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Tools - Windows Wireless Zero Configuration

But what if your adapter or notebook didn't come with a utility? If you're running Windows XP or Vista, you're probably familiar with the results you get from clicking the "View Wireless Networks" button in the wireless adapter network properties window (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Windows XP Wireless Network Scan

Unfortunately, the Windows "Wireless Zero Configuration" (WZC) utility doesn't provide much actionable information for wireless problem debug. First, it doesn't provide channel information, which, you'll later see is essential. And the simple 5-bar signal strength display doesn't provide enough resolution for serious troubleshooting.

But the biggest problem with WZC is that it doesn't show multiple instances of the same SSID/network name. So if you have three neighbors with Linksys wireless routers who haven't changed the factory defaults, you'll see only one "linksys" in the "Choose a Wireless Network" window. Definitely not helpful for wireless problem solving.

Figure 3: Windows XP Wireless Status

One last issue with the information provided by Windows is worth mentioning. Figure 3 shows the Wireless Network Connection status window for an active wireless adapter, with a Speed value of 54 Mbps. This is not the actual throughput that the adapter is getting! The more appropriate titles for this value would be the data, operational, or link rate. This number is the equivalent of the 100 or 1000 Mbps you see for your computer's Ethernet adapter, i.e. the negotiated maximum possible data rate.

Many people wonder why their wireless adapter Speed reads 54 Mbps, yet their file transfer takes forever, or their video is constantly breaking up. The reason is that the Speed value is only vaguely related to the actual data throughput that you are getting. In fact, the drivers for some wireless adapters never update this value, showing only the maximum possible rate. So the Speed number isn't very reliable for wireless troubleshooting.