Manage Your Life

Monday, December 7, 2009

wireless - Change the Channel

I came across an interesting little tidbit about the wireless routers and firewalls.  In addition to the usual stuff about making your router/firewall connect to the Intenet and providing security such as hiding from freeloaders.  There is a another nifty option on your router/firewall's homepage** (see below for about **) which allows you to choose your channel. 

In the US, there are 11 standard communication channels (Europe and Asia have 14) which can be used for all mobile devices such as cell phone, blackberry devices, and portable hand held two-way radios.  Each of these mobile devices use a channel (or frequency) to broadcast on. 

and so does your wireless router whether it be for business or pleasure, and all routers out of the box default to channel 1.  This leads to "noise" on the line when one or more of these modems are in close proximity. 

What this means for you is that you wireless laptop and/or pc keeps going up and down even though your signal on your taskbar is strong.  you lose your internet connection or you lose your vpn tunnel back to your office. 

so if you are experiencing this problem, First see how many other wireless networks you can see to connect to at any given time on your network.  If it's more than three and especially if any of those networks are business oriented, you might be competing for channel space.

Then, check out your routers homepage and change the channel.  Experiment and see which one works best for you!! 

*** now what I mean about your router/firewall homepage is that instead of installing an application to control your wireless router and/or firewall, companies are now using internal web pages.  so you pop open your favorite web browser, type in the address from your manual and up pops a homepage with all your settings.   It scrolls, navigates, uses links just like any other web page.

but don't forget to check our your router/firewall's Internet web page, most have a free discussion forum with confused people just like you.  it's a techie secret!!!
Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1 of 1
  • First L's Avatar
    Posted by First L Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:34pm PDT

    Day 3 since I fixed my new consulting jobs router/firewall and the connection still hasn't dropped...I am getting "you r the goddess bows"!! I am happy!!

    Report Abuse
Comments 1 of 1

leave your comment

You must sign in to post a comment

Sign In for personalized information

New User? Sign Up

manage your life byte

from Target

All kinds of wonderful. Gifts, solutions and savings all in one place. Find every merry solution at Target.