3Com OfficeConnect 3CRWE41196 User Manual page 55

Ensure that the Wireless Clients are using the same SSID or Service
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Area Name as the Access Point. The SSID is case-sensitive
Ensure that you are using the same level of security on all of your
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wireless computers (None, 40/64 or 128 bit) and that all devices are
using the same keys, and the same order of keys where appropriate.
Ensure that you have the Wireless computer enabled in the list of
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allowed MAC addresses if you are using Wireless Connection control
on the Access Point.
If you are having difficulty connecting or are operating at a low speed
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try changing the antenna positions on the rear of the Access Point. For
more effective coverage you can try reorientating your antennae.
Place one antenna vertically and one horizontally to improve coverage.
Additionally consider moving the wireless computer closer to the
Access Point to confirm that the building structure or fittings are not
adversely affecting the connectivity. If this resolves the problem
consider relocating the Wireless computer or select Clear Channel
Select on the Access Point.
Sources of interference: The 2.4Ghz ISM band is used for 802.11b.
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This is generally a licence free band for low power applications, and
you may have other devices at your location that operate in this
frequency band. You should take care to ensure that there are no
devices like microwave ovens for example close to the Access Point or
wireless computers as this could affect receiver sensitivity and reduce
the performance of your network. If you are unsure try relocating both
the wireless computers and the Access Point to establish whether this
problem exists.
Most wireless computer Adapters will scan the channels for the
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wireless Access Point. If a wireless computer has not located the
Access Point then try initiating a search manually if the client software
supports this feature or manually set the channel on your wireless
computer to correspond to the Access Point channel number. Please
refer to your Wireless computer adapter documentation and vendor
to do this.
Speed of connection: The 802.11b standard will automatically choose
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the best speed depending on the quality of your connection. As the
signal quality weakens then the speed falls back to a lower speed. The
speeds are 11Mbps, 5.5Mbps, 2Mbps and 1Mbps. In general the
closer you are to the Access Point the better the speed. If you are not
achieving the speed you had anticipated then try moving the antenna
on the Access Point or moving the Wireless computer closer to the
Wireless Networking 55