Troubleshooting Wireless Networks

This article is not relevant if:

• Your equipment never installed correctly.
• You have no Internet connection, even wired. (See Troubleshooting When There is No Internet Access.)
• You can access some Internet programs, but not others. (MTU, Partial Loss of Internet Connection or Cannot Log on to AOL Through Router and Modem)
• Your connection only drops at times. (Internet Connections Drops Repeatedly)
• There are abnormal LEDs (no power light, test light that won't go off, port lights that won't come on). Consult the manuals for light problems.

1. Download and install the latest software for your device. Visit the NETGEAR downloads page.

2. Each wireless device must have the same settings:

• SSID : This is case sensitive. (Netgear is different from NETGEAR). The default SSID for Netgear wireless device was changed from "wireless" to "NETGEAR".
• Channel: The wireless channels are 1 to 11 (1 to 13 in some countries)
• Mode: The wireless mode should be set to either ad hoc or infrastructure. See Choosing Between Ad Hoc and Infrastructure Mode
• Encryption. You have these options for encryption:
  • Don't use any
  • Use WEP What is WEP?
  • Use WPA-PSK What is WPA?
  • Use WPA
  • Some equipment allows you to use VPN What is VPN?
• Enable wireless access point.
• If Access Control List (ACL) is enabled on your router, make sure the MAC address of the wireless adapter is included in that list.

3. When configuring a router:

• The username must include a whole address like smartsue@isp.com — NOT just "smartsue".
• After making changes, click Apply!

4. If the signal strength indicator is red, see Improving Wireless Range. Any color but red is acceptable.

5. If you have enable security and having problem connecting, disable security by setting encryption to "None" and try connecting again.

6. For Windows 95 and Windows 98, look in the Windows Device Manager to see if the NETGEAR equipment has a yellow exclamation mark (an IRQ conflict). Instructions applying to generally to Windows systems are in Resolving IRQ Conflicts. If you have an IRQ conflict, resolve it first.

N101179.asp Agu. 25, 2005