60.0 Troubleshooting Wireless Networking Forum FAQ | DSLReports.com, ISP Information

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60.0 Troubleshooting

Is there a trouble-shooting guide for wireless?

Thanks to SoonerAl

(and with a bit of help from Microsoft), there is.

This link details the diagnostic steps you can take to track down problems with your wireless connectivity.

»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···ylang=en

A very extensive list of tech tips from Microsoft related to wireless can be found here:
»technet.microsoft.com/en-us/netw···679.aspx

got feedback?

by No_Strings
last modified: 2009-08-18 17:37:32

Why is my wireless connection so slow?

People often have problems with slow transfer speeds over wireless.

The first thing you should understand is how speeds are measured and denoted. Speeds will be reported back in kilobits, kilobytes, megabits or megabytes per second. A common source of confusion is the difference between a bit and a byte. There are 8 bits in 1 byte, so if your transfer speeds are 12 megabits per second, you're really getting 1.5 megabytes per second (12 divided by 8). Some programs report back in bytes, some in bits, it's a matter of which program you're using.
The second thing you need to understand, is you will never get the full advertised speed on your wireless router. If the router says it is 54 megabits per second, you will likely only see half of that in real life situations. This is because of overhead and interference, which you can not get rid of. Even on 100 megabit wired connections, you will likely never see it's full capacity. Most people will see around 2-3 megabytes per second (18-24Mbps) on their 54Mbps (802.11g) router/AP's.
The third thing you need to do, is get a program that will tell you what your current transfer speeds are. You have lots of different options. One of the most commonly used programs on Windows is NetMeter. Windows XP even has its own built in speed monitor, but I prefer using a third-party program.
After you've done all of that, actually try transferring a file while running NetMeter, or another transfer speed monitoring program. See what speeds you're currently getting, so you know what you're working with. Make sure the file you are testing with is large enough for an accurate speed result.

Now you're ready to start troubleshooting slow wireless speeds.

First, make note of your original transfer speed as a reference. You don't want to go through troubleshooting without remembering if your new speed was better than the old.

Second, go into your router/AP's web-config and make sure it's set to "Auto Negotiate" connection speeds. Some routers are set out-of-the-box to only hand out connections at 1Mbps (I don't know why). Also, some of them randomly will change their auto-negotiation feature without user intervention.

Third, try locating possible devices interfering with your network. There are lots of different types of devices that could be interfering with your network. To list a few, a neighbor's wireless network, microwaves and cordless phones. To determine if any other wireless networks are in your area, download Netstumbler (or similar WiFi Sniffer for your OS) and run it. It will report any wireless networks in your area. If there are other networks, make note of what channel they are operating on. If it's operating on channel 6, and you're also on channel 6, you will likely see interference that could result in slow speeds and/or frequent disconnections from your network, so try changing the wireless channel on your network. If you have 2.4 GHz wireless phones in your home, try finding the option to change the wireless channel they operate on. Many 2.4 GHz phones give you this option to lessen interference, but some may still not have that option. The easiest way to tell your (or your neighbor's) wireless phone is interfering with your network is if when the phone rings, you lose connectivity to the wireless network. If yours is the definite cause of your interference, and you can't change the channel, try buying another phone. You can either get one of the newer phones that operate at more than 5 GHz, or go with some older models that operate at 900 MHz. As odd as it may sound, microwaves operate at frequencies very close to 2.4 GHz and can cause interference. Make sure you don't put your AP near a microwave (who puts AP's in their kitchen anyways

).

If you can't find any interfering devices in your area, try a different wireless card and/or AP. Either go to a friends house, or try buying another from the local store (then returning it after your testing is done). It's possible your original wireless card isn't very good and doesn't keep a very good link with the AP. It's just as likely your AP is the source of the problem because it has poor range. If you test with a different AP and your speeds are fixed, then you know the AP was the source of your problem. If you test with a different wireless card and your speeds have been fixed, then your wireless card was likely the problem child in your situation.

