NETGEAR WNDA3100-100NAS Wireless Network Performance, Optimizing Wireless Performance

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Chapter 3 Wireless Network Performance

This chapter explains how to use your RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100 to connect to your wireless local area network (WLAN) and how to set up wireless security for the wireless USB adapter so that it matches the wireless security settings for your network.

Optimizing Wireless Performance

The speed and operating distance or 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 will maximize 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 losing connectivity. This also means that devices that are farther away mighty 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 two 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 2007

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Contents NETGEAR, Inc Netgear RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100Technical Support RF Exposure Information SAR StatementBand Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100 Συμμορφωνεται Προσ ΤΙΣ Product and Publication Details V1.0, December Contents Appendix B Related Documents Conventions, Formats, and Scope About This ManualHow to Print This Manual How to Use This ManualV1.0, December Xii Chapter Basic Setup What You Need Before You BeginVerify System Requirements Settings on Observe Wireless Location and Range GuidelinesWNDA3100 Default Wireless Settings What Is in the BoxInstalling the WNDA3100 Software InstallationConnecting the Wireless-N USB Adapter Using the Smart Wizard to Set Up Your Wireless-N USB Adapter Hidden network Connecting to Wireless Networks and the Internet WNDA3100 Icon Colors Smart Wizard Status BarColor Condition Description Understanding the Status Bar Wireless Network PerformanceWireless-N USB Adapter LED Placing the USB Adapter CradleMeaning V1.0, December Upgrading the WNDA3100 Software Removing the WNDA3100 SoftwareV1.0, December Disabling the Windows Zero Configuration Utility Network Connections and Wireless SecurityUnderstanding the Smart Wizard Viewing Wireless Networks in Your AreaClick the Networks tab to display the following screen Finding a Network Adding Profiles ProfilesClick Save Profile Setting up a Computer-to-Computer Ad Hoc Profile Select 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 ConnectionUsing Wireless Security Features Wireless SecurityIf WPA2-PSK or WPA-PSK authentication is used Wireless Network Name Ssid and Security SettingsSetting Up WPA-PSK Security Setting Up WEP Encryption Security V1.0, December Statistics Tab About Tab Advanced Settings V1.0, December Optimizing Wireless Performance Wireless Network PerformanceOptimizing Your Network Bandwidth Broadband Internet Overview of Home and Small Office Networking TechnologiesAssessing Your Speed Requirements PowerlineNetwork Connection Theoretical Raw Transfer Time Theoretical Transfer Time for 1 GigabyteV1.0, December Troubleshooting Troubleshooting TipsProblem Action 802.11g network. See , Wireless Network Windows XP Occasional Connection Problems Ad Hoc Mode Is Not Working CorrectlyV1.0, December FCC, CE Technical SpecificationsFactory Default Settings Feature Description Smart WizardWireless Document Link Appendix B Related DocumentsV1.0, December