Does anyone else find wireless technology frustrating

ctbaars

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,565
160
106
I've have both wireless and Bluetooth keyboards. You sit down and start typing and find you are not connected or the first 10 letter are not written. I now use two 12 ft USB cables to go from a PC to my coffee table w/TV screen. Do I have to shake the keyboard and smash it on the table like I do with the mouse to get it work?
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
I don't find wireless tech frustrating, but after all these years I still find voice automated phone calls maddening as they've failed to improve them, just make them more annoying and less user friendly.
 

SamQuint

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2010
1,155
45
91
Don't even get me started on wireless printers! Hate them with a passion. I don't even try to use them connected to the network by wireless anymore. I always cable them to my router.

Macs also seem to have issues with bluetooth keyboards. Every time I try to log in the first time either i get repeated keystrokes or missing keystrokes.
 

SamQuint

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2010
1,155
45
91
I don't find wireless tech frustrating, but after all these years I still find voice automated phone calls maddening as they've failed to improve them, just make them more annoying and less user friendly.

I hate anything voice operated. I will not use any voice assistant like Alexa, Cortana, Siri because of those automated voice systems. They have ruined any hope I ever had in that being a viable solution.
 

SamQuint

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2010
1,155
45
91
I just thought about my home computer
wired ethernet
wired keyboard and mouse
my printer is wired to my router. However if I did not need to share the printer I would most likely have connected it by USB to my computer.
 

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
31,038
47,820
136
People wanting to use VPN and a wireless printer because they don't want to carry all those cords...
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,553
8,832
126
My wireless mice have always worked flawlessly. Never saw the point in wireless keyboards unless it's using it on a phone/tablet or something like that. wifi can be a little glitchy sometimes, but not enough to go through a hassle of running cord in some circumstances. "Wired is always better" is a good general statement.
 

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,236
1,722
126
meh
wireless keyboard
you folks with your membrane keyboards are artificial non-spring based technology.

I was psyched when I learned that Unicomp makes "model M" keyboards, and, they even have a USB version, because motherboards manufacturers are jerks who like to remove ps2 ports.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,292
13,033
126
www.anyf.ca
I'm a big believer that stationary things should not be wireless, it's practically pointless. Wired is always going to be better for everything. Where wireless keyboard/mice are great is situations where it might move around a lot, like for a HTPC.
 
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Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,290
5,838
136
I've have both wireless and Bluetooth keyboards. You sit down and start typing and find you are not connected or the first 10 letter are not written. I now use two 12 ft USB cables to go from a PC to my coffee table w/TV screen. Do I have to shake the keyboard and smash it on the table like I do with the mouse to get it work?

I don't like Bluetooth keyboards, because Bluetooth is flakey & you can't use it in the BIOS.

For RF wireless keyboards, you may just need a small USB extender or unpowered hub. I primarily install NUC computers these days, and they have so much wireless gear jammed into them that the EMI causes lag on the RF keyboards, especially with the new nano USB receivers that are like 2mm high. Simply getting them away from the USB ports by an inch or two completely solves the problem. I install a lot of digital signage that are controlled by mini computers, and while they're typically driven remotely, for local access I setup wireless keyboards (like a Logitech MK320 or K400) & they work fine 30+ feet away with a short USB extension for the RF nano receiver. So that may be what you're running into. Unless you're using an old-school IR wireless keyboard, which are garbage because they are line-of-sight.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,290
5,838
136
I don't find wireless tech frustrating, but after all these years I still find voice automated phone calls maddening as they've failed to improve them, just make them more annoying and less user friendly.

The Apple Store ones creep me out...they added fake breathing & fake keyboard typing to the automated system. Super super creepy lol. Google Assistant, however, does sound freaking amazing:

 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,290
5,838
136
Don't even get me started on wireless printers! Hate them with a passion. I don't even try to use them connected to the network by wireless anymore. I always cable them to my router.

I had the same issues for a long time; the newer ones this year are a bit better. I've also had decent luck with stuff like HP's ePrint & Google Cloud Print. Also, they tend to do FAR better on a domain, when they meet the following criteria:

1. WAP nearby for solid signal
2. Static IP on the network
3. Shared out from a print server

Home users are typically in for a lesson in frustration when trying to setup a wireless printer, however. Printers are like the one technology that has gotten worse over time...cheap plastic garbage. I print as rarely as possible at home as I can, lol.
 

Six

Senior member
Feb 29, 2000
523
34
91
Wireless done right, like at some of the hospitals, works very well.

Wireless done cheaply, like everywhere else including the majority of financial institutions, is slow and disconnects all the time.

