Windows

Five Tips For Wireless Routers And Home Networking

Posted by on Apr 1, 2008 | 5 Comments

Gnomie Gabe Somebody (if that is, indeed, his real name!) writes:

Hey Chris, I’ve got a top five list for you. I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent trying to fuss with my home networking to discover the solutions are usually simpler than they seem.

  1. Totally go with wired or wireless — not both.

  2. Don’t use Windows for your home network. Just go to Best Buy and get a simple networking program. Keep it simple!
  3. Beware of electrical interference. Try not to place your router too close to a computer, microwave, cable box, TV, etc. Just move it. Simple as that.
  4. Change the channel. Interference can sometimes be cleared up as as easily as changing the channel on your wireless router. You might have had the problem only because somebody was cooking something in a nearby microwave. You can buy a USB device that finds the best channel for you, but it’s just a waste of money. Just experiment and change the channel to best suit your environment.
  5. Location, location, location. Try to put your wireless router high up and near the thing that will use it the most. Also, don’t place it too close to windows (the holes in your house that are covered in glass — not the operating system). Doing this will not only increase your range, it will increase transfer time also.
  • Ben

    Who is this guy? What kind of advice is this? Chris, don’t you apply ANY editorial oversight?

    > 1. Totally go with wired or wireless — not both.

    Huh? Makes no sense.

    > 2. Don’t use Windows for your home network. Just go to Best Buy and get a simple networking program. Keep it simple!

    WTF is “a simple networking program?”

  • Scott

    “go with wired or wireless — not both” HUH???? Why? Each one has their own advantage and what problems does having both introduce? In my house I have 3 desktops, all wired to the switch, and 3 laptops, all wireless of course, and it works great. I’m confused why you’d recommend 1 or the other but not both. Please explain.

  • Philip

    Thank you Ben, I was wondering the same thing, there needs to be a little choice on what gets published, sometimes things just don’t make sense and really they should know better than to publish this.

    I am sure the person who wrote this had a problem or two at one point, but seriously is not what everyone should be doing.

  • paul

    Tip number one is just wrong. You can mix wired and wireless with no problem, so you don’t have to buy new hardware if you don’t want to.
    For tip number 2, try “Network Magic”. It’s free, easy to work with, and works great.

  • Brian

    I really hope this was just an April fools joke.

    I just went back and re-read it to see if maybe I missed something the first time. Nope!

    As with the other responders, I also don’t understand why you wouldn’t use wired where you could (faster, more reliable, more secure), and wireless either where you can’t use wires or for the convenience of roaming. In fact, most consumer grade wireless routers are designed for both (thus the typical 4 CAT5 ports on the router).

    Also, as mentioned by the other posters, I have no clue what #2 is talking about. These days everyone uses the >PROTOCOL< TCP/IP, which is found in Windows, Unix, consumer routers, etc. It’s a standard you use, not a program you buy.

    I could see back in the days of Windows 95, telling people to use or not use the NetBEUI (the MS non-routable network protocol), but a networking “program” just doesn’t make any sense.

    The remaining tips are either poorly written or a bad attempt at an April Fools joke. I can’t decide.

    Chris – not your best work, either as a joke or as a serious piece.

    Even so, I get plenty of value out of your other technical pieces to keep reading. Just stay away from the political commentary and we’ll be fine! :-)