Websites barely open, YouTube videos are constantly buffered, and WiFi generally works very poorly - sound familiar? Unfortunately, this has been happening more and more lately. The reasons affecting the quality of a wireless network can be divided into three categories:

Poor WiFi performance due to band interference
- Incorrect access point installation
- Problems with the WiFi router or its settings

It is important to correctly identify the cause and then you can quickly eliminate it! In any case, if you have problems with your wireless network and Wi-Fi is working very poorly, try rebooting your router first. And if this simple manipulation does not help, then follow the advice from our article!

WiFi problems due to interference and neighbors

We constantly have to deal with situations where people complain that their WiFi on their phone or tablet does not work well, as soon as they move more than 2-3 meters from the router, or go to another room. Usually the reason is as simple as five cents. Open the list of available networks on your laptop or phone and count how many Wi-Fi access points are within reach.

If you see a picture similar to the one in the screenshot, then things are bad - your neighbors’ wireless networks are interfering with you. This is the main one 2.4 GHz band problem, which has a maximum of 14 channels. And then - only 3 of them do not intersect, and the rest can also interfere with each other. You can often find advice that you should try to manually set the radio channel you are using - this is all a waste of time. Attempts to amplify the signal using homemade amplifiers made from beer cans and the like will also lead to nothing. You will be constantly playing tug of war with your neighbors over the wireless network blanket. What should we do then? Buy a dual-band router and switch your home WiFi network to the 5 GHz band. Yes, this requires financial costs, but you simply have no other choice.

There are no or few access points in the neighborhood, but WiFi still doesn’t work well - then it’s worth trying to tinker with the settings. First, try changing the radio channel used by the router. This is done quite simply - you need to go to its web interface and find the parameter in the main WiFi settings Channel or Channel.

Click on the drop-down list to see all possible values.

By default, routers are set to either Auto or use channel number 6 (six). Try to put first (1) or eleventh (11). If there is interference somewhere, then it is unlikely to occupy the entire range and on one side the quality of the wireless network will be better.

Incorrect installation of WiFi router

Users pay a lot of attention to setting up an access point, but not to how and where it is installed. Most often, it is left right at the entrance to a house or apartment, where the provider’s cable was installed by the installer. It is not right! You’re not surprised then that Wi-Fi works disgustingly!

Particular attention should be paid to the location of the access point indoors! The quality of reception will depend on this. Look at the example in the picture. As you can see, the WiFi coverage area is shaped like a sphere, the signal spreads in all directions. This means that for the best signal quality, it is necessary that the center of the sphere coincides as closely as possible with the center of your apartment or house.

The quality of the signal is greatly influenced by plasterboard, expanded clay and especially concrete walls. If the signal passes this wall, it will immediately lose at least a third, or even half.

And Wi-Fi really doesn’t like water - water supply pipes, large aquariums and everything like that. As, in fact, large LCD or plasma panels on half the wall. They jam the signal quite strongly and this must be taken into account.

Poor speed over WiFi

Another common problem is that the Internet via WiFi does not work well - low speed with a good signal level. Here it is worth mentioning right away that by the word “low” everyone means completely different meanings. I would like to immediately point out that the speed via WiFi will be lower than via cable. At least now, in 2018. Even though on the box of a regular router like D-Link DIR-300 for 1000 rubles it is written that WiFi 802.11N speed is up to 300 Mbit per second. This is all fake. In practice, even on the most expensive routers in the 5 GHz range, the modern 802.11AC standard cannot accelerate more than 80-85 Mbit/s. Therefore, you need to be serious and don’t expect fabulous speeds from a wireless network.

But if you have very poor speed via WiFi - at best 1-2 megabits and at the same time almost full signal scale - it’s worth thinking about. As a rule, this situation is associated with incorrect configuration of the router.

First, you can play with the channel width - Bandwidth. By default it is set to automatic or 20MHz.

Try changing the radio channel width value to 40MHz and look at the result.

Usually after this it is possible to increase the Wi-Fi speed by 1.5-2 times. But there is a caveat here - fast WiFi will only work at a relatively close distance. If you are far from the access point (say, through 2 or 3 walls), then changing the channel width may adversely affect the quality of the signal. In this case, return the old value back.

