Download Drivers| Date | Ver | OS | |
|---|
12/26/07 | v1011 | Vista,XP,2000 |  | 10/8/07 | v1000 | Vista,XP,2000 | |
Download User Manual| Date | Ver | OS | |
|---|
10/8/07 | P75496 | Vista,XP,2000 |  |
Frequently Asked Questions
Placement of your wireless networking hardware for optimal performanceYour wireless connection will be stronger the closer your computer is to your wireless router. Typical indoor operating range for your wireless devices is between 100 and 200 feet. In the same way, your wireless connection and performance will degrade somewhat as the distance between your wireless router and connected devices increases. This may or may not be noticeable to you. As you move farther from your wireless router, connection speed may decrease.
Factors that can weaken signals simply by getting in the way of your network’s radio waves are metal appliances, obstructions, and walls.
If you have concerns about your network’s performance that might be related to range or obstruction factors, try moving the computer to a position between five and 10 feet from the wireless router in order to see if distance is the problem. If problems persist, refer to the manual that accompanied your wireless router for additional suggestions.
Note: While some of the items listed below can affect network performance, they will not prohibit your wireless network from functioning. If you are concerned that your network is not operating at its maximum effectiveness, this checklist may help.
You cannot connect to the Internet wirelesslyIf you are unable to connect to the Internet from a wireless computer, check the following items:
- Look at the lights on your wireless router. If you’re using a Dynex wireless router, the lights should be as follows:
- The power light should be on.
- The connected light should be on, and not blinking.
- The WAN light should be either on or blinking.
- Open your Wireless Networking Utility (WNU) software by clicking on the icon in the system tray at the bottom right corner of the screen. The tray icon should look like this (the icon may be red or green):
- The window that opens should have a list of Available Networks. Available networks are wireless networks to which you can connect.
If you are using a Dynex 802.11g (54g) router, Dynex 54g is the default name. If you are NOT using a Dynex router, consult your router manufacturer’s user guide for the default name. The name of your wireless network appears in Available Networks list.
If the correct network name is listed in the Available Networks list, follow these steps to connect wirelessly:
1 Click on the correct network name in the Available Networks list.
2 If the network has security (encryption) enabled, you need to enter the network key.
3 Within a few seconds, the tray icon in the lower right corner of your screen should turn green, indicating a successful connection to the network.
The name of your wireless network DOES NOT appear in the list of Available Networks.If the correct network name is not listed under “Available Networks” in the WNU, try the following troubleshooting steps:
1. Temporarily move the computer, if possible, to 5 to 10 feet away from the wireless router. Close the WNU and reopen it. If the correct network name now appears under Available Networks, you may have a range or interference problem.
2. Using a computer that is connected to the wireless router through a network cable (as opposed to wirelessly), make sure that Broadcast SSID is enabled. This setting is found on the Router’s wireless Channel and SSID configuration page.
Power LED does not come ON. The card is not workingIf the LED indicators are not ON, the problem may be that the card is not connected or is not installed correctly. Make sure that the card is plugged firmly into the PCI slot of your computer. Check to see that the drivers for the card have been installed. Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop. Choose Properties and navigate to the Device Manager and see if your card is listed without any errors
Link LED is blinking slowly. You cannot connect to a wireless network or the InternetIf your card appears to be functioning correctly, but you cannot connect to a network or you have a red wireless icon at the bottom of your screen, the problem may be that there is a mismatch between the network name (SSID) settings in your wireless network properties. Check the SSID settings to see if they match. The SSID is case-sensitive and the spelling on each computer must be exactly the same in order for the card to connect to the wireless router.
Note: To check the SSID settings or look for an available network, double-click the Signal Indicator icon to bring up the Wireless Networks screen. Click Add if you do not see the network you are trying to connect to and type in the SSID.
The link LED is solid but I cannot connect to the InternetIf you have a signal but cannot get online or obtain an IP address, the problem may be that there is a mismatch between the encryption key settings in your computer and wireless router. Check the WEP key settings to see if they match. The key is case-sensitive and the spelling on each computer and wireless router must be exactly the same in order for the card to connect to the router.
Data transfer is sometimes slow or signal strength is poorWireless technology is radio-based, which means connectivity and the throughput performance between devices decreases when the distance between devices increases. Other factors that cause signal degradation are obstructions such as walls and metal appliances. As a result, the typical indoor range of your wireless devices will be between 100 to 200 feet. Note also that connection speed may decrease as you move farther from the wireless router.
In order to determine if wireless issues are related to range, we suggest temporarily moving the computer, if possible, to 5 to 10 feet away from the wireless router. See “Placement of your wireless networking hardware for optimal performance” on page 20.
Changing the wireless channel - Depending on local wireless traffic and interference, switching the wireless channel of your network can improve performance and reliability. The default channel the router is shipped with is channel 11. You may choose from several other channels depending on your region; see your router's (or access point's) user manual for instructions on how to choose other channels.
Limiting the wireless transmit rate - Limiting the wireless transmit rate can help improve the maximum wireless range, and connection stability. Most wireless cards have the ability to limit the transmission rate. To change this property, click Start, Control Panel, Network Connections, then double-click your card's connection. In the Properties dialog, select the Configure button on the General tab (Windows 98 users will have to select the Wireless Card in the list box and then click Properties), then choose the Advanced tab and select the rate property. Wireless client cards are usually set to automatically adjust the wireless transmit rate for you, but doing so can cause periodic disconnects when the wireless signal is too weak; as a rule, slower transmission rates are more stable. Experiment with different connection rates until you find the best one for your environment; note that all available transmission rates should be acceptable for browsing the Internet. For more assistance, see your wireless card's literature.
Why are there two wireless utilities in my system tray? Which one should I use?There are several features and advantages to using the WNU over the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration utility. We offer a site survey, detailed link information, and adapterdiagnosis, to name a few. It’s essential to know which utility is managing your adapter. We recommend using the WNU.
To use the WNU:
1. Right-click on the network status icon in the system tray and select View Available
2. Wireless Networks.Click Advanced in the lower left corner of the Available Wireless Networks window.
3. From the Advanced tab, uncheck Use Windows to configure my wireless network. After the box is unchecked, click OK to close the window. You are now using the WNU to configure the card.
The card is not detected by operating system - The card is not recognized by your desktop computer.
- The New Hardware Wizard does not appear when booting up the computer.
- You receive Microsoft Error Code: 10
- You receive Microsoft Error Code: 0
To correct the problem try moving the card to another PCI slot.
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