Intermittent Wireless Network problems annoy users, reduce productivity, overwhelm your IT team, and make network administration difficult. Many users don’t know how to troubleshoot intermittent wireless networks, you should put into consideration numerous issues that might impair wireless network performance, some of which are difficult to recognize and comprehend. We’ll walk you through some of the most frequent network problems to help you proactively discover network problems that may be troubling your network!
The first step for troubleshooting unreliable wireless network issues is to identify the problem. If you are experiencing slow speeds, then the issue might be that too many devices are connected to the network. If your signal keeps dropping, then it might be because there is interference from other networks in your area or some other device that is interfering with your signal.
Once you have identified what the problem is, you can start taking steps to fix it. For example, if you have a lot of devices connected to your wireless network and are experiencing slow speeds, then disconnecting some of them should help increase your speeds.
Fixing the Wireless Network Issues with a Few Simple Steps:
The following steps will help you fix any wireless network that is unreliable or slow.
Step 1: Identify the issue
Step 2: Check if there are any interference sources
Step 3: Check the signal strength of your router
Step 4: Update firmware if necessary
Step 5: Change the channel on your router and check if it solves the problem
Step 6: Disable power-saving mode and check again.
What is the Purpose of a Wi-Fi Range Extender and How Does it Work?
Wi-Fi range extenders are used to extend the range of a wireless network. They can be used in both residential and commercial settings, but they are most commonly found in homes with multiple rooms.
Wi-Fi extenders work by taking the Wi-Fi signal from one router and broadcasting it at a higher power level with a different frequency. This signal is then picked up by the extender and retransmitted to provide coverage to areas that were not previously receiving Wi-Fi.
There are two types of Wi-Fi extenders: repeaters and amplifiers.
Repeater: A repeater simply takes an existing signal from one router and broadcasts it again at a higher power level.
Amplifier: An amplifier does this as well, but amplifies the signal before retransmitting it.
Fixing the Wireless Network Issue that Won’t go Away
If you are experiencing a slow or unreliable wireless network, it is time to take a look at the following steps to get your network back up and running:
1. If you don’t have any blinking lights on your router, then you may need to check your internet connection. If both of these steps do not help with the issue, then there may be an issue with your hardware somewhere in between your computer and wireless router
2. Check the cables: The first thing that you should do is check if the cables are connected properly. If not, plug them in properly and make sure that they are not too far from each other.
3. Replace your Antenna: If your Wi-Fi signal is still not working properly even after checking the cables, then you might need to replace your antenna.
4. Change Your Router’s Position: You can try changing the position of your router to see if it helps with the speed and reliability of your Wi-Fi connection. Make sure there are no obstructions between it and the devices that you connect to it with.
Finally, if none of these steps work for you, then there might be an issue with your Router or Wi-Fi Extender, kindly replace them.
What to Do If Your Wi-Fi is Slow or Unreliable?
There are a number of variables that can cause Wi-Fi to be slow. These are some of the methods for identifying and resolving Wi-Fi connection difficulties:
- Is your Internet connection slow?
Before you jump to the conclusion that your internet speed is poor, double-check that the advertised speed of your internet package matches the actual speed you’re getting. To do so, go to a website like speedtest.net or fast.com that allows you to measure internet speed. If the speed results match the advertised speed supplied by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), we’d say your connection is OK, and if you want to speed things up, even more, you can always switch to a plan that provides faster internet connections.
- To resolve Wi-Fi difficulties, restart your Wi-Fi router.
In some cases, all your Wi-Fi router needs is a quick restart to fix Wi-Fi connectivity issues. Simply turn off your Wi-Fi network and then turn it back on after a few seconds to see whether your internet connections are still poor. If it doesn’t work, restart your computer, phone, or other connected devices. It’s possible that one of your devices, rather than the Internet connection, is to blame for your poor Internet speed.
- The antennas on the router should be adjusted.
When the antennas on a Wi-Fi router are pointed straight up, the Wi-Fi signals are redirected in a single direction. As a result, the antennas should always be pointed in different directions. Many Wi-Fi routers, for example, have two or three antennae. In this case, make sure the antennas are pointing vertically and horizontally so that the Wi-Fi signals can cover a larger area.
4. Make use of a Wi-Fi analyzer.
A Wi-Fi analyzer program can help you figure out which channel is the least congested and has the least amount of interference. In Wi-Fi communications, there are two main bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Keep in mind that the 5GHz band is less busy but has a shorter range when analyzing the results of these tools. These bands are further subdivided into several channels, and a Wi-Fi analyzer can help you figure out which Wi-Fi networks are broadcasting on the same channels so you can switch to another. On the internet, you can find a variety of free and commercial Wi-Fi analyzer apps that can assist you in resolving such issues.
- To fix Wi-Fi connection troubles, update the firmware on your router.