Another common mistake newbies make is incorrectly configured wireless network security. Yes, yes, this also affects the speed of Wi-Fi.

Use only WPA2-PSK with AES encryption. If you use the old WPA-PSK, then don’t expect speeds greater than 54 Megabits! And if you use WEP (under no circumstances!!), then the speed characteristics will be even lower.

Wireless MultiMedia

Despite the fact that all modern routers have the quality of service control function enabled by default - WMM or Wireless MultiMedia, there are models where you need to enable it yourself.

To achieve maximum wireless data transfer speeds, enabling this feature is a must!

Transmitter is too powerful

An interesting fact - if the signal strength of the router is too strong, Wi-Fi will also work poorly, and sometimes even worse than with a weak signal. I'm talking about those cases when the receiver and transmitter are located at a distance of no more than 1-1.5 meters from each other. For example, when the laptop and router are on the same table. For normal operation, either move 2-3 meters away from the access point, or lower the transmitter power in the settings:

By default, it is usually turned up to maximum. Within a one-room apartment, medium power is quite enough, and within one small room, you can even set the value to “Low”.

What else is bad for Wi-Fi?

There are a number of other factors that can also lead to WiFi not working well in an apartment or house. They are rarely remembered, but at the same time they can really become a source of serious interference for wireless equipment!

Microwave

Unfortunately, even kitchen appliances can create interference that makes WiFi work very poorly, especially if you have a very old router. The most striking example is microwave ovens. The thing is, microwaves operate at 2.45 GHz, which is incredibly close to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, which actually broadcasts between 2.412 GHz and 2.472 GHz. This is why experts do not recommend placing an access point in the kitchen.

Bluetooth devices

It turns out that another popular type of wireless connection, Bluetooth, also operates at 2.4 GHz. In theory, a properly designed device should be shielded to prevent interference. But this, unfortunately, is not always the case. In modern gadgets, to prevent frequency collision, Bluetooth manufacturers use frequency hopping, in which the signal rotates randomly between 70 different channels, changing up to 1600 times per second. New Bluetooth devices may also have the ability to identify "bad" or currently used channels and avoid them.
However, if you have an older adapter without channel control, interference may still occur. So try moving your Bluetooth devices away from your router. Well, or disable them for a while to see if they are the cause of your problems with Wi-Fi.

New Year's garlands

I would never have thought that ordinary cheap Chinese garlands could become a real obstacle to the normal operation of a Wi-Fi network. As it turns out, these lights can emit an electromagnetic field that interacts with Wi-Fi equipment. Flashing garlands have a particularly strong effect.
In reality, all types of lights can cause interference by emitting electromagnetic fields, but in most cases the effect is close to negligible. However, it is better to keep them away from the router.

Old router firmware

As a rule, a user buys a wireless router, configures it, and then completely forgets that it also needs to be maintained. How, you ask?! The fact is that a router is the same computer with its own operating system. This system is also written by people who tend to make mistakes. Therefore, the manufacturer constantly releases new firmware versions for its devices, in which it corrects found errors and adds new functions. Therefore, if your WiFi router works disgustingly, then try updating its firmware - in other words, you need to reflash the router.

For many models, in addition to the factory software, from the manufacturer, if there are alternative firmware, from third-party specialists. As a rule, they work better than factory ones. Therefore, if you haven’t looked at your router’s settings for a year or more, it’s better to download the latest version of the software for it and install it. It definitely can't get any worse!

Not all routers have the necessary quality of service, but if a user is looking for a new one in the market, you need to know about the important WMM feature, without which...

From Masterweb

25.07.2018 01:00

Every year, Wi-Fi mobile devices require more and more battery power, as applications for voice, audio and video, which are quite energy-intensive, have become widely used. In order to save the operating time of a laptop or mobile device in this situation, many manufacturers began to use WMM technology. It functionally provides quality of service (QoS) in Wi-Fi networks. Before enabling WMM, configure the router by prioritizing traffic from different applications.

It is now a required feature for 802.11n-enabled devices. More advanced WMM Power Save technology is optimized for latency-sensitive applications and improves the performance of any Wi-Fi device. By using it, the same amount of data can be transmitted in fewer frames in a shorter time, allowing the router to maintain a low-power dispenser state between transmissions.

