Recover a lost wireless network key
When creating a password and network key to protect your wireless network from outsiders, it’s important to make it as long and hard to guess as you can, using a combination of letters and numbers.
The problem with creating a complex password is that it will be very hard to remember if you lose it. You can use WirelessKeyView to display all the security keys stored in Windows, so you can get back on your network.
Boost weak signals by changing the channel
If your wireless signal is unusually weak, its performance may be affected by competition from other nearby routers (in a neighbour's house, for example). Older devices let you change the channel on which the router broadcasts, and this might solve the problem. Use inSSIDer to see which channels the other devices use.
Prevent cable problems using Digital Home Support
Virgin Media customers can download the free program Digital Home Support to prevent and fix connection problems. The PC Healthcheck tool will scan your system and make sure all your security software is functioning correctly, and that everything is running as speedily as possible. You can also pay £6 a month to get live expert help from the company.
Improve your router’s range
Some routers have directional antennas. Pointing them towards the centre of the room (away from walls) will help to improve the wireless range. You should also consider upgrading to a new 802.11n compatible router, or adding some range extenders (also known as wireless repeaters) to your network. These take the existing signal and boost or repeat it.
Make sure your laptop’s Wi-Fi is turned on
Assuming that your Wi-Fi connection problem only affects your laptop, and that it has connected without problems in the past, check the front or side of the device for a sliding switch with a Wi-Fi logo on it. If it’s turned to ‘off’, move it back to ‘on’. This might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how many of us forget to check before we start panicking.
Reset your router to the factory defaults
If you’re having problems with your router, or you can’t log into it because you’ve forgotten your password, the best approach is to reset it. Look for a Reset button on the back of the device and hold it down for at least 10 seconds. If it has a reset hole, you’ll need to stick a pin or straightened paperclip into it.
Diagnose network problems
If you can’t connect to a network, it may be down to a problem with your network adapter. Click Start, and go to Control Panel, ‘Network and Internet’, ‘Network and Sharing Center’. Click ‘Troubleshoot problems’ at the bottom of the page and then choose the type of network problem you’re having.
Switch to a faster DNS server
DNS (Domain Name System) maps URLs to numerical IP addresses. By switching to a different server, such as OpenDNS or Google Public DNS, web pages may load faster. Both these services are free to use and are especially useful as backups if your ISP is having trouble coping with heavy traffic.
See who else is using your Wi-Fi network
If you suspect someone might be using your wireless connection without permission, slowing you down and compromising your security, you can investigate using Nirsoft’s free tool, Wireless Network Watcher.
This program displays a list of all connected devices (including any from outside sources) on your network and lets you sort them by various criteria, including name, IP address, MAC address, network adapter and user text.
If you have caught other people using your wireless network, it’s vital that you encrypt it and change your password to prevent them accessing it again.
Turning on MAC (Media Access Control) filtering will add a second layer of defence that will let you specify exactly which devices are allowed to connect to your router and network. You should be able to do this through your router’s configuration page.
No comments:
Post a Comment