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Configure the Wireless Adapter Settings for Optimal Performance

Nam Hoang
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To determine which wireless adapter is installed in your computer, perform the following steps.

  1. In the Search box, type change wi-fi settings.
  2. Touch or click Change Wi-Fi settings (System settings).
  3. Touch or click Hardware properties.
  4. Look at the Manufacture: listing to see the brand of the wireless adapter installed in your computer, and then refer to the section below that matches your wireless adapter.
    Note: Make note of the Manufacture and Description. The description is how the wireless adapter will be listed in Device Manager.

 

Manufacture is listed as Intel:

  1. In the Search box, type device manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, touch or click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the wireless adapter with the same Description as noted on the Change Wi-Fi Settings page.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed, not all of these options may be available.
  6. In the Property: box, touch or click 802.11n Channel Width for 2.4GHz and select Auto from the drop-down menu under Value.
  7. In the Property: box, touch or click 802.11n Channel Width for 5.2Ghz and select Auto from the drop-down menu under Value.
  8. In the Property: box, touch or click 802.11n Mode and select Enabled from the drop-down menu under Value.
  9. In the Property: box, touch or click Fat Channel Intolerant and select Disabled from the drop-down menu under Value.
  10. In the Property: box, touch or click Roaming Aggressiveness and select 1. Lowest from the drop-down menu under Value.
    Note: This setting is suggested for home wireless networks. When you are on a business network and move from place to place, the setting should be set to 3. Medium.
  11. In the Property: box, touch or click Intel® Throughput Enhancement or Throughput Booster and select Disabled from the drop-down menu under Value:.
    Note: When you only have one device on the wireless network or are streaming video you may want to turn this feature on, but the adapter with this feature turned on does not allow other computers on your network to have equal access to the wireless network.
  12. In the Property: box, touch or click Transmit Power and select 5. Highest from the drop-down menu under Value.
  13. In the Property: box, touch or click Wireless Mode, select the wireless networking standard(s) that best matches your router.
    Note: When you are not sure of what wireless networking standard(s) your router supports, select the option with the most listings, typically at the bottom of the list.
  14. In the Property: box, touch or click Wireless Mode and select the highest number available from the drop-down menu under Value.
  15. Touch or click the Power Management tab.
  16. Make sure the check box to the left of Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, is unchecked.
  17. Click OK.
  18. Bookmark this article as a restart of the affected computer is needed at this time, and additional troubleshooting may be needed.
  19. Save any data, close any open program(s) and restart the computer.
  20. When your computer still cannot connect to the Internet, refer to the Resolving Not Able to Get to the Internet tab and continue with Step 5.

 

Manufacture is listed as Broadcom:

  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the wireless adapter with the same Description as noted on the Change Wi-Fi Settings page.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed, not all of these options may be available.
  6. In the Property: box, click to highlight AP Compatibility Mode, select Broader Compatibility under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  7. In the Property: box, click to highlight Minimum Power Consumption, select Disabled under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  8. Touch or click the Power Management tab.
  9. Make sure the check box to the left of Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, is unchecked.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Bookmark this article as a restart of the affected computer is needed at this time, and additional troubleshooting may be needed.
  12. Save any data, close any open program(s) and restart the computer.
  13. When your computer still cannot connect to the Internet, refer to the Resolving Not Able to Get to the Internet tab and continue with Step 5.
 

Manufacture is listed as Qualcomm (Atheros):

The description is listed as Qualcomm:

  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, touch or click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the wireless adapter with the same Description as noted on the Change Wi-Fi Settings page.
  5. Touch or click the Advanced tab.
    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed, not all of these options may be available.
  6. In the Property: box, touch or click to highlight Roaming Policy, select Very Low under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  7. Touch or click the Power Management tab.
  8. Make sure the check box to the left of Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, is unchecked.
  9. Click OK.
  10. Bookmark this article as a restart of the affected computer is needed at this time, and additional troubleshooting may be needed.
  11. Save any data, close any open program(s) and restart the computer.
  12. When your computer still cannot connect to the Internet, refer to the Resolving Not Able to Get to the Internet tab and continue with Step 5.

The description is listed as Killer Wireless:

  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, touch or click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the wireless adapter with the same Description as noted on the Change Wi-Fi Settings page.
  5. Touch or click the Advanced tab.
    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed, not all of these options may be available.
  6. In the Property: box, touch or click to highlight Preferred Band.

    Select either:

    • No Preference when you do not know what frequency (band) your router supports, under Value: from the drop-down menu.
    • Prefer 2.4Ghz Band when your router only supports the 2.4Ghz frequency, under Value: from the drop-down menu.
    • Prefer 5Ghz Band when your router does support the 5Ghz frequency, under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  7. In the Property: box, touch or click Roaming Aggressiveness and select 1. Lowest from the drop-down menu under Value.
    Note: This setting is suggested for home wireless networks. When you are on a business network and move from place to place, the setting should be set to 3. Medium.
  8. In the Property: box, touch or click to Wireless Mode, select the wireless networking standard(s) that best matches your router.
    Note: When you are not sure of what wireless networking standard(s) your router supports, select the option with the most listings, typically at the bottom of the list.
  9. Touch or click the Power Management tab.
  10. Make sure the check box to the left of Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, is unchecked.
  11. Click OK.
  12. Bookmark this article as a restart of the affected computer is needed at this time, and additional troubleshooting may be needed.
  13. Save any data, close any open program(s) and restart the computer.
  14. When your computer still cannot connect to the Internet, refer to the Resolving Not Able to Get to the Internet tab and continue with Step 5.
 

Manufacture is listed as Realtek:

  1. In the Search box, type Device Manager.
  2. Touch or click Device Manager (Control Panel).
  3. In the Device Manager window, click the arrow sign next to Network Adapters.
  4. Double-tap or double-click the wireless adapter with the same Description as noted on the Change Wi-Fi Settings page.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
    Note: Depending on the Wireless Adapter installed, not all of these options may be available.
  6. In the Property: box, click to highlight AP Compatibility Mode, select Broader Compatibility under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  7. In the Property: box, click to highlight Minimum Power Consumption, select Disabled under Value: from the drop-down menu.
  8. Touch or click the Power Management tab.
  9. Make sure the check box to the left of Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, is unchecked.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Bookmark this article as a restart of the affected computer is needed at this time, and additional troubleshooting may be needed.
  12. Save any data, close any open program(s) and restart the computer.
  13. When your computer still cannot connect to the Internet, refer to the Resolving Not Able to Get to the Internet tab and continue with Step 5.

 

Article Version DK.01

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