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We’ve come to depend on the internet for everything. Whether it is waking up in the morning, managing our schedules, connecting with friends, collaborating with people, or paying our bills. Losing connectivity then can jeopardize one’s life. Even a slow connection with speed lags is sure to ruin the day. Akin to being stranded alone on an island, this state of affairs is simply not acceptable.
More often than not, however, the internet issues we face can be easily resolved. At times, just tightening the wires and restarting your router might do the trick. At other times, it can get a little complicated and you might require technical assistance to resolve the problem. Even in those instances, it’s just a matter of communicating right, and once done, you’ll have your internet running seamlessly with no further hassle. All you need is a little patience.
Patience can do wonders. Then again, keeping calm in such frustrating situations is no easy task. So, how do you do it?
Well, they say that gaining an understanding of the matter helps you stay grounded and clear-headed when facing adversity. It’s easier to panic when you don’t know what’s happening. The unknown is scary which is why we’re here to lift the veil. Here we’ll go over the common problems and the solution to internet problems so you know exactly what to do when your internet is giving you a tough time.
You don’t have to be tech-savvy to get your internet working right. By simply following the steps laid out below, you should be able to troubleshoot the problem and get to solve the matter.
Here are the most common internet issues you may be facing:
Whether it’s a 1 Gig fiber connection by CenturyLink Internet, a 1 Gig cable broadband plan by Spectrum Internet or an affordable but reliable 200 Mbps plan by WOW! Internet. No matter which kind of internet you have, the provider you use, or the plan you’re subscribed to, you’re sure to run into the above-mentioned problems at one time or another. While it is inconvenient to have your internet connection malfunction, there’s no way around such instances, so here’s what you can do to reach a resolution.
Nobody wants to admit it but we’ve all been there: going berserk at the thought of no connectivity and checking for everything except if the power is on. The first thing to check is if the router is well connected. Tighten the wires if they’re loose and plug it back in if it has been unplugged.
If you’re getting a signal and connectivity on one of your devices but not the others, then there’s a problem.
So, when your computer or mobile device cannot detect the internet or connect to it at all you might want to first confirm if it’s a connection problem or an in-home Wi-Fi issue. You can do this by connecting your device via an Ethernet cable. If you still don’t have any connectivity that means the problem lies with the connection itself and not the in-home Wi-Fi network. In this case, make sure to check your modem has power and is working right. And, if the problem persists, give your internet provider a call.
On the other hand, if it’s your device that is giving you trouble, make sure to check if your Wi-Fi router is plugged in correctly, Wi-Fi is enabled on the device which is giving you an issue, and that it is connected to the right SSID.
Sometimes running through the Windows Network Diagnostic routine can help reset the adapter. For this got to System Preferences, and click on Network if it’s a Mac. For a PC, Right-click on the Network Icon and select Troubleshooting. It’ll run a diagnostic check and tell you where the problem is arising from. Checking the network adapter settings for the correct gateway address can also do the job.
If you find yourself stuck with slow internet and can’t figure out what’s wrong, try visiting another website to confirm if it’s the website that’s the issue or the Wi-Fi signal. It might just be your device that’s having an issue. Clear the browser’s cache and cookies, and see if that helps you get back online at the right speed.
If it’s the device that’s the problem, we recommend you turn it off and then on again. Very often, restarting your device can do wonders. So, don’t miss out on the simplest of tricks that do miracles for us. We don’t know why it works, but it does!
Similarly, if the trouble lies with the Wi-Fi signal, restart the router. Unplug the power source, wait for 30 seconds, and plug it back on. That should do the trick. If not, do the same for the modem. You are likely to see quick results.
Another reason for shoddy Wi-Fi signals may be the location of the Wi-Fi router. To get excellent signal strength throughout your home ensure it is situated in the middle of the house and has minimal obstructions in its path. Electronic gadgets, concrete walls, metal objects—all these can cause the signal strength to drop. The lesser the hindrance, the stronger would be the signal you get.
Channels and frequency bands can get crowded and lead to a slow internet connection. This is most common in areas with high population density. If you live in a busy town, we’d suggest you broadcast your signal on 2.4GHz if it’s on 5Ghz and 5GHz if it’s on 2.4GHz. Most people use the 2.4GHz channel so most likely you’ll need to switch to 5GHz.
Each frequency offers multiple channels you can use to broadcast Wi-Fi signals. For 2.4GHz, stick to channels 1, 6, and 11. While, in the case of 5GHz, there are 23 channels available to you. And, none of these overlaps so you’ll be good to go with any.
Nobody likes freeloaders, but that’s what you’ll have if you don’t protect your in-home network with a tough password. Some people are quite adept at cracking passwords and if you have an easy one, you’re at a greater risk. Then again even if you do have a strong password, it pays to change it every now and then.
Unknown devices using your internet connection can drain your bandwidth leaving you with slow speeds to deal with. They may also be smooching your data and driving your internet cost up. And, this is just one of the harmless infringements. They can use your connection to download illegal content, trapping you with fines and penalties. So, make sure to change your password from time to time.
Apps running in the background, or large files being downloaded can sure drain your bandwidth. But, to check what it is exactly that is consuming your internet and slowing you down, head to the Task Manager. Go to the Network tab if you have a Windows PC. For Mac users, open Spotlight. Look for Network Activity and identify the running process which is eating too much bandwidth. Once you identify the cause, close that app, or pause the process. You’re likely to get faster internet in no time.
A malicious code that has made its way into your system can completely block your internet connection or slow down the system. And, when web pages take longer to load it can get frustrating fast. Not to forget your good mood can turn sour within seconds. Scanning for viruses, spyware, and malware on at least a weekly basis is a must. It will help you circumvent this problem altogether and ensure you get top-notch internet performance. If you’re not doing this already you should start now, especially if you’re not getting the speed you signed up for.
If none of the above helps we suggest you check your internet package. Head to your ISP’s website and check your bill. If it hasn’t been cleared for the month, the service may have been suspended. If that is the case, simply make a payment and your internet will be up and running in no time.
On the other hand, it’s possible for it to not work despite all payments having been made. In this case, you might want to check what your data limit is and if you’ve consumed more data than allowed. Some internet service providers are known for suspending your connection once the data cap has been breached. However, that is not always the case.
Some other providers throttle your connection, lowering the speed you receive. If you find your data allowance for the month has been consumed, this just might be the reason for the slow internet. If this happens to you often, you might want to switch to a plan without data caps like the one offered by RCN Internet or upgrade to one with a higher data limit like Cox Internet, which offers 1.25TB data every month.
So, now that you have read through the list of common problems with the internet, and also gained knowledge about what could be causing an issue, we hope the DIY route helps you get back online. A little understanding of the matter and some focused effort can save you from getting on a call with your service provider and realizing you could have done it all on your own. If however, you don’t find success, by all means, go ahead and call your ISP for a resolution.
In the event you choose to switch providers for better service, we’d recommend you call at 1-855-349-9328 for professional advice on which providers and offers are available at your address.
Your internet may have slowed down due to a variety of reasons. Your modem or router may have a problem or the issue may be with your Wi-Fi signal, your ISP’s connection, or your device. Then again it’s possible the bandwidth simply doesn’t support your internet consumption.
Just like your computer slows down if it has been running for a ridiculously long time, the same applies to your router. Simply giving it a break and resetting it can do wonders.
Simply get the Google Wi-Fi app and it will tell you. You can easily get it off the Play Store or App Store depending on whether you are an Android or iOS user.