Troubleshooting wireless networking errors is a tedious task.
Wireless network errors are harder to understand because there are two
devices working simultaneously. A transmitter and a receiver, these are radio
transmissions. Yup you have a radio station in your computer and the device that
it connects to is also a radio station.
The best way to troubleshoot your wireless problem is to be close to the
access point or the wireless router. The reason being that you don't know if the
radio signal is being blocked by a wall, the refrigerator, or something else
when you are working on the problem. Line of sight is what it is called, you can
see the device you want to connect to.
Next you need to be sure that the device is working and initialize when the
computer starts. You can check this through the Device Manager either from the
control panel or from the
System Manager.
Once you have the Device manager open in the right window find Network
Adapters, expand the section. Find your wireless adapter, does it have a red
circle with an 'x' through it? If it does then it did not initialize when the
computer started, go to Troubleshooting Installed Devices. If it doesn't right click on the name and go to
properties. Check to see if there is an error on the General page, if you have
an error but no red dot with an 'X' in it, note the error and do a search for
the error. If you don't have an error then the problem lies with the
configuration of the adapter. First check the
network properties,
and then use the adapter utility to adjust the following items: SSID,
Encryption, and channel.
One of the problems with the embedded wireless adapters is that the driver(s)
you can download can not do the complete job.
You will need a utility that will enable you to setup the
wireless parameters like:
the SSID (the name of the wireless network you need to connect to)
the encryption ( the security type and password)
the channel that the wireless access point is assigned.
I have access to three different types of wireless adapters, two are embedded
in the motherboards of the computers and one is a USB adapter I bought for use
in the field when I need to connect in an area with out wired network but there
is a wireless network available.
Here are what the utilities look like:
Real Tek
Configure your wirless adapter, first step
Adapter now see's the wireless access point, and is
associated.
Scan the area for access points.
The pramaters of the access point and the adapter
Atheros
Once you select the access point and associate, create a
profile.
Scan for available access points, high light the one you
want to create a profile for.
Diagnostics if you want to test your signal strength and
adapter settings.
Advanced settings, these are not changable information only.
Linksys
Your link information.
Scan for an access point.
Select the access point then save it to a
profile, this will be the default settings for the adapter.
If you notice that all three of these adapters say connected but internet not
found, the reason mine do this is because I am behind a firewall that is part of
the
router, I have between my computers and the internet connection. Yours
may indicate it has found the internet, especially if you are using a WiFi
Hotspot in an airport or internet cafe. If you are using hotspots be sure
you have your built in
firewallconfigured.
One last thing, signal strength, you want to have a high quality signal.
If you are at work or at home you have some control over the signal strength. At
work you can point out to the Systems Administrator that the signal is not
sufficient for your area, they may put a booster on the wireless access
point or move you to an area where the signal is stronger. At home you
can either move the computer or wireless access point or put a signal booster
on the wireless access point. A low signal strength will result in loss of
data and the signal being dropped at the most in opportune time.
One of the things I have found is that your search will take you far and wide
and the manufactures do not always have the drivers and the setup utility.
Here is a very good resource for Windows hardware drivers, you do not have to
be a member to download the driver you need. The site has a very nice selection
of Vista drivers, I was able to find the Artheros GR5005 driver for a Acre laptop
that the Acre company would not let me download.
This site contains a lot of information. As
with any publication not all information is available due to space, time, or
subject constraints.
If you have a question that you did not find the answer
on this web site you a can
ask your question here and we will endeavor to get you the most up to date
answer possible!
