Wireless Tips
Wireless Tips
The following are some general wireless tips to help minimize the impact of interference within an
The following are some general wireless tips to help minimize the impact of interference within an
environment.
environment.
Assign your network a unique SSID
Assign your network a unique SSID
Do not use anything that would be identifying like "Smith Family Network". Choose
Do not use anything that would be identifying like "Smith Family Network". Choose
something that you would easily identify when searching for available wireless networks.
something that you would easily identify when searching for available wireless networks.
Do not turn off
Do not turn off
The SSID broadcast is intended to be on and turning it off can cause connectivity issues.
The SSID broadcast is intended to be on and turning it off can cause connectivity issues.
The preferred method of securing a wireless network is to choose a strong form of encryption
The preferred method of securing a wireless network is to choose a strong form of encryption
with a strong and varied encryption key.
with a strong and varied encryption key.
Note: after setting up the SSID, encryption type and encryption key/passphrase, please
Note: after setting up the SSID, encryption type and encryption key/passphrase, please
make a note of them for future reference. You will need this information to connect your
make a note of them for future reference. You will need this information to connect your
wireless computers to the wireless router/access point.
wireless computers to the wireless router/access point.
Change the channel
Change the channel
Most wireless access points and
Most wireless access points and
tool that will display the channels you can plan your channel selection around neighboring
tool that will display the channels you can plan your channel selection around neighboring
access points to minimize interference
access points to minimize interference
the channel try using channels 1 or 11.
the channel try using channels 1 or 11.
Change the channel bandwidth
Change the channel bandwidth
If you are using an 802.11n router or access point you can also make the following changes.
If you are using an 802.11n router or access point you can also make the following changes.
Change the channel bandwidth
Change the channel bandwidth
performance using an
performance using an
network with WPA2 security.
network with WPA2 security.
Note:
Note:
Due to Wi-Fi certification
Due to Wi-Fi certification cons
encryption this device
encryption this device
802.11n performance as these
802.1
1n performance as these
specification.
specification.
Avoid
Avoid stackin
stacking hardware on top
Maintain enough free space around the hardware for good
Maintain enough free space around the hardware for good
should also be plenty of free space around the antennas to allow the wireless signal to
should also be plenty of free space around the antennas to allow the wireless signal to
propagate.
propagate.
shelving or enclosures.
shelving or enclosures.
There are a number of
There are a number of
devices.
devices.
1. Adjust your wireless devices so that the signal is traveling in a straight path, rather than at
1. Adjust your wireless devices so that the signal is traveling in a straight path, rather than at
an angle.
an angle.
the SSID broadcast
the SSID broadcast
802.11n
802.11n
may operate
may operate
g hardware on top
of each other to
of each other to
Please also make sure that
Please also make sure that
other environmental factors that can impact the range of
other environmental factors that can impact the range of
The more material the signal has to pass through the
The more material the signal has to pass through the
routers are defaulted to
routers are defaulted to
from them.
from them.
If your site survey
If your site survey
to 20/40MHz.
to 20/40MHz.
This will provide the
This will provide the
device.
device.
Also, if using
Also, if using
considerations if you choose
iderations if you choose
in legacy wireless
in legacy wireless
forms of encryption are
forms of encryption are
prevent overheating issues
prevent overheating issues
the wireless hardware
the wireless hardware
1
1
1
1
channel 6.
channel 6.
If you have a
If you have a
tool does not display
tool does not display
highest possible
highest possible
802.11n you should
802.1
1n you should
be securing the
be securing the
WEP, WP
WEP
,
WPA or WP
A or
WPA2-TKIP
mode (802.1
mode
(802.11b/g).
1b/g).
Y
Y
ou may
ou may
not supported by the 8
not supported by the
ventilation and airflow.
ventilation and airflow.
is not placed in
is not placed in
more signal you will lose.
more signal you will lose.
site survey
site survey
A2-TKIP
not get
not get
802.1
02.11n
1n
There
There
any type of
any type of
wireless
wireless