for you.    Solution: If all of your hardware appears to be functional but you can't connect to the Internet, check that your ISP (Internet service provider) settings are correct in your wireless router's administration console. For example, in D-Link routers, you'll find the ISP information in the WAN section under the Home tab, where you'll need to enter your username and password required to connect to your ISP.    If this doesn't solve the problem, make sure the router isn't configured to use a proxy to connect to the Web (unless you configured it to use one). If you can connect to the Internet using the computer that's directly connected to the router but can't connect from wireless PCs on the network, ensure that your software firewall isn't blocking access to the networked PCs. If you suspect that your software firewall is blocking access, disable the firewall to see if that solves the problem. If it does, you'll need to tweak the utility to allow access.    Problem: When I connect my access point directly to my broadband modem, other computers on my network cannot access the Internet.    Solution: Some wireless access points include router-like functionality, and some don't. If you're using an access point that doesn't include NAT (Network Address Translation), or network address translation, you won't be able to connect networked PCs to the Internet. You'll need to connect the access point directly to a device that includes NAT; alternatively, you can purchase and use a standalone router.    Problem: Networked computers can't obtain a wireless connection.    Solution: One of the most common wireless connection problems has its roots in the encryption used to secure networks. Due to the long length of encryption keys, it's all too easy to mistype the key when entering it into the wireless configuration utility of networked computers, yet those same utilities generally won't indicate that the reason the computer can't connect is because the key is invalid.    If you're unable to connect to the network, retype the encryption key into each computer that can't connect. Alternatively, if you're using Windows XP SP2, you can use the Wireless Network Setup Wizard to configure your network, and this utility will create and assign encryption keys, thus eliminating the risk of mistyping.    Encryption isn't always the problem when dealing with connection issues, but it can compound problems. If you're certain that the encryption keys are accurate on all computers but you still can't obtain a connection, disable encryption on the wireless router and on all computers on the network. If you still can't connect, you'll at least know the problem isn't encryption-related, so consult one of the other entries in this article for other potential problems. If you can connect when encryption is disabled, you'll know the problem is indeed encryption related, so now you can re-enable it by generating a key on the wireless router and carefully entering it on your networked computers.    Problem: My wireless network was working, but it's no longer connected.    Solution: Wireless hardware is just as vulnerable to physical connection problems as wired hardware, so if your connection suddenly quits and never resumes, you might be dealing with a wiring problem.    Before you check physical connections, ensure that your Internet connection is running by checking the status lights on your broadband modem. If the light on your particular modem is out, the problem resides with your Internet connection, not with your wireless network.    If your Internet connection is active, check that the router is plugged in and running and then check that all the cables running between your modem, wireless router, and computer are securely inserted into the proper ports. Also, if there are port activity indicators on your wireless router, check them to ensure that the router is receiving a signal from the modem.    Stay Connected    Wireless networks almost always run without a hitch, but problems do appear that can be difficult to resolve. Whenever you encounter connection problems, write down your original settings if you need to make any configuration changes. Also, make a note of how you fixed the problem.
Number 306 - November 2008