Monday, September 15, 2008

Getting Wireless Connections to Work


Remember the days when internet connections were simple? So long as your PC is plugged into the modem with a live connection, it will work. Then came the freedom of wireless connections. Sure, when it works, it is a great thing. Unfortunately, we all have our fair share of connection woes that came along with it.

I use the Belkin N1 router for my home network cable connection. I must say, it is one of the nicest package visually that you can find in any router. It has a black theme going for it, must like what Samsung is doing for their LCD TVs. Setting up the router is simple enough, as most settings are automatic.

However, getting most out of your wireless connections can be tricky sometimes, as it is very much dependent on 2 variables. One is the environment, and the other is the signal strength and how good your router is. A typical home will definitely have walls, partitions and some electrical appliances. It will also depend how far your router is away from your portable PC for instance. All these play a part in the interference of the signal strength. One good thing to try is to place the router at the highest point possible. Maybe on top of a CPU, or mount it on a wall. Try to play around with the direction of the antennas to get a good signal. A good measure to to achieve 3 bars of signal strength. You can also try to play around with the settings in the router menu. Different routers have different settings for it.

Of course, not all routers are created equal. I would say the Belkin N1 is an average performer., but still better than a Linksys. The D-Link extreme models are the better ones to get, as the range coverage and signal strength is much stronger.

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