Troubleshooting Wireless Network Problems

It never fails.  If I am at the office late and I am trying to get out of here my mom calls wanting help with her wireless connection.  I don’t mind my mom calling with her computer requests they just never seem to happen when I am:

1. Bored.
2. Lacking something to do.
3. Wishing I had snack food when all I have is celery and peanut butter.  Oh, and raisins.

But, what can you do when your mom calls – you have to take the call because, if you don’t – boom – you’re never getting invited for free dinner again.

Usually, troubleshooting wireless issues are simple because there are only a few things that could be wrong.  This is the first part of a multi-part series on wireless connectivity.  I will start with some general tips and get into the nitty gritty next time.

Did You Turn It On?  What About The Router?

This is the embarrassing thing to check but checking to see if your wireless connection is even powered up is the first thing to look at.  There are, of course, two things to look at.

1. The power on your wireless router.
2. The power on your computer’s wireless connection.  (This may be a built in wireless card, or one of those cards you stick in the side of your laptop.  Most laptops come with WiFi already built in these days.)

Okay, It Is Powered Up, Is It Enabled?

Even with a device powered up, you may not have it enabled on your computer.  Most often, this will happen on a Windows machine where you have done something (put the laptop in hibernation can cause this from time to time) that has caused the wireless device to be disabled.’

There Isn’t A 747 Parked Between Your Router and The Laptop, Is There?

It is a well known fact that with all this wireless technology, there are a bunch of waves bouncing around our homes that can be bounced in the wrong direction.  Metal objects, power cables, duct work, and other such things can interfere with wireless connections.  Simply moving from one room to another may be a good idea when testing out your connection.  Portable phones may also make your wireless laptop grumpy.

You’ve Read The Manual, Right?

Companies that make wireless routers, cards, and computers with WiFi connectivity go out of their way to make it as easy as possible.  (Sure, the levels of success may or may not be adequate but it is always a good idea to check the manual first.)  Any nerd will tell you, read the manual and then come ask questions.

If All Else Fails, Call Your Geek

If you give geeks beer, they will always help you out as something that takes you fifteen minutes will probably take them ten seconds.