Common Connectivity Problems with Home Internet and Their Fixes
The Internet has become such a vital part of our lives that living without it at any possible waking hour seems no less than a nightmare. From entertainment, work, studies, to getting food, cabs, and haircuts, the daily functioning of our lives depends on a good internet connection.
The thing is no matter how expensive and strong our home routers are we often have to face a slow internet connection due to various reasons. And while you sit in front of your device staring at the loading screen, anger and irritation build up. Not only the smooth functioning of your entire day gets ruined but also the regular mood turns to frustration and panic.
Well, before you start pulling your hair out in annoyance or start considering an investment in a new router make sure you have taken the small steps listed in this post to counter the problems with your WiFi.
No internet connection
The basic connectivity problem that we face with our home WiFi is the non-availability of connection across devices. The first thing that comes to our mind in this scenario is to call our internet providers. While this seems like a good idea at first, calling the internet providers and them coming to fix the issue is not something feasible at all times. Here are the few steps that you can take on your own when there is no internet connection at all:
Make sure the power is on
Often times we forget to plug the router and keep cursing our WiFi connection. Thus, no matter how silly this seems, the first thing to do in case of no connection is to make sure the router is plugged properly and the power is on. You can disconnect the router and connect it again after waiting for 30 seconds. If your router is powered on, it would be indicated by the LED light on your routers.
Connect to the router via Ethernet cable
If there is no internet connection at all, and you know for sure it is not a device-specific issue, then you need to identify whether the problem is coming from the router or the modem. If your device gets the internet connection when connecting it to the router with a cable, then you know the issue is arising from the router and the modem is working fine. In either case, you need to reset the router or your modem and wait for 30 seconds before switching them on.
Make sure your bill is paid
Another possible step that you can take before calling your ISP is to make sure you paid the internet connection bills. The reminders and emails often get missed, thus before you start panicking, and check your bill payment status.
Slow internet connection
A slow internet connection is no better than no connection at all. It is equally frustrating and disruptive. Read ahead to know about the steps you can take in case of a slow internet connection:
Check the distance
The placement of WiFi routers plays an important role in the speed of the connection. The walls and other electronic devices slower down the speed. What you can do in this case is to move into the room where the router is placed or move the router to a central location and keep it away from other appliances.
If you moving close to the router is not a possibility, then you can go for WiFi boosters like RangeXTD. This device re-broadcasts the WiFi connection on a different channel after amplifying the bandwidth. The dark corners of your home/office get wider coverage and the signal is boosted.
Free up the bandwidth
Another reason for slow internet connection is too many people using multiple devices at a single time. One thing you can do in this case, besides disconnecting some of the devices is to connect your laptop or the device you want to currently operate directly to the router via a cable. This will free up the wireless bandwidth for other devices.
Upgrade the router
Lastly, if it has been some time since you last bought your router, it is time to upgrade it. If you want to avoid connectivity issues, upgrading the router after every two years is a good idea.
Security threats
External presence or malware can not only hack into your private information but also slow down the internet connection. Here are the few steps that you can take to tackle this issue:
Scan for virus/ malware
Malware can get into your system from various sources and it is not always possible to avoid them. Running a quick scan will make sure that your system is free of unwanted software. If you do not have a pre-installed anti-virus, you can easily download one for free or at a minimal purchasing rate.
Reset the password
Make sure that your neighbors are not using your WiFi and taking up the bandwidth. Changing the password at regular intervals is anyway a good idea but if you are suffering from a slow internet connection, then it is definitely time to reset the password.
Hopefully, the above solutions will speed up your internet connection. The first step is to identify the problem and then work towards it. If all this doesn’t work then contacting your ISP is always the option available to you.