There are few inventions in our homes today that are quite as important to us as our computers. They don’t just provide us with all the tools that we need for entertainment, productivity, and creativity, they have also, for the last few decades, acted as portals between us and the rest of the world, allowing us to connect with other users from across the globe and to freely and easily exchange information with one another.
Many of us remember a time, an arguably simpler time, when connecting to the internet was a simple case of plugging into the phone line and pressing the right button on our computer. We would then be treated to what must surely be considered one of the most iconic sounds that humans have ever produced. The only drawback is that, because our internet connections back then relied on the use of our phone lines, it was impossible to use both the phone and the internet at once. Things have changed dramatically since then, however. Not only have dedicated, high-speed information lines been laid down to act as information highways for the internet, but Wi-Fi technology has allowed our computers and mobile devices to connect to the internet wirelessly, removing the need for a physical connection.
Given how much of our lives most of us spend on the internet these days when we have trouble connecting to our Wi-Fi network at home it can have a significant impact on our personal, social, and business lives. Fortunately, routers are now able to fix most of the common issues themselves. Simply right-clicking on the Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar and then selecting ‘troubleshoot’ will usually fix the most basic errors. However, it is still worth having an idea of what you yourself can do should you turn into any issues which can’t be automatically fixed. Before proceeding, and if you don’t understand networking terms, you might want to check out this page with key networking terms explained.
Here we take a look at four of the most common problems and solutions encountered with routers in the home.
Slower speed in certain rooms
If you find that when in the same room, or with a direct line of sight to your router, you are receiving significantly better speeds than you are in most other rooms in your house, then this is usually an indication of obstruction of the signal. Most of us give little thought to how the technology that we use every day actually works, and without wishing to get needlessly technical, your computer, or whatever device is connected to your router, must be able to exchange information with it. This information is encoded in electromagnetic waves. While these waves are capable of penetrating most surfaces, allowing a single router to provide connectivity through an entire building, every surface they have to go through will weaken them slightly; some more than others.
If you are finding that you receive a poor signal in some rooms, but an excellent signal in other rooms, then consider moving your router to a more central location. The closer and less obstructed the position of your device relative to the router, the better your signal will be.
Speeds are slow everywhere
If you are consistently experiencing far slower internet speeds than advertised throughout your home, then the first thing you should do is get hold of an Ethernet cable and try plugging your laptop straight into the router. You can use speedtest.net to provide you with an objective measure of your connection speed in both scenarios. If the speeds are slow in both cases, then you need to speak to your ISP as the issue is one of connectivity. If the wired speeds are significantly higher than the wireless speeds, then it is a router issue. You could try changing the wireless channel that you use, or updating the router’s firmware or your computers drivers. There is step by step online guides which can help you.
Wi-Fi doesn’t reach certain rooms
If you find that you have the perfect Wi-Fi experience in some rooms of your house, but in others, the signal is worse or the speeds significantly slower, then this usually indicates some form of interference. Interference can come in several forms, as well as the physical obstructions of walls and large objects. You might find interference coming from other wireless devices or even from other nearby routers. You could try moving the locations of your router; if this doesn’t help then consider switching the wireless channel that your router uses.
Devices can’t connect
If you are having trouble connecting wirelessly, then, first of all, try plugging the computer directly into the router and seeing if this makes a difference. If it does, then you at least know that your router works. Try then resetting the router itself. If this doesn’t help, then try removing the need for a password and connecting. If it works without a password then try putting a password back, but one of your own choosing. If you cannot connect at all while a password is required, then contact the manufacturer about a replacement. Never leave your wireless network unsecured.
We all experience trouble with our routers from time to time. The above tips should hopefully help you to identify and address the most common issues that you are likely to encounter.
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