With that said, if you're going to be constantly printing, the only effective way to setup a "wireless" printer is to hook the printer via USB to a standalone wireless device.
 

snoopy7548

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2005
8,186
5,235
146
I like wireless for everything except my main desktop/HTPC internet, and gaming devices (console controllers, mice, keyboards). Never had a problem with my wireless Brother laser printer. The only problem I have is my wireless mouse and keyboard connected to my HTPC sometimes loses signal - the mouse tends to work in certain spots and the keyboard sometimes misses a letter, usually just when turning it on.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,400
30,485
146
With our networked printer being a random asshole to me over 2 years, and now gone in full rebellion for no fucking reason, yes, I hate wireless tech. It is all just garbage.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,400
30,485
146
I had the same issues for a long time; the newer ones this year are a bit better. I've also had decent luck with stuff like HP's ePrint & Google Cloud Print. Also, they tend to do FAR better on a domain, when they meet the following criteria:

1. WAP nearby for solid signal
2. Static IP on the network
3. Shared out from a print server

Home users are typically in for a lesson in frustration when trying to setup a wireless printer, however. Printers are like the one technology that has gotten worse over time...cheap plastic garbage. I print as rarely as possible at home as I can, lol.

Hey! that's how this asshole printer has been set up! I suspect an issue with the main University network in our department/building. The domain in the lab seems to be different from the one in our office space (Essentially the same room--like a suite, I guess; and from where I am trying to connect wirelessly via my desktop). Basically, whatever IT genius designed it that way is a moron.

Not that I really know what domains mean. I hate IT, lol.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
49,290
5,838
136
The domain in the lab seems to be different from the one in our office space (Essentially the same room--like a suite, I guess; and from where I am trying to connect wirelessly via my desktop). Basically, whatever IT genius designed it that way is a moron.

Not that I really know what domains mean. I hate IT, lol.

A domain is just a group for the computers to join (so the CTRL-ALT-DEL sign-in for domain "MyCoolNetwork" with user "zinfamous" would be "MyCoolNetwork\zinfamous" plus your password). The group gives you access to network resources, such as printers & file shares. If you're not in the group, you can't play with the toys. You can, however, put in a trust between domains to share toys. In the case of your school, they probably have the main network (UNI\zinfamous) and then your department (LAB\zinfamous) because they don't want people goofing with Ethernet-connected devices in your building who aren't part of that building's group (ex. if you have a plotter or a 3D printer or a network-connected microscope or whatever).

So ideally, they'd setup like a one-way trust from your building to the main network, so you can still print to everything on the main network, but everyone else is locked out of your building's network (and associated toys). Well, that's the simple way to do it, anyway. Most networks are super messy because they grow over time & people don't always make network plans & network maps & set things up to be simple & smartly-operated, haha.
 

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
I had lots of problems with my wireless keyboard until I read about a problem with dongles plugged into USB 3.0 slots. There's some kind of interference, and if you use a USB extension cord of some kind (male to female A type) to keep the dongle out of the USB 3.0 slot, it works much better. No more issues with the wireless keyboard or mouse.

I've also never had a problem with my wireless Brother printer.
 
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Paladin3

Diamond Member
Mar 5, 2004
4,933
878
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I had lots of problems with my wireless keyboard until I read about a problem with dongles plugged into USB 3.0 slots. There's some kind of interference, and if you use a USB extension cord of some kind (male to female A type) to keep the dongle out of the USB 3.0 slot, it works much better. No more issues with the wireless keyboard or mouse.

I've also never had a problem with my wireless Brother printer.
This has been my experience exactly with my desktop computer. Once I started using a short USB extension cable to get the dongle out of the slot no more issues.

As for Bluetooth I only use it with earbuds and wireless speakers to play audio from my phone. Indoors it works great, but not so much outdoors. I can go for a walk or ride on my motorcycle and the reception will occasionally drop for a second or two with the phone in my pocket. Happens the most if the receiver is hanging from my right ear and I put the phone in my left pocket. I guess the signal has a hard time not being blocked by my fat ass. Been that way through two phones and two different sets of earbuds. So I put the phone in my breast pocket or in a tank bag on my motorcycle and it works fine.

I'm not complaining thought. I was around for the pre-walkman days when all you could do for tunes on the run was carry a boombox with you. Wireless, Bluetooth, battery and audio tech in general has come a long way and it is sweet music to my ears.
 
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FeuerFrei

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2005
9,144
929
126
I don't want to stick batteries in all my stuff, or recharge it. That would be frustrating.:confounded: Phone + tablet = enough charging. So I opt for wired when possible!!

I do have a wireless Brother printer working just fine thanks. :neutral: