Wi-fi suddenly very slow?

/in , , /by

Recently my home network download speed went from being fast to annoyingly slow. I have a cable connection, and use a wireless device to connect all of my computers, phones, tablet, game systems and printers. Everything goes through the wireless access point.

Up until a few weeks ago, everything was ok, so I assumed it was the cable company’s fault, of course.  I soon learned that was not the case. I could directly connect to my cable modem and get really fast download speeds. That meant it had to be my Cisco Linksys Wireless Router.  I suppose it’s old, in Internet time.  The router was working fine though.

I realized that there was a new wi-fi network in the neighborhood, and saw that three of us were using channel 6 for our networks. I suspected that could be the problem, and it was a correct assumption.  Once I changed the channel ID, I was back to 20 mbps, up from .05.  What a relief!

 

 

By the way, from the screen shot above, you can see why you should secure your network. Any neighbor or passerby could access your shared computers and printers once they’re on your network!  An open network is a bad idea.

Read more here:
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/14250

Changing your Windows PC Dialup Configuration

/in , /by

Windows 95, ME and 98 (not supported)

  • In Internet Explorer, click on Tools from the menu at the top
  • Click on Internet Options
  • Click Connections
  • Click on the correct connection and then click the Settings button
    Here’s where you should change your username and the telephone number.
  • Save

Windows XP

  • Go to the Control Panel
  • Click View Network Connections
  • Right click on the appropriate connection icon
  • Choose Properties
  • Change the phone number and username
  • Save

Windows 7 and Vista

  • Starting on the Windows VISTA Desktop Right Click on “Network” and Left Click on “Properties”
  • When the Network And Sharing Center pops up click on the left hand side where it says “Manage Network Connections”
  • Find your Dialup Icon open it.
  • Change the phone number to the phone number you received in your e-mail and make sure your username suffix is @connectnc.net.