If you've tried a different wireless card and/or AP, and you still don't have acceptable speeds, try wiring your computer directly into the router. See what speeds it gets that way to make sure the computer isn't the problem. Some older computers may not be able to keep up with faster transfer rates because they can't process the data as fast as you're sending it.

If the computer isn't the problem, make sure you're not trying to get unrealistic speeds. You're not going to get perfect speeds all the time. Wireless is completely different from wired connections and it isn't perfect.

Another thing to take into consideration is what kind of encryption you are using. WEP supposedly takes away ~5-10% of speeds due to the encryption method used; WPA isn't as bad.

Also, try running some of the tweak tests here on DSLR (�/tweaks ) along with DrTCP.

Make sure you're actually connecting to your network, not your neighbors. Change your SSID to something unique so you never get confused about which network is yours.

Also, use the search feature! It's the best tool on DSLR!. A simple search came up with these threads that talk about slow wireless speeds:
�Slow speed, what is wrong?
�How Much Speed Loss Due to Wireless Overhead?
�Wireless Speed Vs Wired Speed
�Question on download speed on wireless
�Very slow speed on my network, need help
�B vs G real world speed??
�Wireless G slow connection..
�How fast should it be?
�How much will WEP slow down my network

Hopefully this helps someone.

Many thanks to Bill

for this faq entry.

A feedback answer 12/06/2008:

I am a network admin and reading this and changing the channel fixed my issue right away and my Internet connection is so much faster.

A feedback answer 3/19/2009:

Was having issues @ home. changed the channel and voila, my laptop is as fast as my desktop yet again. Thanks for the help!

got feedback?

Many many thanks. I looked at other networks in the area, changed channel to avoid them all and updated the firmware. I now have a fast (reported 144Mbps up from 1Mbps) wireless connection that is stable too!

2011-05-10 09:36:41

Same problem as the others. I didn't even think about the channel interference. Thanks for a much faster connection!

2011-03-28 12:41:22

Thanks so much! I went into the router admin and found a setting in QoS that needed changing. The wireless connection went from about 1.5mbps to 25mbps!!! I appreciate it.

2011-10-15 13:27:45

Check your Router settings, I found I had a built in Firewall set to "On", turn it "Off" making sure your PC has adequate Firewall protection. This has made a huge speed improvement, no more "insufficient bandwidth" messages.

2012-03-16 12:55:42

Thank you very very much. i did have a download of about 30kbps now its closer to 80kbps which i know is still slow but way better. i only had to change the channel it was on from 6 to 10, i don't know if there is a good channel that isnt 6, but i will leave it how it is :)

2011-11-12 22:33:47

I just got an upgrade to my Internet bandwidth, and my wirelessly-connected devices all suddenly received a vastly decreased Speedtest rating of 0.50 Mbps. After scouring help fora and my router's settings, in another test, Speedtest happened to change the test server from a nearby location to the neighboring big city, and my rating went sky high. Why the closest test server suddenly slowed down to almost a dead stop, and only over my wireless network, is escaping me. To sum up, after messing with a bunch of possible solutions and having none of them come through, it turns out I was receiving a false rating based on my formerly trusted Speedtest test server.

2012-01-21 18:37:13

always a great site, and thanks for this absolutely great page. Recently got Wireless Broadband, zoooooooms faster on my hardwired PC to WBR2310 router and their modem. BUT my wireless conn laptop (only one room and one wall away) croaks along so slow, I piggyback off a 9% signal of the neighbors ONE MILE|AWAY. Can't seem to tweak my Ptera / wireless conn to the laptop enough, pages time out all the time, the wall between the rooms is not made of steel, just two sheets of 1/2" reg.drywall. Any help is soooooooo appreciated. Have fought this for four months. Even hard-wired the wireless conn.laptop to the route and slide cable under the door and over the door, no change.

2011-12-15 12:59:32

I am not able to install NETMETER on my lenovo laptop -L410 & showing access violation . Plz help

2011-12-26 10:42:05

Thank you!!! I was scanning the internet for 2 days! Just needet to change Channel form 6 to 10 and my speed increased from 250 kb/s to 2.5 mb/s! Thank you guys!!!

