89
G Wireless Router
SECTIONS
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TROUBLESHOOTING
Problem:
My wireless network performance is inconsistent�
Data transfer is sometimes slow�
Signal strength is poor�
I am having difficulty establishing and/or maintaining a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection�
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�
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 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 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 the section titled “Changing the Wireless Channel” on page 47 for
instructions on how to choose other channels)