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When students take Star tests on wireless devices, the test may end unexpectedly with a "Network Connection Error."
Note: this issue most likely affects other software as well.
Reason:
The Star programs send the answer to the current question and load the content for the next question between each question on the assessment. If an internet/network connection is not available at this time, the Star program will not be able to retrieve the next question to proceed with the assessment.
Resolution:
Review your Wi-Fi network configuration. Wireless devices with multiple saved connections tend to seek out the Wireless Access Point (WAP) with the strongest signal. In the case of networks offering 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels, this can cause devices to abandon the faster 5 GHz channel and switch to the usually stronger 2.4 GHz channel. This can lead to overcrowding of the 2.4 GHz frequency as well as causing a momentary network disconnect while the device is switching channels. Some Wireless Access Points also integrate a feature commonly called "band steering," usually with several balancing options, to automatically try to force devices to one frequency or the other. This can sometimes cause issues if the wireless devices favor the 2.4 GHz frequency but the "band steering" attempts to switch them back to the 5 GHz frequency, or vice versa. Troubleshooting these issues involves either separating the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies on their own SSIDs and configuring the wireless devices to connect to one frequency or the other, or temporary disabling "band steering."