104CHAPTER 6: TROUBLESHOOTING
■Ensure that the encryption method and level that you use on your clients are the same as those configured on the Router.
■Ensure that you have the Wireless computer enabled in the list of allowed MAC addresses if you are using Wireless Connection control on the Router.
■If you are having difficulty connecting or are operating at a low speed try changing the antenna positions on the rear of the Router. For more effective coverage you can try reorientating your antennae. Place one antenna vertically and one horizontally to improve coverage.
Additionally consider moving the wireless computer closer to the Router to confirm that the building structure or fittings are not adversely affecting the connectivity. If this resolves the problem consider relocating the Wireless computer or the Router, or trying a different channel on the Router.
■Sources of interference: The 2.4Ghz ISM band is used for 802.11b and 802.11g. This is generally a licence free band for low power applications, and you may have other devices at your location that operate in this frequency band. You should take care to ensure that there are no devices like microwave ovens for example close to the Router or wireless computers as this could affect receiver sensitivity and reduce the performance of your network. If you are unsure try relocating both the wireless computers and the Router to establish whether this problem exists.
■Most wireless computer Adapters will scan the channels for the wireless Router. If a wireless computer has not located the Router then try initiating a search manually if the client software supports this feature or manually set the channel on your wireless computer to correspond to the Router channel number. Please refer to your Wireless computer adapter documentation and vendor to do this.
■Speed of connection: The 802.11b and 802.11g standards will automatically choose the best speed depending on the quality of your connection. As the signal quality weakens then the speed falls back to a lower speed. The speeds supported by 802.11g are 54 Mbps,
48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, and 6 Mbps. The speeds supported by 802.11b are 11 Mbps, 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps and 1 Mbps. In general the closer you are to the Router the better the speed. If you are not achieving the speed you had anticipated then try moving the antenna on the Router or moving the Wireless computer closer to the Router. In an ideal network the Router should be located in the centre of the network with Wireless computers distributed