2012-03-07 16:26:20

by No_Strings
last modified: 2010-11-25 21:28:26

How Can I Boost My Range?

Try to make the most of what you have before spending a lot of time or money on signal boosters, repeaters or external antennae.

* Change the position of the devices to see if you can get a better signal.
* Adjust the position of the antenna on either the router of the client to optimize the signal.
* Change the channel on the wireless router or access point in an attempt to avoid sources of interference.
* Try an inexpensive reflector to focus the signal in the desired direction. Some excellent templates and instructions: »www.freeantennas.com

Understand that wireless networks operate on very little power and are subject to interference from microwave ovens, certain cordless telephones and other wireless network devices. The quality of the wireless gear is also a factor. Some simply perform better than others.

Here are some other threads that may help. Please review them for help before asking the same question again.

»Extended Range Connection
»Extending a wirless network
»[wireless] Options to Extend My Wireless Connection
»[wireless] WRT54G Range Problems
»[wireless] How to?: Long range 802.11g
»Need Help with extending wireless Range
»Wireless Range - Indoor - Help
»Confused about how to extend my wireless signal
»home wireless network with 3 blocks or more range?
»extending wireless coverage

Thanks to Bill

for pulling them together.

got feedback?

by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-02-13 12:53:51

Will My Cordless Telephone Interfere With My Wireless LAN?

Maybe. It's really a configuration-dependent thing.

Thanks to claudeo

for this great summary.

* Avoid 2.4GHz phones. DECT 6.0 (which uses 1.9 GHz) is the best option. 5.8Ghz phones are still available and will not interfere with 2.4GHz WiFi. The now ancient 900MHz phones are also fine.
* If you get a 2.4GHz phone:
- Some DSS 2.4Hz phones are clearly designed to hop around wireless network frequencies without interfering, while others are not designed to do that. There is no correlation between price and this feature. Some of the more expensive models are also the worst for interference.
- Look for some clear indication from the manufacturer that the phone is "wireless network friendly", like the sticker on some VTech boxes
- Buy from a place that will accept returns. Unpack it very carefully so that you can repack it and return it if it turns out to interfere or not perform well enough
- If you're stuck with one that you can't return and that does interfere, sell it or junk it. Just make sure you don't sell it or give it to your neighbors!

update provided by wmcbrine

got feedback?

Needs to be updated to include DECT 6.0 (which uses 1.9 GHz) in the list of options. Should probably be indicated as the best option, too.

2011-04-30 08:51:38 (wmcbrine )

by No_Strings
last modified: 2011-04-30 09:03:34

Why Can't I Share Files?

Not a wireless problem, really, but an often-asked one.

Try the steps outlined in this post from funchords

:
»Re: problem sharing files

Also check the Networking Forum FAQ. There is a wealth of information there about networking and file sharing irrespective of the type of connection, including these:
»Networking Forum FAQ »How can I get my machines to show up in Network Neighborhood?
»Networking Forum FAQ »How do I enable Simple File Sharing in Windows XP Professional
»Networking Forum FAQ »What are the general HOWTOs

got feedback?

by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-02-15 00:00:13

I Can Connect; Why Can't I Get To The Network?

If your wireless software says you're connected, but you aren't able to access the LAN, read this:

Even though your wireless software reports you're connected to the wireless network, it doesn't always mean what it says. If you mistype the security key, it may still say you're connected, even though you're not; this varies model to model and whether you're using "Open" or "Shared" authentication. Also, if someone has setup MAC filtering, and your MAC address isn't allowed, it may say you're connected to the network.

