Tenda A5, A6, A3, A30, N3 User Manual

How to fix unstable or slow wireless network

It is not rare that people experience unstable or slow wireless networks. A variety of things can
bring wireless interference, such as wireless interference, wireless security mode incompatible,
overloading, etc.This article will provide you with solutions on troubleshooting an unstable or
slow wireless network.

Solution 1:Position the Tenda device in an ideal location

Solution 2:Disconnect some devices

Solution 3:Change the wireless channel

Solution 4:Change the wireless security mode and the encryption

Solution 5:Power cycle the Tenda device and your computer

Solution 6: Manually assign a proper IP address for your wireless device

Solution 7: Disable the power saving feature of the wireless adapter

Solution 8: Check your antivirus program

Solution 9: Upgrade to a newer firmware

Solution 10: Extend the Wi-Fi coverage when using wireless device far away from the Tenda

device

Your wireless router’s position can affect your coverage area and the strength of your signal. If
you have a modem, you don't have to have the router in close proximity to your modem. Ideally,
a Wi-Fi router should be in a central location.

Quick tips to position your router for the best signal:

i. Place the router in the middle of your house. If you place the router in a room off to the side of
your house, you won’t get as strong a signal on the other side of your house.

ii. Position the router’s antenna vertically, so that the antenna is standing straight up. Antennas
can be adjusted and lie horizontally, but standing straight up is generally the ideal position.

iii. Elevate your router away from floors. You’ll get better reception if the router is on a desk, not
on the floor.

iv. You should also pay attention to the kinds of materials the router is near. For example,
placing the router on a metal desk or up against a metal wall will cause problems. Signals can
travel through a wood desk easily, but metal will obstruct the signals.

Note:A variety of household appliances may cause wireless interference. Depending on the position of the
Tenda device, your networked device, and the appliance, you may even have the wireless network cut out
when your microwave or cordless phone is in use. Plus, older Bluetooth devices can interfere with nearby Wi-

Fi signals, although newer Bluetooth devices don’t. Ensure that microwave isn’t between the Tenda device and

your wireless devices, in this way, problems with microwaves can often be solved.

The Tenda device might be too busy to respond to new requests if there are several computers or
devices using it. If you have other wireless devices that are connecting to the network, try
temporarily disconnecting them.

Interference from other wireless networks in the area can cause issues with your wireless signal.

When multiple wireless networks are competing for the same channel, an unstable and slow
wireless network comes. You can change the wireless channel to fix it. For instructions on
changing the channel, click here.

Note: In the same page where you change the SSID, you can also fix the unstable or slow
wireless network by changing the Network mode from 11b/g/n Mixed Mode to be 11b/g Mixed
Mode.

Changing the security mode may be much helpful in resolving wireless security mode
incompatibleissue.

i. It is highly recommended to use WPA or WPA2 personal as wireless security modes. Other
than providing better security, this will establish a stable connection with your wireless device,
especially devices with the latest technology.

For a Tenda device, you can selectWPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, Mixed WPA/WPA2-PSK, WPA

Personal, WPA2 Personal or Mixed WPA-WPA2 Personal as the Security Mode/Network
Authentication.

Click here to find instructions on setting up WPA or WPA2 personal wireless security on a
Tenda wireless device.

Note:You’d better select AES as the WPA-Algorithms/Cypher Type/WPA Encryption.

ii. Sometimes, the wireless security mode of the Tenda device is not compatible with your

wireless device. You may need to disable the wireless security. This is especially true for older
devices and Windows Vista computers.

Note: You can secure your Wi-Fi with Access Control once the security mode is disabled.

Manually assign a proper IP address for your wireless device, which must be within the same
range of the router's IP address. For example, if the IP address of the Tenda device is

192.168.0.1, you can set a static IP address ranging from 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254 for your
wireless device, set the subnet mask to be 255.255.255.0, and set the default gateway to be the IP
address of your Tenda device: 192.168.0.1.

An unstable and slow wifi may simply caused by overloading, you can power cycle the Tenda
device, your computer and your modem if any

Step 1:

Unplug the power adapter from your modem first, then the Tenda device. Shut down your
computer.

Step 2:

Power on the modem first, then the Tenda device, wait for its lights on, and then turn on the
computer.

To get a stable wireless connection, you’d better disable the power saving feature of the wireless
adapter.

Here we take a Windows 7 computer for example.

Step 1:

Right click on Computer, select Properties, and then click Device Manager.

Step 2:

Point to Network adapters and find your wireless network adapter.

Step 3:

Right click on your wireless network and select Properties, switch to Power Management tab
(see screenshot below):

Step 5:

Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, press OK.

Check your antivirus software, just turn it off to check. (Don't get mail or go to anywhere that a
risk exists! Only surf only safe sites while doing this test, like Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, etc.) If
you find the problem is caused by the anti-virus program, remove and install another one.

Note: Antivirus software often scans the transfer file and slows down the connection. You can
turn if off before transferring something and make sure to turn the antivirus software back on
after the transfer completes.

After you have tried all the above-mentioned solutions but in vain, you can try to upgrade the
Tenda device’s firmware if any bugs exist.