Wireless networks offer the convenience of a network connection while not having to be tied with cables and cords. While wireless networks have their advantages, there are also a few hidden problems that can cause plenty of issues if not taken care of.
The major problem of any wireless network is security. Unless you are running a hard-wired connection with CAT5 ethernet wire, your wireless network can and will be open to anyone with the time and patience to infiltrate your network. One component of this problem is how the vast majority of wireless network users fail to secure their networks in the most basic fashion. For instance, most consumer grade wireless routers come with standard user names and passwords for initial setup. Once this setup is done, wireless router vendors often urge users to create their own passwords for security reasons. Often times, this task is left undone, leaving the wireless routers exposed to those who can easily access router settings just by using the default passwords.
The second component to the wireless network security issue is securing the wireless connection itself. Most consumers neglect to lock down their wireless network connections, leaving them open to anyone who wants to use that connection to surf the web…..or perform more malicious acts. WEP keys can easily be used as a very basic form of wireless connection security, denying most casual users the privilege of using your connection. Unfortunately, WEP keys are often the easiest to crack by anyone using encryption key cracking tools. Also, most WEP keyphrases are kept short so that they are easy to remember, making them easier and quicker to crack. WPA and WPA2 are stronger protected access protocols that are harder to crack, but can be harder to set up for average consumers.
Another problem concerning wireless networks is the strength of the wireless signal, which can fluctuate depending on a number of factors. These include distance, the number of walls and obstacles that have to be surmounted and the presence of electrical devices that can cause interference with a wireless signal. 2.5 Ghz cordless phones are notorious for interfering with wireless signals. These phones operate on roughly the same frequency as wireless routers; therefore these devices must be placed on separate channels in order to prevent interference. The ideal channels for wireless routers to operate on are channels 1, 6 and 11. Cordless phones should be kept off of these channels.
Download and upload speeds can also be affected by the very nature of wireless transmissions. You may have noticed that download speeds can be faster with wired connections than with wireless ones, and speeds can degrade due to interference or weak signal.
Tags: network, troubleshoot, wireless