Basics and priorities

WMM (WiFi Multimedia) supports audio, video and voice priority and consumes less power compared to other similar applications. Using QoS (Quality of Service), WMM ensures that applications that require more bandwidth and performance are queued with higher priority.

For example, video and audio applications are given higher priority than applications such as FTP, so the user does not experience playback lag when making a phone call.

Before enabling WMM, define the following four priority queues:

1. Voice (VoIP), highest priority with minimal latency, making it ideal for voice applications.
2. Video is the second highest priority.
3. Most standard IP applications are routed to a medium priority queue.
4. FTP and other applications that are not time sensitive are placed in the fourth queue when WMM mode is enabled.

Subset of IEEE 802.11e standard

WMM was the predecessor to the 802.11e standard, an improvement on that standard, and has rightly been called an improvement in quality of service (QoS). Even though the original WMM standard and 802.11e are now obsolete, the industry continues to use the old terminology. WMM supports radio profiles as well as corresponding QoS policies that describe access classes. A wireless client using WMM Power Save communicates with the access point using a Radio profile. Before turning on WMM, configure access priorities: voice, video, background.

WMM Power Save is disabled by default on access points, even if it saves battery life, because clients using Power Save must send a separate PSpoll to receive each unicast packet buffered by the access point radio. This can sometimes slow down performance, depending on your network configuration. In addition, applications must support Power Save to inform the client about the requirements of the traffic that is generated.

This technology conserves client battery life, can operate on any Wi-Fi network, and coexists with traditional 802.11 power-saving mechanisms. For example, if you enable WMM Zyxel. What does this mean for the user? This connection will ensure the economical operation of remote devices within the router’s coverage area.

Connecting Quality of Service

Quality of Service is a router feature that helps control how bandwidth is distributed among devices and applications. When a network is congested with too much Internet traffic, Quality of Service prioritizes certain types of traffic over others. Wi-Fi Multimedia - This feature is the simplest form of QoS and only works with Wi-Fi traffic.

Another important quality feature, Bandwidth Control, allows you to set minimum and maximum bandwidth limits using IP addresses and port ranges before enabling WMM. Addresses correlate with devices, while port ranges correlate with applications. This is the most reliable form of quality service. When purchasing a router, you need to make sure that the buyer gets one that supports Bandwidth Control in addition to Wi-Fi Multimedia.

There are several steps to enable QoS on your router, but since each model is different, it's not possible to get universal step-by-step instructions. Luckily, these settings are quite easy to find. WMM should be located in the Wireless section, and Quality of Service (or Bandwidth Control) usually has its own section, which is often located in the additional settings menu; to do this, you just need to enable the Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode.

5 Reasons to Enable Quick Settings

Typically, routers process Internet traffic on a first-come, first-served basis. A Netflix data packet arrives, the function transmits it to the TV. A data package arrives to download, she delivers it to the computer. But a router can only process a limited amount of data per second, so sometimes packets get backed up and form a separate line - especially when there are a ton of packets coming in at once. Quality of service allows the router to prioritize, say, Netflix data packets.

Even if there are many downloaded packets "waiting in the queue", as soon as a Netflix data packet arrives, the router switches its attention and processes it immediately. To do this, you just need to know how to enable WMM ad hoc qos. This can have a very positive impact on a home network, especially when there are multiple users and devices trying to do high-capacity intensive work. Here are some use cases where QoS can come in handy:

1. Reduce lag in online games.
2. Improve your Skype, Google Hangouts, Discord or any other Netflix Stream video chat without interruption.
3. Minimize heavy loading.
4. Prioritize PC traffic over other traffic.
5. Due to the quality of service, you can set some devices to be faster; to do this, you need to enable the Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode.

Battery Saving

Power Save products designed for mission-critical applications such as mobile phones, smartphones and other portable power devices typically use WMM Power Save. The basic concept of WMM Power Save is that the client triggers the release of buffered data from the access point by sending an uplink data frame. Upon receiving this trigger frame, the access point releases previously buffered data stored in each of the four queues.

