Things to consider when having trouble with your WiFi connection:
iPAQ RELATED FACTORS
1.) Reset the Wireless Adapter Always start your troubleshooting process by removing your iPAQ’s main battery (this only applies to iPAQs with a consumer accessible battery) for 30 seconds, then replacing the battery. This will force a core-reset of the wireless adapter, as well as a soft-reset of the iPAQ itself.
2.) Update your software: Make sure your iPAQ has the most recent BIOS, Firmware, and Drivers.
ROUTER/AP CONFIGURATION ISSUES
1.) WEP/WPA: Check to see if you have WEP or WPA enabled. If so, please disable this setting for the duration of troubleshooting. You can re-enable it once the connectivity issues are resolved.
2.) MAC Adress Filtering: Check to see if you have MAC Address Filtering enabled. If so, please disable this setting for the duration of troubleshooting. You can re-enable it once the connectivity issues are resolved.
3.) Update your Router/AP’s Firmware: Check with your Router’s manufacturer to verify that you have the most up-to-date version of the Router’s BIOS or Firmware. If your Router/AP is not up-to-date, please download any updates and apply them!
4.) Disable Mixed Mode Wireless: If your Router/AP supports multiple “mode” protocols (e.g: A+B or B+G), please make sure that your Router/AP is placed in the default mode for your iPAQ for the duration of your troubleshooting efforts. Most wireless adapters for the iPAQ are built-in adapters, which are all “B” only adapters. Most of the add-on SD cards are “B”, but I believe there are a few “G” standard SD cards available. You can re-enable “mixed mode” on the Router/AP once the connectivity issues are resolved.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
1.) Cordless Telephones: 2.4MHz cordless phones use the very same frequency spectrum as the Wireless B & G standards use. If you have an “A” flavored router, then you can be affected by both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz cordless phones. If you have such phones, please disconnect the base-unit for the duration of your troubleshooting efforts.
2.) Microwaves and other Noise producers: Any equipment that produces electro-magnetic interference (e.g. Microwaves, Air Conditioners, Large screen TVs, etc) can garble your wireless signal, thus preventing you from connecting to your Access Point. Please place yourself within direct line of sight of your Access Point when troubleshooting.
3.) Distance Limitations for WiFi Radio signal: For the most part, Wireless “B” is meant to span a distance of 250′ – 300′ unobstructed line of sight (or outside). Wireless “G” actually has the same distance limitations, it just operates at a higher speed.
4.) Walls, Roofs, and Building Structures: If you plan to operate within a building (home, business, etc), then you can expect that distance reflected in item #3 to be reduced by 15 feet for each standard 6″ wall that your signal will have to go through.
5.) Placement of your Wireless Access Point: If you have any control over the placement of your AP, it is best to place them as high as is possible. Because most AP’s have omni-directional antennas, you will realize a much larger coverage area if you place the AP as high as it can go within the stated range of the AP.
- Use of a built-in (Internal) Antenna will radiate the radio waves in a donut-like shape, which will have the effect of creating a “cone of silence” immediately above and below the Router/AP. So placing the unit central to all of your computers should lessen this affect.
- Use of an adjustable External “Rubber Duck” (the name given to those flexible rubberized Antennas) will allow you to choose where the radio waves (again in the shape of a donut) are sent. Obviously, this also allows you to control which direction the “cones” face as well.
- Use of dual adjustable “Rubber Duck” antennas will allow you to cancel-out the “cone” by overlapping two “donut” frequencies (one on the vertical, one on the horizontal).