Wireless Router Drivers

Wireless router drivers are the software that allows the hardware components of wireless networking to work properly. Without wireless router drivers, it would not be possible for wireless technology to work in various places throughout modern society. Wireless internet is available for PC and Macintosh computers in coffee shops, airports, and hotels. In order for your computer to connect to the wireless router, a handshake must be made between both computers. This handshake is possible if the wireless router driver confirms to the most popular IEEE 802.11g standard, which practically all computers and routers do.

There are two types of wireless router drivers that are involved in this handshake process. One of them is the driver that is installed on your local computer. This driver allows you computer operating system to communicate with your wireless network card. With a working wireless router driver, the user has complete control over the wireless network card. This includes connecting and disconnecting from a chosen wireless network, scanning for new wireless networks, and allowing your computer to connect wireless networks in your order of preference.

The other type of wireless router driver is installed on the wireless router itself. This driver allows the wireless router to accept connections from several PCs or Macintosh computers. This driver also permits the wireless router to operate with several computers concurrently connected to the internet.

Common Problems

One of the most common problems with wireless router drivers on your local computer is that the operating system has the device disabled. If the device is disabled, it must be enabled before proceeding with the wireless router driver installation. One can reference the device manager on Windows operating systems, or the System Control Panel on a Macintosh computer.

Are you running a correct version of the wireless router driver? You or your computer manufacturer may have installed an incompatible wireless router driver. The wireless router driver must match the exact model number of your wireless networking card or wireless router.

Another common problem is running a “buggy”, out-of-date, wireless router driver on your computer or wireless router. Most software vendors will update their wireless router drivers whenever documented bugs are fixed. Even a reputable software company may have released a bad wireless router driver that contains several software defects that will drive the user crazy.

Troubleshooting

The first step in troubleshooting a wireless router driver is to go to the vendor’s website and look for a solution to the problem you are experiencing. If you are seeing a problem, there are probably hundreds or thousands of other users that have already discovered this issue. The vendor should provide you with a work-around or an update to the wireless router driver.

The next step is to update your anti-virus software on your computer. A virus may be causing your wireless router driver to misbehave. If does not help, then report the issue to the vendor of the wireless router.