The user will be able to enable WMM qos in the settings to help launch the mechanism for dividing traffic into four access categories: background, best efforts, video and voice. The QoS policy defines different treatment for each access category. As a result, different packets are processed differently. Power related parameters:

1. Minimum power consumption. Allows you to use 802.11 power saving mode. This is when the radio or scanning may be temporarily disabled if it is not associated with an access point or the computer is in standby mode.
2. Output power. Sets the transmit power to predefined values: 100, 75, 50% of the rated output power.
3. U-APSD support. This is a WMM-Power persistence feature that provides additional power saving capabilities for client applications if the user has enabled WMM in ad hoc qos mode.

Enable support on your router

Automated WMM service prioritizes multimedia features over the wireless network and significantly increases throughput for devices using these criteria, so less time is spent buffering and more time is spent streaming content. What does it mean to enable WiFi Multimedia WMM mode? Below is the procedure:

1. Login to your account.
2. Open a browser, enter the manufacturer's default IP address, which is usually located on the bottom of the router or in the user manual. Using your username and password, go to the router settings page.
3. Open the Wireless tab to change your wireless network settings.
4. Go to the WMM or equivalent tab.
5. Wi-Fi Multimedia WMM mode will cause the settings to change later.
6. Enable WMM support; its settings will be either in its own category or in a subheading in the wireless network settings menu.
7. Click the drop-down list or button, depending on your router, and select the desired setting. There will likely be other advanced options available in this menu.
8. Click “Apply”, then reboot the router according to the general settings.

Network Performance for Windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 introduced a new network traffic feature based on QoS traffic management, which allows system administrators to prioritize traffic based on URLs and will be executed immediately after enabling the router's WMM. In earlier versions of Windows, quality of service for outgoing IP packets could only be controlled by IP address and port number.

QoS-enabled routers work in conjunction with Windows to prioritize or throttle traffic. Windows 7 and Vista support two different forms of QoS. The latter's policy prioritizes and expands network traffic based on static parameters set by the system administrator.

Applications that are particularly sensitive to network latency, such as video streaming and Voice over IP, rely on QoS to reserve the bandwidth needed to operate smoothly when networks are heavily congested. To enable WMM apsd and take advantage of QoS in Windows, network routers and switches must support Differentiated Services Code Points (DSCP), which are values ​​(0-63) marked in the IPv4 and IPv6 packet headers using the Type of Service field ( TOS) and traffic (an octet class in IPv4 and IPv6, respectively, that defines the priority assigned to outgoing traffic).

Wireless setup

Even if a user of a home Internet network has a cable laid throughout the house, it still happens that Wi-Fi needs to be distributed. In this case, experts advise investing in a simultaneous dual-band router. These fancy routers provide Wi-Fi on the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.

To ensure that as much data as possible is transferred to your TV or anything else that captures video streams from the Internet, you can split the SSID to create two networks. Place all streamers on the faster 5GHz network and everything else on the slower 2.4GHz network. Many routers have the ability to prioritize media, applications, or devices and give out the most bandwidth, giving the TV or other video recording device top billing on your home network.

Device prioritization typically requests the MAC address. This is a unique number assigned to all devices on the network. You can usually find it near the Ethernet port, in the device settings, or the router will display it for all devices connected to it. This prioritizes both the app and the device to ensure maximum throughput at home.

Benefits of QoS

Network traffic management is often considered the reserve of high-end enterprise routers and switches, but even with consumer-grade Wi-Fi adapters and routers, smaller organizations can benefit from basic QoS with WMM. With Windows policy, it is especially useful for networks with congested WAN links.

Windows QoS provides system administrators with a simple way to implement basic controls over congested networks, helping to ensure that applications sensitive to network congestion, such as VoIP and other business resources, are prioritized. Windows 7's QoS-based traffic control simplifies configuration and ensures that important Internet resources can be accessed in a timely manner, no matter what else might happen on the network.

Setting up a broadband upgrade will require some funding, no one likes to spend extra money, but if the user is really serious about their home network settings, they will have to do it. With 4K internet streaming now truly available to the widest range of consumers, you'll need to upgrade to 20Mbps to truly enjoy crystal clear images. Next, you can't do without the QoS package in Windows 7, as it will help with buffering and provide a great HD stream.

