How To Reduce the Wireless Interference On Your Network



Posted: Wednesday, January 05, 2011

by Chris Edwards
BuzzAGeek

Interference (communication), in telecommunication and electronics, anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message as it travels along a channel between a source and a receiver. Typically the term refers to the addition of an unwanted signal to the useful signal.

Typically a microwave, or even a cordless phone can cause interference with your wireless network. Does this mean that if you have a microwave that you cannot have a wireless network? No, wireless networks are designed to run even with interference. The quality and throughput is diminished. However there are ways of eliminating interference by changing a routers channel on which is operates.

Typically a 802.11g network, which runs a 54mbs, has 11 channels from which to choose. There are some routers which have up to 13 channels. Now finding the best channel is not possible without some expensive equipment analyzing all wireless signals in your area. However with the use of a internet tool called 'ping' you can analyze with a certain degree of accuracy which is the best channel for your network.

In order to test which channel is the best for your environment, you need to run (at the command prompt) the following command;

ping -n 100 [your gateways IP address]

This command will continuously send an echo message to your router until it has performed 100 ICMP requests, and then the router in return will send the echo back to your laptop or desktop. While performing a ping, you need to note the overall packet loss that is encountered on the routers wireless channel. You repeat the ping command for each channel that your router supports.

Therefore once you have performed a test on all of the channels, the channel with the least amount of packet loss can be considered the best channel to use. Adjust the router to use this channel and you should have a more stable connection to your network and the internet.

Is it always advisable to call in your local computer repair and support geeks to help you with this. The geeks will have expert knowledge in this area and will be able to give you the best advice as to the hardware required for a wireless network.

Computer Repairs Sunshine Coast
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