A simple way to tell if you're actually connected to the wireless LAN, is to see if you have an IP address. You can check to see if you have gotten an IP by following these four steps:

•Go to "Start"

•Go to "Run"

•Type "cmd"

•Type "ipconfig/all"

The IP address listed should be something similar to 192.168.1.x (or whatever you've chosen to run your network on). If your IP address is listed as 169.254.x.x, this means you're not getting an IP from the DHCP server on the wireless router. Most wireless routers (and wired) have the DHCP server enabled by default. If you're getting a 169.254.x.x IP via the wireless link, try a wired link. Use a networking cable to plug into the router, and see if you can get an IP address that way.

____________________________________________________

If you can't get an IP:

If you still can't get an IP when wired:
•Make sure the link light for the port you're plugged into comes on. If it doesn't come on, then try a different port (or cable). If the light still doesn't come on, there's probably something wrong with your router.
•Consult the routers manual to see if there are special setup instructions and see if the wireless router has a built-in DHCP server.

•Try setting your IP information manually through Windows (See this FAQ: �How do I set a fixed/static IP address on a LAN PC? ). Make sure the IP you give your computer is in the same network as the routers default address. If you don't know what your DNS servers are, try using some that are listed in this FAQ: �What are the DNS Server addresses? (preferably pick the ones closest to your location).
•If you still can't get an IP address when wired into the router, and other computers on the network can connect perfectly, your TCP/IP stack may be corrupt or having problems. See this FAQ for repairing techniques: �How do I repair the TCP/IP stack in Microsoft Windows?

If you were able to get an IP via DHCP when wired, but not wireless:
•Make sure you're using the correct authentication option. Some routers have the option of using "Shared" or "Open". Make sure the client is using the same kind.
•If you still can't get an IP after making sure the authentication option is correct, change the wireless settings to disable all wireless security features (WEP/WPA and MAC Filtering), then try to connect again and see if you can get an IP. (Do this when you are wired directly into the router)

•If you still can't get an IP with all security disabled, try reinstalling your wireless card or using a different program to connect to the wireless network. Most people will either use WZC (Windows Wireless Zero) or the software that came with the card, so switch which one you're using, and see if that fixes the problem.
•If it still doesn't work after a reinstall of the driver and switching programs, try a different wireless card and/or network. Find a friend and try using their wireless card and/or AP. See if you're able to associate with it fine. If the new wireless card works, then you may have a faulty card. Take it back to the store and get a new one. If you try a new AP, with your original wireless card, and it works, then your wireless router may be having problems. Try taking back the router, and getting a new one.

____________________________________________________

If you can get an IP:

Make sure you are able to successfully ping your router. You can ping the router, with this procedure:
•Go to "Start"

•Go to "Run"

•Type "cmd"

•Type "ping", then put in your routers IP address. Ex: If my routers IP address was 192.168.1.1, I would type "ping 192.168.1.1".
•Make sure all the packets were sent successfully

If the ping was successful, and you have an IP, you are connected to the wireless LAN. You got an IP via DHCP, or more advanced users may have setup their own static configuration. You should be able to access all network resources, just as if you were a wired client on the network.

If you can't share files, try disabling your software firewall. Windows XP SP2 firewall hates file-sharing (even over the LAN), so either configure it to allow file-sharing, or disable it completely (preferably configure it, since it may be a security risk to have no firewall on your computer). You'd need to do this on both computers, where you're trying to share files. Also, if your router/AP has a "wireless client isolation" feature, make sure that is turned off. The point of wireless isolation is so people can't share files or data, when connected to the wireless network. Also, see this FAQ entry: �Why Can't I Share Files?

If you can't access the internet via your wireless connection, make sure the internet connection is setup properly in the routers configuration. If you believe it is setup properly, make sure by checking it via a wired computer. If the internet does work on a wired computer, but not your wireless computer, then try tweaking firewall settings to allow internet access. Also, make sure you have correct DNS servers and a gateway set; usually your gateway will be set as your routers IP address and DNS servers are set to what your ISP has told you.

____________________________________________________

Some other useful threads:
�Desk top receives wireless signal but no access
�Wireless Network Detected But Won't Connect?
�trying to connect to Airport Express

____________________________________________________

Submitted by Bill

got feedback?

by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-02-20 22:52:44

Why can't my wireless laptop see any wireless networks?

