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How to troubleshoot wireless connection problems
Verify that your wireless adaptor is installed correctly
1. Open Device Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
b. In the left pane, under System Tools, click Device Manager.
2. Expand Network Adapters, and then verify that your wireless adaptor is displayed. If your wireless adaptor is not displayed, one or more of the following issues may be causing the problem:
• A wireless network adaptor may not be physically present. You must install a wireless network adaptor before you can connect to a wireless network.
• Your wireless adaptor may not be connected correctly. Turn off your computer, and then remove and reconnect your adaptor.
• If your adaptor is a USB adaptor, there may be a problem with the USB ports on your computer. Test your USB ports by connecting to a different USB device such as a USB mouse. Verify that the USB ports work correctly. If you have multiple USB devices on your computer, disconnect any devices that you do not need.
3. Verify that your wireless network adaptor appears with a yellow exclamation mark or a red "X".
• A yellow exclamation mark indicates that there is a problem with the device.
• A red "X" indicates that the device is disabled. Right-click the device, and then click Enable.
4. Double-click your wireless network adaptor. On the General tab, verify that the device is functioning correctly.
Verify that the wireless network is available
If your wireless adaptor is an integrated device such as a built-in wireless networking adaptor in a portable computer, you may have to turn it on by using a switch or a keyboard shortcut. See your computer's documentation, Help files, or technical support department.
1. Click Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show all connections.
2. Right-click your wireless adaptor, and then click View Available Wireless Networks.
3. Under Available wireless networks, verify that your network name (SSID) is displayed.
• If your wireless network name is displayed, but you cannot connect to the network, one or more of the following conditions may be true:
• The wireless security (WEP) settings on your computer may not be configured with the same information as your network. See the "Check the wireless security settings" section.
• There may be a problem with the configuration of your wireless access point.
• There may be a conflict between your wireless adaptor and another network adaptor on your computer. See the "Look for conflicts with other network adaptors" section.
• If your wireless network name is not displayed, one or more of the following conditions may be true:
• The wireless network may not be present.
• The wireless access point may be configured not to broadcast the SSID.
• There may be a problem with your wireless access point. Check all connections, and make sure that the power is on.
• There may be a conflict between your wireless adaptor and another network adaptor on your computer. See the "Look for conflicts with other network adaptors" section.
Install the latest firmware update
Download and install the latest firmware upgrade.
Configure the wireless network settings on the base station
Change the wireless channel number
When you change the wireless channel number, your network may be able to communicate on a channel with less interface. To set the wireless channel for base station, follow these steps:
1. Start the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility.
2. On the Tools menu, click Management Tool.
3. When you are prompted to, log on to the base station. To do this, use the password that you created when you ran the Setup Wizard the first time. If you did not run the Setup Wizard, use the following default base station password:
admin
4. Click Wireless.
5. Click to select the Enable wireless access check box if it is not already selected.
6. Click the channel number that you want to use in the Wireless channel number list.
7. Click Apply.
Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the preferred channels for wireless networking.
Reduce the data rate
When you reduce the data rate on your wireless network, it may create a more stable connection. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Start the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility.
2. On the Tools menu, click Management Tool.
3. When you are prompted to, log on to the base station. To do this, use the password that you created when you ran the Setup Wizard the first time. If you did not run the Setup Wizard, use the following default base station password:
admin
4. Click Wireless.
5. Click to select the Enable wireless access check box if it is not already selected.
6. Change the data rate that your wireless network uses to a lower number. If your data setting is auto, first try 5, and then try lower settings if you have to.
7. Click Apply.
If these steps resolve the problem, you may have a wireless signal quality or signal interference problem. Signals that are transmitted between the base station and a wireless adaptor can be affected by interference from other wireless devices—including 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) cordless phones, microwave ovens, and neighboring wireless networks. Move the other devices farther from your wireless networking hardware as needed, and do not use them while you are using the network.
Configure the wireless network settings on your computer
1. Try to automatically repair the settings. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, point to Connect to, and then click Show all connections.
b. Right-click your wireless adaptor, and then click Repair.
c. Test your connection.
2. Manually type the network name (SSID). To do this, follow these steps:
a. In Network Connections, right-click your wireless adaptor, and then click Properties.
b. Click the Wireless networks tab, and then click to select the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box.
c. Under Available networks, click your wireless network, and then click Configure.
If your wireless network is not displayed, see the "Verify that the wireless network is available" section.
d. Click the Association tab, and then type the correct network name next to Network name (SSID), click OK, and then click OK again.
e. Test your connection.
3. Manually set the wireless channel number. To do this, follow these steps:
a. In Network Connections, right-click your wireless adaptor, click Properties, click Configure under your wireless network adaptor, and then click the Advanced tab.
b. Under Property, click IBSS channel number, and then type the channel that your wireless network uses in the Value box.
You can find the channel number by using the administration tool for your wireless access point. Do not change this value unless you are sure of the channel that your network uses.
c. Test your connection.
4. Examine the TCP/IP settings for your wireless network adaptor. To do this, follow these steps:
a. In Network Connections, right-click your wireless adaptor, click Properties, and then click the General tab.
b. Double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) under This connection uses the following items.
c. Use one of the following methods:
• If your wireless network is configured to assign the IP address and DNS server information automatically (most common), click both of the following options:
• Obtain an IP address automatically
• Obtain DNS server address automatically
• If your wireless network is configured to use specific IP address and DNS server information (advanced), configure that information about this tab.
Examine the wireless security settings
When wireless security is configured on a wireless network, a user who does not have the correct wireless security information configured on his or her computer is prevented from connecting. To determine whether a problem with these settings is preventing you from connecting, temporarily disable wireless security on your network, and then try to connect. To do this, follow these steps.
Disabling wireless security can cause your network to become more vulnerable. Only perform this procedure if you understand the security implications of doing this. This is intended as a temporary measure to help you identify a problem.
1. Disable wireless security on your wireless access point. To disable wireless security on a Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station, follow these steps: a. On the Home page of the Base Station Management Tool, click Security.
b. On the Security menu, click Wireless Security
c. Under Security and Encryption, click Disable wireless security, and then click Apply.
For information about how to disable wireless security on a third-party wireless access point, see the product document, Help files, or contact the manufacturer's technical support department.
2. Try to connect to your wireless network.
If you can connect after you disable wireless security, the wireless security settings on your computer may have been different from those configured on your access point. Reconfigure the wireless security settings on your wireless network and all wireless network computers to make sure that the same settings are used on the access point and each wireless client.
Look for conflicts with other network adaptors
Disable any network adaptors on your computer, except the wireless adaptor that you want to use to connect to your wireless network. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open Device Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
b. In the left pane, click Device Manager, under System Tools.
2. Expand Network Adapters.
3. Right-click the network adaptor that you want to disable, and then click Disable.
4. Repeat step 3 for any other unnecessary network adaptors that are displayed.
5. Try to connect to your wireless network.
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