Overview

Crossed Wireless Signals is a one of the largest contributors to faulty WiFi reception. 

Some electronic devices that broadcast wireless signals can cause interference with the campus wireless network. Interfering devices clutter the airwaves causing performance and connection issues.  Devices include wireless printers, gaming systems, media players, personal cellular hotspots, or other devices broadcasting a wireless signal.  These devices may have a negative impact on your own or your neighbour's wireless experience. 

This article provides the steps and solutions to help you troubleshoot WiFi interference:

1. Determine whether you or your neighbours have any personal devices listed in this article.
2. Perform the steps necessary, as below, to disable the wireless broadcast, referred to as the "Ad-hoc wireless". 

Devices

Common devices that may broadcast an ad-hoc wireless signal:

• Wireless Printers
• Wireless Access Points / Routers
• Cellphone hotspots
• Apple Time Capsule
• Gaming systems (PS4)
• Streaming devices (Chromecast)

Steps and solutions

Wireless Printers

1. Turn off the wireless broadcast on your printer. 

Often personal wireless printers offer an ad-hoc wireless services which interferes with the Acadia's wireless system and can prevent you or others from connecting to the Acadia network. Instead connect your personal printer using a USB cord. 

This is how you can do it in the most popular printer models:

Hewlett Packard (HP)

Most HP Models:

1. Use the menu to navigate to Setup, then Network, then Wireless Radio (on some models, this is towards the bottom of the scrollable menu).
2. Turn the Wireless Radio OFF.

HP Photosmart d110:

1. Some models may allow you to press the blue “wireless” button on the bottom front of the printer to turn the light out and service off.
2. You may need to hold the button for 5 seconds to turn the light out. 
3. If this is not successful, use the menu to navigate to Settings > Wireless > Wireless settings > Disable Wireless > OK

HP Laserjet p1102w:

1. Press and hold the “wireless” image button on the left-hand button panel for 5 seconds to turn the light out and service off.

HP Photosmart c4780:

1. From the front panel, choose “Scan”. Scroll up or down to find Networking.
2. Select this, then turn off Wireless.
3. If the wireless indicator persists:
   1. Shut the printer down.
   2. Then, hold the “wireless” and “cancel” buttons together while powering the printer back on.
   3. Wait for all the lights to flash together and then let the buttons go.

EPSON models:

1. Press the Setup button
2. Select Wi-Fi/Network Settings
3. Select Wi-Fi Setup
4. Select Wi-Fi Setup Wizard
5. Select Disable Wi-Fi

For most Canon models:

1. Press and hold the RESUME/CANCEL button then release the button when the POWER lamp flashes 12 times.
2. Note that when you enable the wireless LAN, press and hold the RESUME/CANCEL button, then release the button when the POWER lamp flashes 10 times.

Wireless Access Points / Routers

1. Turn off any personal routers. The use of personal wireless Access Points or routers is prohibited in residence.

These devices cause interference and prevent others from using Acadia's wireless network correctly.

Cellphone Hotspots

Turn off any personal cell phone hotspots and the experience on Acadia's wireless will improve for everyone, and you will save on your data plan. These device cause interference and prevent other users from using Acadia's wireless network correctly. 

Apple Time Capsule

1. Please turn off wireless on these devices
2. Connect your Apple Time Capsule on the wired network to back up your devices.

Apple Time Capsules can fill the entire wireless bandwidth in their area and make other use of Acadia's wireless difficult.

Gaming systems 

All systems:

1. Connect your gaming system on the wired network.

All modern gaming system have the ability to connect on the wireless, however wireless increases congestion and decreases speed and performance. 

Playstation 4 (PS4)

1. The PS4 sets itself up as an ad-hoc wireless access point with its own network if you have Remote Play turned on and the option to connect directly to a PS Vita. If both the PS4 and Vita are one the same WiFi network, you can turn off the direct-connect option and the ad-hoc wireless broadcast disappears.

Streaming devices (Chromecast / Roku)

The Chromecast only broadcasts its wireless network for initial setup. Should the Chromecast fail to connect to Acadia's wireless network it will automatically go back into its setup state and you will see the ad-hoc wireless network become available. A blinking white light means the Chromecast is not connected to a wireless network. A solid white light means that the device is connected to a wireless network and ready to accept 'casts'. A blinking Chromecast should either be setup or disconnected from your TV or display device.

Some models of Roku streaming devices are known to setup an adhoc wireless network to allow their remote control to communicate with the device.  This wireless remote network causes interference with other wireless networks that may be running on the same channel, and can degrade performance on the Acadia Wifi network.