We no longer have to disconnect the internet to make calls from our landline. The internet has come a long way, and Wi-Fi is perhaps the biggest milestone in the world of the internet. We have grown quite used to having a strong Wi-Fi connection, able to support streaming, gaming, surfing, news binging, and so on.
But still, we often run into common internet issues. Our houses are flooded with smart home devices, smartphones, streaming services, gaming consoles, and other internet-powered gadgets. And having to deal with an Internet outage is no easy feat! We want our internet to be up and running as soon as possible.
Don’t let a disruptive connection panic you. The good news is that most of the connectivity issues are easily fixable. Take notes!
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Lagging Internet
Experiencing slow internet across your house? Plug your laptop directly into the modem and take a speed test. If the slow speeds persist, the problem is not with your router. Your internet connection is to blame. Get in touch with your ISP and tell them to fix it.
If the router is the culprit, switching the router channel could be the right solution. Sometimes, a certain wireless channel can become too overcrowded or congested by nearby networks or multiple devices. This can happen even if you have the best Internet connection. Changing the channel should help in this case.
If none of that helps, factory reset your router or purchase a new router.
Slow Signal Strength in Certain Areas of the House
Wi-Fi signals are essentially radio waves. They travel throughout the house to keep your devices connected. Therefore, the optimal placement of your router is significant for better coverage. Place it on a higher and a central position.
The optimal position of external antennas is an L-shape. One has to be vertical and the other horizontal for maximum coverage. If the issue persists or Wi-Fi signals can’t reach the basement or first floor because of the distance, consider investing in a Wi-Fi repeater or a mesh network.
Your Devices Can’t Connect to Wi-Fi
If none of your devices can connect to the internet, reset your router. In case it still doesn’t work, use an Ethernet cable to plug your laptop directly to the router. If it connects, there’s something wrong with your Wi-Fi and router. In that case, consider investing in a new and advanced Wi-Fi router.
If it doesn’t connect even with an Ethernet cable, your internet can be temporarily down. Get in touch with your ISP to confirm.
A Certain Device Can’t Connect
Perhaps, it is a momentary issue. Try turning off the Wi-Fi on that particular device and then re-enable it. Doesn’t work? Unplug your router and then plug it back again in 30 seconds. This may resolve the problem.
If the issue continues, delete your current internet network from the device’s saved list of networks. Forget it and enter the password again to re-connect. Rebooting your device can help too. If you have recently connected to a nearby public Wi-Fi, make sure you disconnect it and connect with your home network again.
Running Wi-Fi troubleshooting on your laptop will help in identifying and repairing network issues too. It may help in restoring connectivity.
Signals Weaken and Drop
Recognize if there’s some sort of pattern. Sometimes, other electronics in the house may interfere with the signal strength. It may sound weird but it is true. Microwaves, for instance, can intervene with your Wi-Fi signals.
Electronics with certain frequencies, especially 2.5GHz can cause problems. This is possible even if you have an internet plan as reliable as Internet Preferred 150.
You may experience interference from other devices and networks too. Again, switching your Wi-Fi to a different channel may help. Keeping your router away from such electronics and obstructions will also help.
Network Connected but There’s No Active Internet
Your device is connected to the internet and you see the Wi-Fi icon as well. But you are unable to surf or send a text via WhatsApp. Resetting your router can help. Unplug it and plug it back in.
If your connection works with an Ethernet cable that means your router is causing the trouble. If the internet doesn’t work even with an Ethernet cable, contact your ISP to fix the internet outage.
Router Crashes Frequently
Does your router crash quite regularly? And then you have to restart it to get it up running! If you are experiencing this problem, consider giving your router a full reset.
Hold the reset button on your router for 30 seconds. It will go back to its default factory settings. Make sure you configure it properly. If the problem persists, the solution is to purchase a new router
Your Wi-Fi Needs an Update
The updates for the operating systems can cause this. For instance, in early 2020, the updates of Windows 10 came with certain bugs. They caused disconnects for certain users from their Wi-Fi networks. The OS update didn’t support Wi-Fi adapters. Eventually, the resolved it.
To keep your Wi-Fi running, you can roll back your device to the previous OS version until proper support is ensured.
Concluding, Wi-Fi and the internet have come a long way. They offer speeds that we couldn’t even imagine in times of dialup internet. They offer facilitating options like varied speed tiers, online bill pay, and no data caps. But technology can always be improved. And we have to learn to sort these common issues until a newer technology is introduced.