For those who are setting up a laptop or a wireless network for the first time, this is something that happens very frequently: They forget to turn the wi-fi card on! It's easy to overlook a feature you've never used nor needed, until now.

Look for a button or a switch either on the outside edge of the keyboard (facing up) or on the exterior edge or corner of the laptop (facing out) that is labeled "wireless," "radio" or has this "(((.)))" universal symbol. This button enables and disables your laptop's internal wireless network card. On some systems, the wireless is turned on/off with a key combination - Fn-F2 is a common one.

Thanks for the submission, funchords

got feedback?

wow, after hours with the wireless Trendnet tech support, also I had a comcast tech support for my cable wire issues also check my computer for the wireless and he could not figure it out, Now- I have the solution, thank you!!. If I was not laughing and so releived, I probably would be embarassed it was an of/on button. go figure!

2009-11-28 18:44:48

by funchords edited by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-07-28 14:46:59

Why does my wireless connection repeatedly disconnect shortly after connecting?

You may be disconnected if either side of the connection is expecting an authentication exchange that fails to occur. This can occasionally happen even when the connection is not currently using any form of wireless security.

Depending on your configuration, you may notice:

The latest and most effective forms of wireless security expect authentication messages to be exchanged within a certain time and order. If this does not happen, the process ends by interrupting communications. Both the client and AP perform this checking on one another, so either one (or both) may be the side with the problem.

These problems sometimes affect wireless products that currently are not configured to use wireless security. A connection may be configured under one security model, but then the AP is reconfigured and the client's configuration is not reset to match. Some wireless products may not tolerate unexpected issues like an AP changing security methods, frequently rebooting, or storing multiple configuration profiles for a single access point. Sometimes, the reason a configuration becomes corrupted remains unknown.

Note: For specific instructions on how to complete any of the following steps using your particular hardware, software, or operating system, please consult your manuals or help files.

STEPS TO TRY FIRST:

Now test to see if the problem is resolved. If it is, no further action is necessary. However, if the problem persists, the below steps contain additional methods to overcome the problem:

STEPS TO TRY NEXT:

TIP: The 65+ minute wait before plugging in the router may not be necessary for your hardware or software. If you only have one or two clients, you may wish to first try these steps without that wait. If they are not successful, then try all of the steps again with the wait.

EXPLANATION OF WHY THESE STEPS MIGHT HELP: Setting up a new SSID causes the clients to create a new, clean, and correct profile for the access point. Rebooting the hardware is one attempt at clearing authentication failure lockouts. Waiting 65 minutes with the router off is another (in case lockouts are remembered between reboots). Leaving the client online for 65 minutes is to ensure at least one successful key exchange after the initial successful authentication. Shutting down normally allows the software or OS to correctly save configuration information.

got feedback?

by funchords edited by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-08-03 18:11:46

How can I keep my wireless adapter from connecting to other networks?

Your wireless configuration software may be configured to automatically connect you to any access point or a prioritized list of access points. To ensure that you only connect to your access point, you need to adjust your wireless configuration software so that it only connects to your own access point.

If you are using the Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service in Windows XP or 2003, these are the steps to follow:

1. Open Network Connections (Start | Run | ncpa.cpl)
2. Right click on your wireless adapter's icon, then click Properties
3. Click the Wireless Networks Tab
4. Click the Advanced button
5. If it is not already empty, clear the box to "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" (see image)
6. Click Close
7. Look at the Preferred networks box and ensure that only your network appears there. If others appear there, remove them.
8. Click OK.

Otherwise, if you are using the software that came with your card or another Operating System to configure your connection, you will need to find the settings that correspond with these primary steps:

got feedback?

by funchords edited by adsldude
last modified: 2005-08-08 07:58:10

I can't connect after adding/changing devices, hardware, firmware, or drivers!

After adding (or changing) Network Devices, hardware, firmware, or drivers, your network client(s) may stop working. There are a variety of possible causes. This process has a high success rate in restoring your wireless connection.

