Feature: Wi-Fi Troubleshooting

Don't you love public Wi-Fi hotspots? Just sit down with a double latte, turn on your notebook, and within seconds you're on EBay, bidding feverishly on a 30-year-old bottle of Elvis Presley wine.

Unfortunately, as with most things in life, it's not always that easy. From time to time, efforts to jump onto the Internet using a hotspot in a coffee shop, bookstore, hotel room, or airport lounge are thwarted. Here are some tips for getting around those Wi-Fi roadblocks.

Open Your Web Browser

Some people assume all you have to do to check e-mail at a free Wi-Fi hotspot is turn on your computer, make sure the notebook has connected to the wireless network, then open the e-mail application. But often, that's not enough. That's because most commercial hotspots, such as hotels, require you to sign on to their wireless network, and you do that in your Web browser. When you launch your browser, the hotspot service provider's sign-up page should automatically appear. At that point, you may be asked to sign on with a user name, password, credit-card number, or other information. However, some free public hotspots don't require you to do anything but open your browser to get on their network.

Change Your Default Home Page

If your default home page is blank, the hotspot service provider's sign-up page isn't likely to appear automatically when you launch the browser. To get around this, change your browser's default home page to, say, "http://www.pcworld.com," close the browser, and then reopen it. This time, the sign-up page should appear when you launch your browser.

To change Microsoft Internet Explorer's default home page, go to Tools, Internet Options. On the General tab, type a Web site address into the "Home page" section's address field, then click OK.

Get the Latest Password

Many free Wi-Fi hotspot providers require you to enter a password to use the network. But for security reasons, a password that worked on Tuesday may have been changed by Sunday. To make sure you're up-to-date, ask someone in charge for the latest password. If you're at a hotel with free Wi-Fi, for instance, ask the front-desk clerk.

Restart the Connection

Sometimes, the software and hardware for a notebook's Wi-Fi adapter don't always get along with Windows XP. The result: Wi-Fi connections suddenly drop, without apparent reason.

One workaround is to stop and restart the wireless network service using the Microsoft Management Console in Windows. Begin by going to Start, Control Panel, "Performance and Maintenance"; if you're in Category View, select Administrative Tools. Select Services. On the right side of the two-pane dialog box, scroll down to Wireless Zero Configuration and click to select it. Click "Stop the service" and, after that's accomplished, click "Start the service."

Restart Your Notebook

When I'm having difficulty making a wireless connection, restarting my notebook sometimes solves the problem. Why? It's a bit mysterious, but in general, some utilities and applications may conflict with one another or hog system resources. Restarting can flush out whatever ails your Wi-Fi connection, giving you a fresh start.

Get Closer

If you're having problems making or keeping connections at a particular hotspot, your notebook could be too far from the wireless network access point. For instance, some hotel guests have reported that, even though they stayed in a hotel with in-room Wi-Fi, the wireless signal was too weak in their room to connect. If this happens to you, ask the front-desk clerk to move you to another room. Or if you're in a coffee shop or other public setting, ask someone in charge where the wireless signal is strongest.

Extend Your Range

The antenna for built-in notebook Wi-Fi adapters is usually--no surprise here--built into the notebook, too. If you frequently have difficulty getting a strong signal, you might have better luck using a Wi-Fi adapter with a movable, external antenna. In some cases, an external antenna may be able to pick up weaker signals from nearby access points.

I've had good results with the Linksys WUSB12 (about $60). The compact USB adapter for 802.11b networks features a small, folding antenna. The adapter can be connected directly to your notebook's USB port or, via a USB cable, positioned farther away so you can get a stronger signal.

For more tips on extending your Wi-Fi range, read the networking section in "Secret Tweaks."

Upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2

For easier wireless network connectivity, diagnostics, and repair, consider installing the recent upgrade to the Windows XP operating system. Windows XP SP2 includes several wireless network enhancements, including a new Wireless Network Setup Wizard for easier setup and an enhanced Repair Wireless Network Connection tool. I've found that the latter can help make a wireless connection work when other efforts have failed. To access the tool, right-click the Wireless Connection icon in the system tray on the bottom or right end of the Windows taskbar. From the context menu, select Repair to launch the tool.

Be aware, however, that many PC users continue to shy away from Windows XP SP2. The operating system upgrade includes enhanced networking and security features but can cause some applications installed on your PC to not work properly. (Windows XP SP2 came preinstalled on my current notebook, so I've not experienced any problems.) Read "Businesses Still Wary of XP SP2" for more about the ongoing problems.

Do Your Research

Get more tips and advice from the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Do you rely on Wi-Fi connections at public hotspots? If so, what tips do you have to help make--and keep--a connection? Send them to me.

Are You in Sync?

Some mobile professionals use a desktop PC in the office and a notebook on the road. But keeping e-mail, files, and application updates synchronized between the two can be challenging. Do you sync a desktop with a notebook, and if so, how? Please send your tips and product recommendations.