Updates to your router’s software are critical since they improve its stability, performance, and security. Most routers these days have the capacity to update themselves automatically; however, if you have an older router, you may need to manually install the software updates. The software can be updated in a variety of ways depending on the router. To learn more, type your router’s IP address into any browser on your phone or computer to view your router’s Wi-Fi settings.
- To repair slow Wi-Fi, use Quality of Service (QoS).
QoS, or Quality of Service, is one of the best technologies available, but it’s often forgotten. Its role is to divide the available bandwidth on your Wi-Fi network amongst apps. With the right settings, you’ll be able to watch that 4K nature footage on YouTube without stuttering while still ensuring that your latest game is downloaded from Steam. With QoS, you may choose which services on your Wi-Fi network should be prioritized, allocating bandwidth accordingly. Note that different routers have different ways to access QoS settings, therefore the way to access QoS on a Netgear router will be different than the way to access QoS on a TP-Link router.
- Make use of a solid Wi-Fi security standard.
If your Wi-Fi security isn’t good enough, gaining access to the password could be simple. It’s possible that our next-door neighbor is stealing your Wi-Fi connection, which is why your Internet is so slow. As a result, using the WPA2 security protocol on your router is always recommended. This can be changed in the router’s settings. To create a WPA2 password, go to your Wi-Fi settings and type the IP address of your router into any browser on your phone or computer. The IP address of your router can be found on the back of the router, or you can look it up in your Wi-Fi network settings on your phone or computer.
- Multiple users on a single connection.
You may have a high-speed internet connection in your home or office that is shared by several users, and while a Wi-Fi router does not slow down internet speeds when multiple people use it, your available bandwidth is reduced. This implies that you could be downloading data from the cloud, while your child is downloading the latest PlayStation game, and your partner is watching their favorite movie or TV show on Netflix. Because each device is using a considerable portion of the available bandwidth, you may all experience slow Wi-Fi in this situation.
In this instance, you could consider halting any of the streaming or downloads to reduce the stress on the Internet connection. Others may benefit from faster Wi-Fi speeds as a result of this. Modern routers have technology that provides equal bandwidth across all devices, and if you’re still having problems with one of those routers, it’s possible that the bottleneck is your Internet speed.
- Switching DNS servers.
Every ISP, regardless of their various internet plans, employs a DNS (domain name system), which essentially aids in the translation of server IP addresses into domain names such as youtube.com and facebook.com.
Most ISPs’ default DNS server is slow and unstable, which is why changing your DNS server can provide you with a sigh of relief and a much-needed boost in internet speed and performance.
For Android users, go to your phone’s WiFi settings and seek the Private DNS option. On most Android devices, it is turned off by default.
- Switch to a different Wi-Fi channel.
You’ll see channels under wireless settings if you find your router’s IP address and use it to access your Wi-Fi settings in any browser. There are 14 channels in all, and the first step is to determine which Wi-Fi channel is the most popular in your neighborhood. Once you’ve established that, you may always try to discover and select a non-overlapping channel that is sufficiently separated from the others. The channel settings on most ISPs are set to automatic, but if you’re experiencing poor internet speeds, we recommend fiddling about to find the clearest channel for yourself for the best possible experience.
- Reset the network settings on your device.
If restarting your Wi-Fi router doesn’t fix the problem, you should probably reset the network settings on your device. By resetting your device’s network settings, you’ll essentially be restoring them to its default state. From there, you can verify if reconfiguring your Wi-Fi on all of your devices fixed the problem. Each gadget has its own set of instructions, and you’ll need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password to access the Internet. If you’ve forgotten your Wi-Fi password, you may use our helper method to recover it.
- Make a complaint to your Internet service provider (ISP).
If none of the solutions listed above work for you, you should probably call your ISP and get the situation handled by professionals. It is often preferable to simply call and file a complaint rather than attempting to resolve issues on your own, and if your ISP has a solid track record with customer support, your issue may be resolved quickly.
- Invest in a new Wi-Fi router.
Getting a high-speed internet plan isn’t enough to attain high internet speeds; your Wi-Fi router plays an important role as well. You see, you can obtain high-speed internet service, but if your Wi-Fi router is old or doesn’t comply with the new Wi-Fi standards, you won’t be able to get the most out of it. To resolve this issue, get a new Wi-Fi router that supports 802.11ac (also known as Wi-Fi 5) or at the very least 802.11n (also known as Wi-Fi 4). You can, however, get a superfast Wi-Fi router that supports the latest 802.11ax standards if you’re seeking one (known as Wi-Fi 6). However, keep in mind that this technology is still in its early stages of development.
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SAMMY MWANGI the editor of Autohomegadgets.com. He is an Electronics Technician enthusiast and a Sales Manager in one of the leading ICT companies in Africa. When he is not working, he loves to travel and explore nature. He is a Robot fanatic too.