Note: Network Devices are self-contained devices such as your broadband modem, routers, Access Points, bridges, gaming adapters, multimedia player(s), and print servers.

For most small home networks, this process takes about 5 minutes and requires no special technical knowledge. You must have access to the configuration utility or web pages for your wireless Network Devices.

(does not apply to non-router APs)

Tip: It is sometimes useful to change the SSID to something you have never used before. In most cases, this is not necessary. In any case, it does no harm.

This is a good process to follow if you find that you have problems connecting, or remaining connected, after adding Network Devices, updating drivers or firmware, or changing security methods for your wireless network.

*If you cannot connect at the end of these steps, repeat this process but use No Encryption. This will allow you to better troubleshoot the source of the issue.

got feedback?

by funchords edited by No_Strings
last modified: 2005-08-21 16:36:38

Why do I get slower performance on LAN-to-LAN transfers?

There are a variety of possible reasons:

•If you are transferring many smaller files, you will see a performance decrease. Over a wireless connection, it takes more time to begin and end a file than it does over a wired connection. You should not notice a performance decrease in the middle of transferring a large file.

Suggestions: There is little you can do about this. If you will frequently be transferring smaller files, then you can improve performance by archiving them into a single file before the transfer, and unarchiving them at the destination after the transfer.

•If you are transferring files between Windows computers using Explorer or Internet Explorer, your file transfer may be impacted by Windows downloading Extended Attributes. These include dozens of different pieces of information, including icons, thumbnails, picture size and date, music encoding rate, ID3 tags, and etcetera.

Suggestions: Transfer from or into a rather empty folder on the distant machine. Close other folders from that machine. Extended attributes are only collected for open folders. Similarly, with no folders of the distant computer open, use the command-line programs COPY or XCOPY. These programs do not transfer any of the attributes from the distant computer.

•If the wireless distant machine is situated such that it can clearly communicate with the Access Point (AP), but is out of reception range of the other wireless computer, then performance will be impacted. This is because the two wireless clients cannot tell when the other is transmitting. As a result, they attempt to transmit at the same time, disrupting reception at the AP and requiring that the last packet(s) be sent again.

Suggestions: The best solution is to improve the antenna(s) on one (or both) clients so that they can hear each other. This will cause them to wait for the other to finish a transmission and reduce simultaneous transmissions. Otherwise, turn on and/or lower the setting on the AP known as Clear to Send / Ready to Send (or RTS/CTS ... it goes by different labels, and is often found on the advanced configuration pages). If your router does not have this setting, check your clients. This puts the network into a mode where the Access Point becomes a traffic cop, telling each computer when it is time to send. Adjust this setting for the best performance. Using this setting when there are no hidden nodes will lower performance, but it will increase performance when there are hidden nodes.

got feedback?

by funchords edited by No_Strings
last modified: 2006-01-10 16:27:57

What update can be applied to XP SP2 to help with associating to Access Point(s)

While many critical updates are installed through Microsoft's automatic update feature, certain lower-priority bug fixes and feature enhancements are only available by downloading and installing the update from Microsoft. Such is the case with the WPA2/WPS IE update for XP SP2 located at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357. All users may install this update, even if they are not currently experiencing a problem. Normally, lower-priority changes to Windows are held for the next major Service Pack release.

This update may help correct the following problems:

If you are not currently experiencing a problem, you may choose either to apply the update now or wait until the next Service Pack release. If you choose to apply the update, simply download and install the patch and reboot when prompted. None of the below precautions should be necessary.

If you are currently experiencing a problem, I recommend the following additional steps to help ensure success:

LINKS: WPA2/WPS IE update for XP SP2 - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

got feedback?

When I secure my router my daughter is unable to connect to the router. Is there a way round this issue

2009-09-10 04:12:33

by funchords edited by No_Strings
last modified: 2006-08-16 12:40:35

All FAQs » Wireless Networking Forum FAQ » 60.0 Troubleshooting

60.0 Troubleshooting