NETGEAR WNA3100-100ENS user manual Wireless Network Performance, Optimizing Wireless Performance

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Chapter 3 Wireless Network Performance

This chapter explains how to use your wireless-N USB adapter to connect to your wireless local area network (WLAN) and how to maximize the performance of your wireless-N USB adapter within your network. Included are scenarios for setting up your network in a mixed-use environment and the trade-off of using different types of technology—wireless, wired, Powerline, and so on.

Optimizing Wireless Performance

The speed and range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the location of the wireless router. You should choose a location for your router that maximizes the network speed.

The following list describes how to optimize wireless router performance.

Identify critical wireless links.

If your network has several wireless devices, decide which wireless devices need the highest data rate, and locate the router near them. Many wireless products have automatic data-rate fallback, which allows increased distances without loss of connectivity. This also means that devices that are farther away might be slower. Therefore, the most critical links in your network are those where the traffic is high and the distances are great. Optimize those first.

Choose placement carefully. For best results, place your router:

Near the center of the area in which your computers will operate.

In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected computers have line-of-sight access (even if through walls).

Avoid obstacles to wireless signals.

Keep wireless devices at least 2 feet from large metal fixtures such as file cabinets, refrigerators, pipes, metal ceilings, reinforced concrete, and metal partitions.

Keep the devices away from large amounts of water such as fish tanks and water coolers.

Reduce interference.

Avoid windows unless communicating between buildings.

Place wireless devices away from various electromagnetic noise sources, especially those in the 2400–2500 MHz frequency band. Common noise-creating sources are:

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v1.0, December 2009

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Contents NETGEAR, Inc Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User ManualFCC Statement Technical SupportIndustry Canada Statement FCC RF Radiation Exposure and SAR StatementsSAR Statement RF Exposure InformationProduct and Publication Details Contents Appendix B Related Documents Conventions, Formats, and Scope About This ManualRevision History What You Need Before You Begin Chapter Installation with Custom SetupObserve Wireless Location and Range Guidelines Installation with Custom SetupFirst, Install the WNA3100 Software V1.0, December Then, Install Your WNA3100 v1 Adapter No WPS-capable networks in your area V1.0, December Monitoring Wireless Network and the Internet Connections Color Condition Description WNA3100 v1 IconUnderstanding the Status Bar Smart Wizard Status BarRemoving the WNA3100 v1 Software Wireless-N USB Adapter LEDMeaning Upgrading the WNA3100 v1 Software V1.0, December Viewing Wireless Networks in Your Area Network Connections and Wireless SecurityNetwork Tab Joining a NetworkField or Button Description List of networks displays Using Push N Connect to Join a Network Creating a Profile to Connect to a Wireless NetworkClick Save Profile Managing Profiles Setting Up a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc ProfileSelect Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc for the network type Select the Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc network type Starting a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Network ConnectionWEP. See Setting Up WEP Encryption Security on About Wireless SecuritySetting Up WPA-PSK Tkip or WPA2-PSK AES Security Wireless Network Name Ssid and Security SettingsSetting Up WEP Encryption Security V1.0, December Statistics Descriptions Monitoring StatisticsLabel Description About Your Smart Wizard About Tab SettingsAbout Tab Field Description Get Info button Advanced SettingsCheck button Auto CheckV1.0, December Optimizing Wireless Performance Wireless Network PerformanceOptimizing Your Network Bandwidth Broadband Internet Small Office and Home Office Soho Networking TechnologiesAssessing Your Network Speed Requirements WirelessNetwork Connection Theoretical Raw Transfer Time Theoretical Transfer Time for 1 GigabyteTroubleshooting Tips TroubleshootingConnection Status Shows Troubleshooting Your Wireless ConnectionProblem Action Occasional Windows XP Connection ProblemsAd Hoc Mode Is Not Working Correctly FCC, CE Technical SpecificationsFeature Description Factory Default SettingsDocument Link Appendix B Related Documents