Such capabilities were discovered in a screenshot of the ZyXEL VSG1432-Telus Wireless WMM, which features MAC WPS WMM authentication, enhanced Wi-Fi multimedia. If you enable WMM ZyXEL, what does this mean for the user? The result will be visible within the first minutes of the router’s operation.

WMM APSD enable or disable?

Configuring WMM APSD is a power saving mechanism implemented in Wi-Fi standards. Before you decide to turn this setting on or off, you need to know that it means the power saver will automatically apply. This is basically a feature mode that allows mobile devices to save more battery when connected to a Wi-Fi network by allowing them to go into standby or sleep mode.

APSD enables smooth transition into and out of standby mode by allowing mobile devices to signal the router's status. Similar to how the beacon interval and DTIM period work together to save device power. Whenever the wireless mobile adapter enters power saving or standby mode, the router or access point can buffer data and hold it for the mobile devices.

There are two types of APSD that are included in the battery saving feature. U-APSD (Unscheduled Automatic Delivery with Energy Saving):

1. Client devices signal the router to transmit any buffered data.
2. S-APSD (Power Saving Automatic Scheduled Delivery). The access point sends buffered data based on a predetermined schedule known to the power saving device, without any signal from the station device.

The battery consumption benefit can range from 10 to 30% compared to disabling this option. First you need to check whether the router manufacturer has released new firmware that will solve the problem.

Related router brands: WMM APSD Asus, WMM APSD D-link, WMM APSD Nest. Additionally, AirPlay devices use the Multicast feature to broadcast their presence. This advanced ASUS router may attempt to save power by disabling/filtering some network traffic.

First of all, you need to update Wireless - Professional firmware to version 3.0.0.4.360. Adjust settings:

1. Enable wireless scheduler - "No" (default "Yes").
2. Enable IGMP Snooping - Enable (disabled by default) - edit.
3. The only setting that has a WMM DLS value is “Enable” (the default is “Disable”).

To take advantage of the WMM Power Save functionality, both the Wi-Fi client and the access point must be Wi-Fi certified.

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Additional WiFi adapter options

To set additional settings for wireless adapters, select “Properties” of the wireless adapter in Device Manager and go to the “Advanced” tab.
To view a property's value, click the property name in the Properties list. The property value appears in the Value window. To change the value, click the Value list or enter a new value (choices vary for different properties).
NOTE: Some features may not be available for your Wireless Network Adapter model.

802.11hd
The 802.11h d feature allows you to configure advanced radio control of a WLAN card by its associated access point. Controls are enabled when the 802.11h d property is set to Loose 11h, Loose 11h d, or Strict 11h. When you select Strict 11h, the Wireless Adapter communicates only with access points that support IEEE 802.11h protocols when operating in regions that have special radio restrictions. When you select Free 11h, the WLAN card does not restrict communications based on the access point's IEEE 802.11h support. When you select Free 11h d, the wireless network adapter does not restrict communications based on the access point's IEEE 802.11h or IEEE 802.11d support.
Values:
Off (default)
Free 11h
Free 11h d
Strict 11h

Afterburner
Afterburner is Broadcom's high-performance, higher-bandwidth proprietary implementation added to IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless products.
Values:
Disabled (default). Disabling Afterburner.
Allowed Afterburner Resolution

Antenna diversity
Antenna diversity is a feature provided in most LAN equipment, which is equipped with two antennas - a main and a secondary. When set to Auto, antenna diversity monitors the signal from each antenna and automatically switches it to the one with the stronger signal.
Values:
Auto (default).

Range Preferences
The Select Band feature is only available on dual-band Wireless Network Adapter models. When using the Select Band property, the user can specify a range that complies with the IEEE 802.11 roaming standard. In this case, the wireless client will be able to establish communication with another access point based on the selected range, even if the signal of the access point with which the connection is currently established is strong enough to maintain communication.
Values:
No (default). Roaming without taking into account the frequency range of existing access points.
802.11a (5 GHz band)
802.11g/b (2.4 GHz band)

Bluetooth Interoperability
Bluetooth interoperability allows a universal I/O suppression protocol between IEEE 802.11 media access control (MAC) and an external Bluetooth signal to minimize mutual interference. Interoperability with Bluetooth Allowed by default.
Values:
Allow (default)
Prohibit

