Common Problems With Wireless Routers

The internet is so important and well integrated into people's lives that going without it is unthinkable. This is why wireless router problems are some of the most frustrating Computer problems around. This article discusses some of the more common wireless problems and should enable you to get up and running as quickly as possible

Do I need a special code to connect my wireless router to a Time Warner modem?

Not at all. There is no special "code" that I'm aware of. All modern cable modems are Plug and play (PnP) straight from the box and programmed to work with all modern broadband routers. You'll probably have to tweak a couple of settings on your router for optimal performance but that should be it.

How do I reset my router?

The best way is to hold down the reset button for 15 seconds with the power on, which should cause all the lights to flash thus indicating a reset. Sometimes this button is really small so you might to use a sharp pencil.

Can wireless routers cause problems with a digital TV antenna?

Digital TVs and WiFi bands are on very different bands (~450MHz - 650MHz) vs (2.4GHz or 5.0GHz for WiFi) so they should not interfere with one and other. That said, if the wireless router is close to the TV antenna then it could overload the digital TV and cause your TV reception to go all fuzzy. To be sure, move them 10 feet apart this should sort the problem.

In my wireless router settings I have a noise (dB) rating. What is this and when does it become a problem?

This refers to the amount of interference when your wireless signal is transmitted from your router to your Computer. The lower this figure is the better. Ideally, all noise levels should be 0dB but that is never going to happen. A router can broadcast a signal with up 70dB of noise and still perform without a problem.

Noise can be causes by electromagnetic fields in close proximity to the router. One way of lowering this is to disconnect all the ringer wires from your telephone sockets, breaking the electromagnetic field they create. Modem telephones don't' require the ringer line to be connected to ring so this won't affect the phone at all.

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