Improve the Performance of Your Home Wireless - Four Things to Check

Many people who use a computer around the house have a wireless network in our homes. Even if you have only one computer, a wireless network allows you to take a laptop anywhere you need to go, and gives you flexibility. A wireless network is ideal for connecting your home with a workshop, or an outdoor area where you want to work while enjoying the sun.

However, few things are as frustrating as a wireless network which doesn't perform well. Sources of interference can be difficult, if not impossible, to pinpoint, and are often impossible to eliminate after you know what they are. And if you can't find it, you can assume the source of interference comes from a source outside of your control, such as a neighbor.

Channel Surfing
The first thing to try, if your network performance has degraded or never lived up to your expectations, is to change the channel. You will that your equipment allows 11 channels - numbered 1 through 11 - but of these only three are unique channels. The others overlap. These three channels you should consider are 1, 6, and 11. You may find that one is noticeably better than others, just like turning the radio dial and hearing some stations more clearly. You may find that circumstances change later and you need to adjust your channels again. Your computer(s) will automatically find the new channel being used. (If you are using more specialized equipment such as a bridge or print server, you can't count on it updating automatically.)

Interference
The next thing to try is to pinpoint sources of interference in your home. Many people find that running the microwave causes interference. If your connection occasionally drops for about three minutes, was someone making popcorn? Electronic devices like cordless phones sometimes operate in the 2.4GHz frequency that your wireless network is using. Check the specifications for cordless phones, baby monitors, and similar devices with are transmitting in your home.

Consider the trade-off between speed and distance.
Wireless network standards are called either 802.11b or 802.11g. Many devices support either, or a "mixed" environment. 802.11g is about five times faster, but if all you are doing is surfing the Internet you probably don't need that speed anyway. 802.11b is slower but can generally cover a larger distance before it starts to break up. In my home, I have been happier with the 802.11b network, but my husband's studio nearby uses an 802.11g network for faster file transfer speeds.

Hardware
If all else fails, you might need to upgrade or replace your equipment. Consistently using the same manufacturer is going to give you better results than just buying whatever is cheapest. I announced that in our house we had "standardized" on Linksys, simply because it was what I was familiar with from my employer. While it theoretically shouldn't matter, it does; equipment from the same manufacturer will work better together. You may not need to completely replace your equipment. Many types of equipment allow you to replace the antenna. You can purchase an antenna which has more "gain" and can pick up a weaker signal, or send out a stronger signal.

By considering these topics, most home users should be able to maintain an acceptable wireless network. If you still can't get it to work properly, your service provider (in my case Comcast Cable) will be more than happy to set up your network for you - for a fee.