Wi-Fi routers, home servers, virtual private networks, and more.
Networking
How Can I Improve My WiFi Reception?
Episode 1685
Dan fromDan has his TV set up with WiFi about 150' away from his WiFi. How can he improve the connection? Leo says the walls may cause interference. Ben could try setting his WiFi router higher up. But the better option, if possible, is to wire the TV directly to the modem. A mesh router will also help, since it can create a mesh of connectivity, with a separate backchannel. Each Satellite is connected by ethernet. It'll improve it, but it will still deal with interference. He can rewire the home with ethernet. That'll fix things. Also, powerline networking may work as well.
Why can't my Windows 10 machine see my XP machine on my network?
Episode 1684
Bernie fromBernie has two desktops, one with Windows 10, the other with Windows XP. But they can't see each other on the network. But his Windows 7 laptop sees both. Leo says there are so many things it could be; he recommends going to practicallynetworked.com. It could be the XP machine is using SMB 1.0. Windows 10 stopped using it because it wasn't secure. So chances are, that's it. You can still turn it on though.
How can I secure my WiFi router?
Episode 1684
Bruce fromBruce wants to know how he can secure his WiFi router. Leo says to first enter the router address (198.x.x.x) and then change the default password. Then, turn off Administer via WLan. This will prevent someone from the outside controlling your router. Step 3, turn off UPNP (aka universal plug-in play). This prevents a device inside of your network, like an Xbox, opening up your router to the internet when you don't want it to. Lastly, turn on WPA2 security encryption.
How can I print wirelessly with Linux?
Episode 1684
Lee fromLee has a printer and he'd like to wirelessly print through the router with Linux. Can he do that? Leo says Modern printers use WiFi to connect directly to the printer, but some routers have a special windows program for a print server. But it may no support your printer. Leo says that there is a driver called CUPS that may be able to do it. Look by router brand and model in the CUPS database. If it's there, then you can use CUPS to do it. Another option is to use VMWare or maybe even WINE to use the Windows version.
Why is my router buffering a lot?
Episode 1682
Sharon fromSharon is getting a lot of buffering using QOS while streaming through her TPLink router. Leo says that while the TPLink is highly recommended, the QOS feature is largely worthless. You may look to see if you can put a third party firmware on it, like DD-WRT or Tomato. It would fix it.
Why can't I connect WiFi with my new router?
Episode 1682
John fromJohn has been upgrading his parents' network with a new router, some smart devices like NEST Cams, etc. He's running into some issues, though. He suspects it's the modem/router combo. Leo says it likely is: you'll need to find the IP address and log into it. Likely Admin/Blank for a user name and password. Then turn off the wifi and DHCP. The DHCP is also doing double NAT, so turn that off. It's called putting the router side into "bridge" mode. Let the modem send the bandwidth to the Google home router and it will handle it all. That should fix it all.
How Can I Connect Our Spare House to WiFI?
Episode 1681
Janelle fromJanelle has a Netgear Orbi and she's been having issues with her RING doorbell dropping out front. Leo says that RING works best on 2.4 GHz, but that's also very congested. Leo suggests going into the RING settings and set the RING to connect to the 2.4 GHz band. And if she can name the band, it can be easier to connect. But she also may have a neighbor that has a powerful router that is knocking the connection offline.
How can I share files on my Windows network?
Episode 1678
Collins fromNow that Windows has killed Workgroups, what's the best way to share files for his network? Leo says that file sharing is still available in Windows through File Explorer. But make sure you share with permissions to keep your network secure. What about a NAS? Leo says that a NAS will work, but they can get expensive with having to buy enclosures separate from the drives the data is housed in.
Why's My Apple TV Trying to Connect to My Mac?
Episode 1675
Jack fromJack got an antivirus notification that an Apple TV that was trying to access his network. He said no, but it keeps requesting it. Leo says that if Jack has an Apple TV, it's probably trying to connect. It uses a utility called BONJOUR to connect. It's perfectly safe to talk to your mac. And since Jack has a router, his router is a perfect firewall to prevent outside connections. That's how he'll know it's the Apple TV that's trying to connect. So let it. And get rid of the AVS.
Why's My Streaming So Slow on the TV?
Episode 1675
Gordon fromGordon cut the cord in favor of streaming through Verizon. After he did that, his streaming speeds plummetted. But it doesn't with his computer. Leo suspects that the issue is due to the WiFi connection to the TV. Most TVs have terrible WiFi radios in them. Leo recommends having a wired connection to television. Use a streaming box, like a ROKU to handle the WiFi and then connect wired to the TV. Another option is to get a MESH Router.