Having Issues with Your Wi-Fi?
Do you have connectivity problems at your home or small business? Let’s walk through some troubleshooting to determine what is the difficulty and how to solve it.
First, go get your internet bill and review what level of service/speed you are supposed to receive. Keep in mind that you should have both a download and upload speed. The speeds mentioned will be the maximum, so your service will be less than these numbers, but it should be close in performance.
Next, go to where the internet comes into your building (i.e., where the device from Cox, AT&T, Spectrum, etc…) is plugged into the wall. Most likely, you received a “gateway”. That mean it is a modem (something that translates the single received into something a computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc… can use) and a router (something that acts as a traffic cop and organizes the internet traffic so it doesn’t cause a “traffic jam” when multiple devices are on the internet at the same time). Most gateways or modems will have 4-5 wired Ethernet ports for usage. Plug in your laptop/desktop with a wire and go to a testing website. I recommend http://www.speakeasy.net. Do NOT use one provided by your internet service provider. They quite often give a bias result for their own product. A wired connection directly from the modem or gateway will be the best service and a good indicator of what you are receiving. If it is significantly lower than what you are paying for, contact your provider for maintenance.
Now let’s talk about that same speed test done in different rooms using different devices throughout your home or property. If you are using an old laptop, cell phone, or desktop to “test” your Wi-Fi, the problem may be your device. Older equipment have older Wi-Fi cards. Even if your router/gateway is putting out a strong, fast signal, they will only be able to use the maximum your device can handle. If you have areas that have only one or two bars of coverage, then your router/gateway cannot provide enough signal in those locations. This is very typically for users trying to access the Wi-Fi out by the pool, in a basement, or some location with lots of material interference like under a staircase. This is where the internet provider gateway just doesn’t do the job. SOLUTION: Turn off ONLY the Wi-Fi on the gateway and plug in your own router. If you have a router, upgrade it. Give me a call/text/email and this is something I can do for you, including recommending the replacement equipment.
Next, how many devices need the internet and what are they using it for? Just sending some emails is not a heavy usage. Watching videos from streaming services like Hulu or Netflicks is a completely different usage level. If you are talking 2 adults and 1 teenager household with a fairly technology connected lifestyle, you have probably 20–50 devices using the internet…many at the same time.
- Smart TVs — at least 3
- Smartphones — at least 3
- Tablets — at least 2
- Smartwatch — at least 2
- Smart appliances (Ex: refrigerator) — at least 2
- Home Security system (Ex. Video doorbell, wireless chimes, etc….) — at least 2
- Wireless speakers — at least 2 systems
- Outdoor smart lights, speakers, etc….) — at least 1
- Smart media devices (Ex: Blu-ray player, DVD player, etc…) — at least 2
- …and more
Make sure your router is designed to handle the load. Most households should upgrade to a mesh router. If you just added a “range extender” to an area with poor coverage, that location will be significantly slower than the area serviced directly from the gateway or main router. Mesh routers are designed to have a primary unit where the internet comes into the building and additional satellite units that ONLY require an electrical connect to “mesh” a seamless area of Wi-Fi coverage.
Remember, your internet usage will go nothing but up over time. Modem technology doesn’t change very often, but router technology does. This is why the gateway provided from your internet provider will not keep up with your needs. Give me a call and I can evaluate your current situation, recommend the right hardware solution, and set it up. I will even provide you with a single page summary of all the equipment and associated passwords.
Don’t forget that if you are working from home or have kids, you need to enable the Guest Wi-Fi network and turn off “sharing” between it and your primary Wi-Fi network. The guest network is what visiting family or friends should be using, and definitely that should be true of your kids friends. Keep the home network with a different Wi-Fi name and password. This minimizes the potential for your network to be compromised by an infected device with access.
