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signal strength is poor.
Wireless technology is radio-based, which means connectivity
and the throughput performance between devices
decreases
when the distance between devices
increases
. Other factors
that will cause signal degradation (metal is generally the worst
culprit) are obstructions such as walls and metal appliances. As
a result, the typical indoor range of your wireless devices will be
between 100 to 200 feet. Note also that connection speed may
decrease as you move farther from the wireless router (or access
point). In order to determine if wireless issues are related to
range, we suggest temporarily moving the computer, if possible,
to five to 10 feet away from wireless router (or access point).
Changing the wireless channel
– Depending on local wireless
traffic and interference, switching the wireless channel of your
network can improve performance and reliability. The default channel
the router is shipped with is channel 6. You may choose from several
other channels depending on your region; see your router’s (or access
point’s) user manual for instructions on how to choose other channels.
limiting the wireless transmit rate
– Limiting the wireless transmit
rate can help improve the maximum wireless range, and connection
stability. Most wireless cards have the ability to limit the transmission
rate. To change this property, go to the Windows Control Panel,
open “Network Connections” and double-click on your Adapter’s
connection. In the “Properties” dialog, select the “Configure” button
on the “General” tab (Windows 98 users will have to select the USB
Network Adapter in the list box and then click “Properties”), then
choose the “Advanced” tab and select the rate property. Wireless
client cards are usually set to automatically adjust the wireless
transmit rate for you, but doing so can cause periodic disconnects
when the wireless signal is too weak; as a rule, slower transmission
rates are more stable. Experiment with different connection rates
until you find the best one for your environment; note that all available
transmission rates should be acceptable for browsing the Internet.
For more assistance, see your wireless card’s literature. If issues
persist even at close range, please contact Belkin Technical Support.
