Wireless Home Networking 
 
 Fix Connectivity Issues 
It sounds crazy, but 95 percent of all Internet connectivity problems 
can be solved by power-cycling both the router and the modem. Turn them 
both off, and then turn the modem back on first. Once its "sync" or 
signal light comes on, turn on your router. 
 
 Use Encryption 
You've probably heard this before, but it bears repeating: Always 
enable your router's wireless security! Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 
encryption is the oldest (and weakest) form of security; the newer (and 
stronger) Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and WPA-2 are the best protection
 available today for home users. 
 
 Update Your Router's Firmware 
All routers include internal read-only chips with embedded instructions
 that can be updated by the manufacturer. Router manufacturers generally
 update a product's firmware to increase performance as well as to 
resolve bugs and security issues, so it's wise to keep your router's 
firmware up-to-date. Check the manufacturer's Web site for the latest 
updates. 
 
 Boost Your Wireless Signal 
If walls and 
distance are causing wireless signal degradation, you can do a few 
things to boost it. Move your router to higher ground—the signal 
radiates downward. You can also try a signal extender (or repeater), 
which boosts the signal. Finally, high-gain antennas will work, but they
 only focus the signal in one direction. 
 
 Change Admin Password 
Every router has a well-known default password that's used to access 
the router's browser-based configuration page. Most setup wizards will 
make you change this password, but not all do. If not, be sure to change
 it yourself to prevent unwanted hangers-on from changing your network's
 settings. 
 
 Go Back to Factory Settings 
If you've 
lost or forgotten your router's login credentials, you can get around 
this predicament by resetting the router to its factory settings. Do 
this by holding down the button on the back of it for 30 seconds. Next, 
look in the manual for the default user name and password, and then 
change them on your router's browser-based configuration page. 
 
 Disable SSID Broadcast 
Unless you disable it, your router broadcasts its service set 
identifier (SSID)—the name of your network—which allows your neighbors 
to see (and attempt to gain access to) your network. Instead, disable 
broadcasting, making the network appear as "SSID not broadcast." Access 
the unnamed network by typing in the SSID name when prompted. 
 
 Change the Default SSID 
Change your pre-defined, default SSID—leaving it as "Linksys," for 
example, tells the world that you haven't configured your router, which 
invites attackers. 
 
 Filter by MAC Address 
Every piece
 of networking gear includes a unique "fingerprint" called a media 
access control, or MAC, address. You can configure your router to filter
 connections using these addresses so that only your computers can 
connect to your network. Most routers will show you connected devices, 
so adding an adapter's MAC address is a one-click process. 
 
 Step Up to 5GHz 
The majority of today's networks operate in the crowded 2.4GHz 
frequency range, which is shared by microwaves, cordless phones, and 
other home networks. To avoid possible interference, many new routers 
are capable of broadcasting at 5GHz, which has 23 wide-open channels as 
opposed to 2.4GHz's three non-overlapping channels. 
 
 Limit Your Number of DHCP Clients 
Most people use their router as a DHCP server; when clients connect, 
the router dynamically assigns IP addresses from a large pool of 
addresses. Limiting that list to the number of clients in your home, 
however, will help prevent interlopers from hopping onto your network. 
 
 Use Your Router's Firewall 
Two features make most hardware firewalls more powerful than software 
firewalls: stateful packet inspection (SPI) and network address 
translation (NAT). SPI examines packets' content and behavior before 
granting access, and NAT hides all PCs connected to the router from the 
Internet, "translating" their IP addresses into private ones that are 
unreachable from outside the firewall. 
 
 Change Your Channel 
Wireless B and G (and some N) routers operate at the 2.4GHz frequency, 
which only has three non-overlapping channels: 1, 6 and 11. By default, 
your router will most likely be using one of these channels, and the bad
 news is so your neighbors' routers as well. If you experience dropped 
connections, sluggish performance or both, a good first step is to 
switch the channel. If it's set to channel 1, go to 11. If it's set to 
6, try either 1 or 11 for best results. 
 
 Let Windows Control Your Wireless Networks 
If a network adapter's software takes control of your wireless network,
 it can be difficult to put Windows back in charge. First, click Start, 
then Run, then type services.msc. Scroll down to Wireless Zero 
Configuration and start the service. Right-click your wireless 
connection, select view available networks, and then click advanced 
settings on the left. Click the wireless networks tab, and check "Use 
Windows to Configure my wireless network settings." 
 
 Disable File Sharing in Public 
If you're in a public place with a Net connection, it's a good idea to 
disable File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks. In the 
properties of your network adapter, uncheck the appropriate box. It's 
also a good idea to switch your notebook's wireless radio off if you 
aren't using it.