BSS mode
BSS mode is used to limit the IEEE 802.11b/g bandwidth to IEEE 802.11b mode only. BSS mode is applicable to networks configured with access points.
Values:
Default (default)
802.11b only

Off radio with wired connection
If this setting is set to "Enable" when you connect a computer to the Ethernet port and the connection is good, the computer automatically turns off the IEEE 802.11 radio. This will preserve IP address placement, reduce security risks, resolve dual interface routing issues, and extend battery life.
Values:
Disabled (default)
Allowed

IBSS mode enabled
You must enable this property to use the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility or the Wireless Connection Wizard to create or connect to a peer-to-peer network. For security reasons, the network administrator may require that this feature be disabled.
Values:
Enabled (default)
Turned off

IBSS 54g(tm) protection mode
A mechanism for setting a prefix for each OFDM data frame with a send/clear request to send (RTS/CTS) sequence of keypad dialing (CCK) frames. The RTS and CTS frame duration fields must allow an IEEE 802.11b node to correctly establish its network placement vector (NAV) and avoid collisions with successive OFDM frames. As required by Wi-Fi(r), the security mechanism is automatically enabled whenever an IEEE 802.11b STA joins the BSS. If there are no IEEE 802.11b STAs attached, then no security mechanism is used and full IEEE 802.11g performance is achieved.
Values:
Auto
Disabled

IBSS mode
IBSS mode is used to set the communication type for an ad hoc network. The parameters can be as follows:
Values:
802.11b mode (default). Connects only to IEEE 802.11b networks with the highest transmission rates. This also excludes IEEE 802.11g networks.
802.11g mode Connects only to IEEE 802.11g networks with the highest transmission speeds.

Access Point Compatibility Mode
Implementations of earlier access points may deviate from IEEE 802.11 standards. Setting this property to Best Compatibility allows the wireless network adapter to improve connectivity with such access points, but at the cost of performance. The default setting is Best Performance.
Values:
Best Performance (Default)
Best Compatibility

Managed MAC Address
The locally managed MAC address is used to replace the MAC address of the Wireless Network Adapter utility. A locally managed MAC address is a user-defined MAC address that is used instead of the MAC address originally assigned to the network adapter. Each network adapter must have its own MAC address. The locally managed address is a 12-digit hexadecimal value.
Values:
Meaning. Assigns a unique host address to the adapter.
None (default). Use the adapter address assigned by the manufacturer.

The corresponding assigned ranges and exceptions for a locally managed address are as follows:
Range from 00:00:00:00:00:01 to FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FD
Do not use a multicast address (LSB = 1).
Do not use only zeros or only “F” in the address.

Minimum power consumption
When enabled, this property allows the wireless client to either turn off the radio or not scan when there is no connection to the wireless client's network or the computer is in IDLE state.
Values:
Enabled (default)
Turned off

PLCP header
The PLCP header is used to specify the header type for CCK rates. The type can be Long or Auto (short/long).
Values:
Auto (short/long) (default)
Long

Power Saving Mode
The Power Saving Mode property is used to put the wireless client computer into IEEE 802.11 power saving mode. When the Power Saving Mode feature is enabled, the radio periodically turns off to conserve power. When the radio is in power save mode, received packets are stored at the access point until the radio is turned on. The Fast setting provides full throughput while saving power.
Values:
Fast (default)
Included
Turned off

Radio broadcast on/off
If this property is set to Disabled, the radio is turned off. Sometimes it is necessary to turn off the radio temporarily to comply with radio transmission restrictions, such as on board commercial aircraft during takeoff or landing. Changing the value to "Enabled" turns the radio back on. Some computers may have a different, more convenient way to turn the radio on and off. To find out if these features exist on your computer, check your computer's manual.
Values:
Allowed (default)
Disabled

Speed
This property allows you to specify the speed (in Mbps) at which data is transferred. Possible values: 1; 2; 5.5; 6; 9; eleven; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is "Optimal Speed". This setting automatically adjusts the transfer speed to the optimal speed based on the capabilities of other wireless clients and access points.

