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Wireless troubleshooting, Wireless troubleshooting -23 – Hypertherm MicroEDGE Pro Shape Cutting Control Rev.2 User Manual

Page 119

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Maintenance and diagnostics

MicroEDGE Pro

Instruction Manual 807290

4-23

Wireless troubleshooting

Follow these guidelines if you are experiencing problems using the wireless network on your CNC.

•  The wireless network card requires a bus mastering slot on the motherboard. On the MicroEDGE Pro

motherboard (141110), PCI slot 1 is not a bus mastering slot. Make sure the wireless card is installed in PCI

slot 2 or 3.

•  The wireless network card conforms to 802.11N and 802.11G standards and connects to either wireless G or

N local are network (LAN). It provides wireless G or better performance for part program downloads, remote

help, or other network tasks.

- An 802.11G wireless network can operate at reasonable speeds up to 38 m (125 ft) from the wireless

router or access point, even if the path between the CNC and the access point is obstructed with a wall or

door.

- An 802.11N wireless network can operate at reasonable speeds up to 70 m (230 ft) from the wireless

router or access point. However, 802.11N requires a clear line of sight between antennas.

- When in doubt, use the 802.11G wireless network connection.

Note: The network must be set to broadcast its SSID for it to be visible as a connection.

•  Make sure the wireless network card appears in the Windows Device Manager under the “Network Adapters”

heading, and does not have a yellow ! or ? next to it.

•  Use the Windows Network Connections Manager to locate your router or wireless network access point.

Choose Start, Settings, Network Connections.

•  If the network connection wizard does not list any company wireless networks, check the network availability

using a Windows XP laptop or other wi-fi device to verify the router or access point connection is available at

that physical location.

•  Signal strength diminishes with distance. A wireless network connection does not require 100% signal strength

to be effective (shown as four solid bars on the screen). If the Network Connections Manager shows two or

three signal strength bars, the network connection is reasonable.

•  If the connection speed frequently dips below 24 Mbs or signal strength dips below two bars, move the

wireless router or access point closer to the CNC, or add another access point closer to the CNC.

•  For best network performance, minimize the number of clients on the wireless network.
•  Avoid connecting slower wireless devices to the network (for example, 802.11B devices) as the entire network

may downshift to that level of performance.