Thread: If You Have Problems With Wireless

Windows uses a service called Wireless Zero Config (in XP) or WLAN AutoConfig (in Vista/7). This service will search for a better connection once every minute, which often times causes a spike of lag (increased latency or even a 2-3 second pause in activity). To fix this, you will want to find a third party connection manager (you can usually get one from your NIC manufacturer) and disable Wireless Zero Config/WLAN AutoConfig.

Option 1

Disable WZC/WLAN AutoConfig:

Note: You must set up the third party connection manager before disabling the service!!!

• Hit Windows + R to bring up your Run box
• Enter services.msc and press enter
• In the list of services, find Wireless Zero Config (if using XP) or WLAN AutoConfig (if using Vista/7)
• Right click and choose Properties
• Set the Startup Type to Disabled via the dropdown menu
• Click the Stop button
• Click Apply and then Ok
• Your lag spikes should stop

Option 2

Install WLAN Optimizer and set it to disable Background Scanning. Yeah, that's it.



The easiest way to test to see if this is your problem is to check an extended ping:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run prompt
• Type in cmd and press enter
• At the command prompt, type ping -n 120 google.com
• Look for any big spikes in ping reply

For instance, your normal ping to google.com might be something like 20ms or 40ms. If you see this spike up to 900ms or so at 1 minute intervals (the above command will ping google.com for 2 minutes), then this is your problem. If you see no spikes, or spikes at inconsistant frequencies, then this is likely not your problem.

WLAN Optimizer is a good way to stop the broadcast searching.

I'm running Windows Vista right now.

If you
-go to start menu, hit "connect to"
-right click on the connection you want, select "Properties"
-Go to the "Connection" tab at the top
-Make sure the "Connect to a more preffered network if available" is NOT checked

Will this do the same thing as disabling WLAN AutoConfig?

Thanks.

No. That's more for if you had to connect to a secondary network and want to auto-connect to your primary network when it becomes available again.

WLAN Optimizer is a good program to stop the background scanning.

You do not need to disable Wireless Zero Config with WLAN Optimizer. It will handle disabling the background scanning on its own.

As long as it starts with Windows, you should be set.

Then you didn't install a connection manager. Frankly, I would just use WLAN Optimizer. It's the easier choice. I really need to put that in the main post.

Originally Posted by Cilraaz

Windows uses a service called Wireless Zero Config (in XP) or WLAN AutoConfig (in Vista/7). This service will search for a better connection once every minute, which often times causes a spike of lag (increased latency or even a 2-3 second pause in activity). To fix this, you will want to find a third party connection manager (you can usually get one from your NIC manufacturer) and disable Wireless Zero Config/WLAN AutoConfig.

Option 1

Disable WZC/WLAN AutoConfig:

Note: You must set up the third party connection manager before disabling the service!!!

• Hit Windows + R to bring up your Run box
• Enter services.msc and press enter
• In the list of services, find Wireless Zero Config (if using XP) or WLAN AutoConfig (if using Vista/7)
• Right click and choose Properties
• Set the Startup Type to Disabled via the dropdown menu
• Click the Stop button
• Click Apply and then Ok
• Your lag spikes should stop

Option 2

Install WLAN Optimizer and set it to disable Background Scanning. Yeah, that's it.



The easiest way to test to see if this is your problem is to check an extended ping:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run prompt
• Type in cmd and press enter
• At the command prompt, type ping -n 120 google.com
• Look for any big spikes in ping reply

For instance, your normal ping to google.com might be something like 20ms or 40ms. If you see this spike up to 900ms or so at 1 minute intervals (the above command will ping google.com for 2 minutes), then this is your problem. If you see no spikes, or spikes at inconsistant frequencies, then this is likely not your problem.

Umm it just says "request timed out" every couple of pings what does that mean?

Also

Min: 27 Max: 158 Avg: 35
Sent: 120 Received: 103 Lost: 17 (14% loss)

This regular?

Originally Posted by Desimar

Umm it just says "request timed out" every couple of pings what does that mean?

Also

Min: 27 Max: 158 Avg: 35
Sent: 120 Received: 103 Lost: 17 (14% loss)

This regular?

Lost packets aren't regular. Check the "request timed out". If it's every 60 seconds, then it's the background scanning causing a temporary disconnect. You shouldn't lose 17 packets in 2 minutes, though. I'd say you probably have something else going on (other network interference, etc).

Hi, I'm trying to determine whether or not I have this problem. I ran the google ping and had these results:

Ping statistics for 74.125.65.105:
Packets: Sent = 120, Received = 120, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 25ms, Maximum = 59ms, Average = 29ms

But, I'm wondering about a file in my Network Registry named "UseZeroBroadcast". Is this the service that should be removed? Its value is currently set to 0.

EDIT: Also, my ISP is offering upgrades from my current downstream speed (15mbps) to 30, or 50mbps. Is there a certain point where WoW no longer benefits from increasing this, or will it always become faster?

I'm a complete novice at computers, so I'm unsure about the difference between these "mbps" values and "bandwidth." If someone could explain I would be very grateful!

I can't seem to find any connection Managers on Google, and the one that came with my WiFi card does absolutely nothing.. Disabling WLAN AutoConfig borks that software, it just doesn't detect anything.

WLAN Optimizer doesn't work for me too, getting spikes just as usual on ping test.

Any help?