Speed ​​(802.11a)
This property allows you to specify the rate (in Mbps) at which data is transferred for IEEE 802.11a operations. Possible values: 6; 9; 12; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is “Optimal speed”.
NOTE The default value of this property is set to maximum performance. Therefore, home network users are not recommended to change this value. Changes should only be made by network administrators or technicians with experience working with wireless LANs.

Speed ​​(802.11b/g)
This property allows you to specify the speed (in Mbps) at which data is transferred for IEEE 802.11b/g operations. Possible values: 1; 2; 5.5; 6; 9; eleven; 18; 24; 36; 48 and 54. The default is "Optimal Speed".
NOTE The default value of this property is set to maximum performance. Therefore, home network users are not recommended to change this value. Changes should only be made by network administrators or technicians with experience working with wireless LANs.

Disable ranges
This feature is only available on Wireless Network Adapter models that are dual-band compatible.
Values:
No (default)
Disable 802.11g/b
Disable 802.11a

Fragmentation threshold
The maximum size in bytes at which packets are fragmented and transmitted one fragment per unit of time instead of transmitting the entire packet at once. Available values ​​range from 256 to 2346. The default value is 2346.

Roaming solution
Signal strength values ​​that determine when the Wireless Network Adapter utility begins scanning for other access points.
Values:
Default (default). 75 dB
65 dB bandwidth
By distance 85 dB

Roaming trends
This property configures roaming boundaries for the Wireless Network Adapter utility.
Values:
Moderate (default). Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 20 dB compared to the current access point.
Aggressive. Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 10 dB compared to the current access point.
Restrained. Roaming for access points boosts the signal by at least 30 dB compared to the current access point.

RTS threshold
If the number of frames in a data packet is close to or beyond the RTS threshold, a send/clear request to send a handshake is enabled before the data packet is sent. The default value is 2347. Range is 0 to 2347.

Automatic SSID update
When you use the Wireless Network Wizard or Wireless Network Connection Configuration Tool to connect to wireless networks, all networks you have connections to appear in the Preferred Network Connections list on the Wireless Networks tab of the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility. Every time you start your computer, it automatically tries to connect to the network listed at the top of the list. If the network is within range, a connection is made. If the value is out of range, the computer attempts to connect to the next network in the list and continues this procedure until it finds a suitable network. You can move your preferred networks up or down in the list.

If the “Automatic SSID update” property is disabled, you can manually disable the process of automatically connecting to a network and connect to any network, regardless of its position in the list (see “Utility Control Tools”). If the Automatic SSID Update property is enabled, you cannot manually disable the automatic connection process.
Values:
Off (default)
Included

WMM
Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM(tm)). The WMM feature ensures quality of service for audio, video, and voice applications over the wireless network by prioritizing content streams and optimizing the way bandwidth is allocated to competing applications.
Values:
Auto (default). If the WMM property is set to Auto when a wireless client is connected to an access point and the access point has the Unscheduled Power Saving Mode option enabled, the wireless client will be able to enter power saving mode.
Enabled. The wireless client enters power saving mode for WMM communications regardless of whether the unscheduled power saving mode option for the access point is enabled or disabled.
Turned off. The wireless client does not have WMM communication.

WZC IBSS channel number
The WZC IBSS Channel Number property selects the Independent Basic Service Setup (IBSS) channel number to operate while wireless networks are managed by the WZC. Default value: 11.

Ethernet managed by WZC
If the WZC Managed Ethernet property is enabled, the Wireless Configuration (WZC) service is enabled to manage 802.1x connections for Ethernet devices on the computer.
Values:
Off (default)
Included

XPress(TM) Technology
Xpress™ technology is a proprietary frame bursting technology that improves performance by redistributing data so it can be sent to any frame. Xpress™ technology is disabled by default.
Values:
Disabled (default). Disable Xpress™ technology.
Allowed Allowed by Xpress™ technology.

In order to provide wireless network clients with a certain level of Quality of Service QOS, a special standard was created Wi-Fi Multimedia — WMM.
Some network equipment manufacturers call it slightly differently - Wi-Fi Multimedia Extensions, WME. The IEEE 802.11e standard is used as a basis, which provides the basic QOS capabilities for WiFi.

