Troubleshoot Wi-Fi Issues

Troubleshoot Wi-Fi Issues

Wi-Fi is a leading technology that we all use daily to connect our devices to the internet, and nothing can seem worse in the moment than when your Wi-Fi isn't working as expected. In this article we will explore the most common issues with home Wi-Fi and what you can do to diagnose and fix the issue. 

What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a type of radio signal that is emitted by your home internet router to give devices access to the internet. Think about how your mobile phone utelises radio frequencies to enable you to call and text, this is essentially what Wi-Fi does, albeit on a smaller scale. Wi-Fi itself stands for Wireless Fidelity and the term is actually a trademarked phrase (similar to how in the UK we might call a Vacuum Cleaner a Hoover). The actual technology behind Wi-Fi is called IEEE 802.11x which is a set of standards that determine how Wi-Fi functions. 

Basic Checks:

  1. Restart your router; This often solves temporary glitches. unplug the power supply from your router and wait 30 seconds. Plug your router back in and wait for it to re-establish an internet connection (this can take up to two minutes)
  2. Check your physical connections; Ensure all cables are securely connected to your router.
  3. Check for outages; Contact your service provider to see if there are any reported issues in your area. 
  4. Try a different device; If possible, connect another device to your Wi-Fi network to see if the issue persists. 
  5. Check Wi-Fi range; If you are far from the router, consider moving it to a more central location in your property or using a Wi-Fi extender. 
  6. Ensure there is nothing interfering with your router; Make sure there are no large electrical appliances or bodies of water near your router. Large electrical devices an interfere with the Wi-Fi signals from your router. Bodies of water like fish tanks for example will drastically reduce the Wi-Fi output of your device as water absorbs the Wi-Fi radio signals. 

Advanced Troubleshooting:

  1. Check for Wi-Fi channel interference; Wi-Fi signals are broadcast on channels, each channel is like a lane on a motorway, if your neighbours routers are using the same channel as your router, internet traffic gets congested and slows down. 
  2. Ensure your router is using the latest Firmware; Outdated firmware can cause network stability issues.
  3. Network Security Settings; Incorrect configurations can affect connectivity. If you have recently changed settings on your router and then started experiencing issues, you may want to reset your router to factory settings and try again. You will need to know what type of router you have so you can reset it. 
The advanced troubleshooting steps above require more specific information on your individual set-up. if you need assistance with any of the above steps, reach out to us by Raising a Support Ticket. 
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