Trouble with your Wireless Network?

It's always the same isn't it? You get used to something working fine and then suddenly something goes wrong. It's the same for Wireless Networks as with anything else. On the whole they work great once you have them set up, but what if something does go wrong? Well below are a few areas you need to check if you're having trouble:

Need help with the terminology of Wireless Networks? Then visit our Wireless Network Glossary

Basic Checks

Before leaping into complex troubleshooting, try some basic checks. First of all, if you're using Windows XP, get Windows to attempt to fix problems with your wireless connection. Double-click the connection icon in the bottom right corner of your screen (the one that looks like a couple of small computer screens). Go to the Support section of the box that appears, and then click Repair. Windows will then disable and re-enable the wireless connection which can clear many faults.

If this doesn't work it's always worth trying the timeless classic of rebooting. If the wireless network still doesn't work then the next thing to check is a loose wireless card. In particular you should check USB or PCMCIA wireless cards. However, I've known even internal cards to work loose. This is particularly a problem if you have a cheaper motherboard with poor connectors.

To check for loose connections, you should power the PC right down. For USB and PCMCIA devices remove them completely and re-insert them. If your USB decive is connected to the PC via a cable then check the connection at both ends. For internal cards, make sure they are properly seated and that the screw that connects the card end-plate to the PC case is fully tightened.

Of course, if you have an internal PCI wireless card, you might want to try a few other things first before you go to the trouble of opening the computer to take a look at it.

Has someone fired up a new Network near you?

If someone sets up a new network near you, it can cause problems, especially if you're in a part of your house where your wireless signal is weak. It's even possible for your computer to connect to a network with a better signal without informing you. You may be connected to another network, but still might not get Internet connectivity.

Click here to see the latest Wireless Network deals on ebay.com
or click here to see Wireless Network items on ebay.co.uk

Right click the wireless connection icon in the bottom right corner of your screen and select "View Available Wireless Networks". Next click on the "Advanced" button, or the "Change Advanced Settings" option depending on which option you see. In the next window you will see what you're connected to. If it's something you don't recognise, you should double-click your own network in the list to connect to it. If this works, make sure you remove other networks' names from your 'preferred networks' list, to avoid connecting to them in the future.

Check for New Sources of Interference

If you find that the range of your wireless network is less than it used to be, then the cause could be interference. First consider any changes you've made to your home recently. Cordless phones, wireless video senders, bluetooth devices and microwave ovens all transmit in the same frequency range as 802.11b/g. Try switching off devices in turn and see if the performance of the wireless network improves.

Reset equipment to factory settings

With routers and access points, one thing that might work is to log in to the admin control panel (using a web browser) and click the option to restore to factory settings. Next you should add only as much information as is absolutely necessary to get basic connectivity. Try leaving off encryption and briefly remove encryption from one PC and see if this works. Don't forget to restore encryption once you've successfully tested the connection. Be particularly careful about entering encryption keys correctly (note keys are case sensitive).

Hardware Failures

If none of the above measures work then you may have a hardware failure. It can be easy to break adaptors, particularly those that stick out from a PC case. I've broken wireless antennae before and not noticed straight away.

If you have more than one wireless connected PC then you have a better chance of narrowing down the problem area. If one PC works, but another doesn't then you should be looking for a failed adaptor for example. In this case try swapping adaptors on two PCs to see if the problem moves.

If you suspect an issue with an access point or router then it's worth contacting the manufacturer's helpline. They should be able to help, but you may still have to pay for a new device if you damaged your old one or it's out of warranty. Even if it turns out not to have been a hardware failure, they should be able to help you fix your network.

The UKITbits editorial team 2006