Currently, WMM defines four classes of service for wireless network traffic:

This technology does not provide a means of absolute and unconditional prioritization. But nevertheless, it allows packets with priority to be transmitted faster than others due to lower delays compared to lower priority ones.

There are no problems with the compatibility of devices with and without support for the WMM function. If traffic comes from a device that does not support this technology, then it is perceived as best-effort, i.e. with non-guaranteed delivery.

Although now it is quite difficult to find a modern router or access point without WMM QOS support, since it is supported by most manufacturers of network equipment and other electronics. On older devices, support for Wi-Fi Multimedia functionality can often be activated by installing new firmware.

Pros and cons of WMM technology

Pros:
+ widely supported by many equipment manufacturers;
+ increases the efficiency of the wireless network;
+ allows you to increase the battery life of phones and tablets due to U-APSD power management;
+ works for voice traffic and video;
+ allows you to achieve maximum transmission speed over the air;

Minuses:
— not supported in older devices;
— does not provide 100% priority for voice traffic;

How to enable WMM on a router

By default, the wireless traffic prioritization feature on many modems and routers is disabled. In order to enable WMM QOS on the router, you need to go to its web interface (usually by IP address or ), open the wireless network settings and check the appropriate box. This is how it is done on TP-Link routers:

And this is how it is done on the Zyxel Keenetic router:

Roughly speaking, look for the option in the general network settings. If it is not there, look in the advanced settings. In some cases (as on D-Link routers), WMM QOS settings are located in a separate menu item.

Requirements for use

Updated 08-31-2011 14:38:25 PM

This article is suitable for:

TL-WN721NC, Archer T6E, TL-WDN3800, Archer T4UHP, Archer T4E, TL-WN722NC, TL-WN781ND, TL-WN723N, TL-WN422G, TL-WN811N, TL-WN321G, Archer T4U, Archer T2U Nano Archer T600U Plus, Archer T2UHP, TL-WN821N, TL-WN851N, Archer T5E, TL-WN881ND, TL-WN861N, TL-WN951N, T4U V2, Archer T9E, Archer T600U Nano, TL-WN722N, TL-WN727N, TL-W N821NC Archer T9UH, Archer T3U, TL-WDN3200, TL-WN350G, TL-WN822N, Archer T4UH V2, Archer T8E, TL-WN310G, Archer T2U Plus, TL-WN725N, TL-WN721N, Archer T2U, TL-WN350GD , TL- WDN4200, TL-WN7200ND, TL-WN322G, Archer T2UH, Archer T4UH, TL-WN751N, TL-WN422GC, Archer T1U, TL-WDN4800, TL-WN751ND

Ad Hoc mode, also called peer-to-peer mode, allows nodes to communicate directly (point to point) without the need to use an access point, as shown in the following figure. No fixed infrastructure. To communicate with each other, nodes must be in the same range. You can get more information about the Ad Hoc network on Wikipedia.

Ad Hoc mode

A wireless Ad Hoc network must consist of at least 2 clients. In this article, we also take two computers as an example: Computer A and Computer B.

Note: Before you begin setup, make sure that the Windows Zero Configuration (WZC) service is running. If you don't know whether it's running or not, click here to check your settings.

1. Create an Ad Hoc network profile on computer A

Step 1: Go to Control Panel -> Network Connections and find Wireless Network Connection. Right-click on Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.

Step 2: In the Wireless Networks tab, click the Add button.

Step 3: In the Connections tab of the Wireless Network Properties window, enter the Wireless Network Name [SSID]. In our example, the name of the wireless network is adhoctest. Then, at the bottom of the window, check the box next to This is a direct computer-to-computer connection; access points are not used. Then click OK.

Step 4: After completing Step 3, a network profile named adhoctest should appear in Preferred Networks. Click OK to save the settings.

2. Manually configure the IP address on computer A

Step 5: Right-click on Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.

Step 6: In the General tab, double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

Step 7: Check Use the following IP address and enter the IP address and subnet mask. Then click OK.

Step 8: Click OK in the Wireless Network Connection - Properties window.

3. Search for Ad Hoc Network on Computer B

Step 9: Right-click on Wireless Network Connection, select View available wireless networks.

Step 10: Search for adhoctest wireless network (which was installed on computer A) in the search box. Then double-click on it and click Connect anyway.