From a bad configuration, to a new driver that we have installed, going through network cable problems or with poor Wi-Fi coverage. These are some of the most typical problems that we should review before venting our anger against the operator or router.
Check your Ethernet cable: don’t waste speed
When connecting our devices to the network, we must differentiate between wireless connections and wired connections. If the connection is made by cable, we must use quality components such as the Ethernet cable. About the cable that connects us to the Internet, we must consider the different speeds that they support:
- Ethernet Cat 5: maximum speed of 100 Mbps. Frequency of 100 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 5E: speed of 1,000 Mbps. Frequency of 100 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 6: speed of 1,000 Mbps with frequency of 250 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 6A: It can work up to 10,000 Mbps at a frequency of 500 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 7: speeds up to 10,000 Mbps, frequencies of 600 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 7A: Allows 10,000 Mbps, with a frequency of 1,000 MHz.
- Ethernet Cat 8: the fastest with transfer speeds of up to 40,000 Mbps at a frequency of 2,000 MHz.
Wi-Fi connection depends on the channel and bandwidth
If, on the other hand, we use Wi-Fi connectivity, a change in the location of the router or the equipment can create problems. That is why it is recommended to review the Wi-Fi connection map, so you can see how many networks are in your area and if they could affect your coverage.
If we observe that the connections in our environment coincide in nearby channels, that may be the problem. To solve this, we must enter the configuration of our router (you can rest assured, the configuration is usually made for users) and there we can change the Wi-Fi channel to improve the signal.
Each router has its own configuration and location of the different options, look for your model and find an option called “WLAN” or “Wi-Fi”. In my case, on a ZTE router, I need to move to Local Network > WLAN > Basic WLAN > WLAN Global Settings. In this configuration we can change the channel of the Wi-Fi network so that the signal improves according to the needs of our environment.
The router lights give us clues
On the other hand, the cables wear out every day, and this may be the cause of your connectivity problem. Check the back of the router to make sure all cables are working properly. For example, the fiber connector, or the connection between the ONT and the router (if your company uses it).
However, we have another way to check the connection. Even if we believe that the fault is not in the router, we can always check the lights on the device to verify that the cable and Wi-Fi connections are operational. The most common lights on routers are the following:
- power light: It usually comes with the name ‘Power’. If it is on we will know that the device has power.
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Internet: also labeled as ‘Network’ indicates that the router receives the connection from the outside. If this light is red or off, it will indicate that we are not receiving a connection.
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Wi-Fi or WLAN: This is the indicator that the router is broadcasting the Wi-Fi signal. If it blinks, it is a good sign, there is packet exchange between devices connected to it.
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LAN connection lights: Surely, your router will have several indicators with this label. You will also see several numbered in order, each one corresponds to a LAN port. If it is on, it means that connection is operational.
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WPS and USB: These two lights are not present on all models. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a method to link devices without using the password, it usually has a button to activate this mode. The light dedicated to USB indicates that we have a device connected (if it has one), this connection provides us with many uses to get the most out of your router.
Run a speed test and restore connections
Just because we have a problem with the Internet doesn’t mean we don’t have access. Sometimes it can be a small incident. We recommend running a speed test to consult the speed and compare the results with the rate that you have contracted
In both iOS and Android, there are multiple options to do a speed test that can always come in handy to see the status of the network. Sometimes, we get fully involved in reviewing many elements of the Internet connection without reaching the solution. Therefore, we encourage you to start at the beginning: clear the saved connection and re-enter the credentials to connect to the router. It may be that an application interferes, or you yourself have made a change that you do not remember.
on androidfollow the following path:
- Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Internet.
- Then, click on your saved connection and click “Forget”.
For the system of apple phones you must go to:
- Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Click on the name of your connection. Then tap on “Forget this network”.
- After this, set it up again.
we can too restore all connections of our device. It will be as easy as looking for an option similar to “Recover Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth” on Android or go to Settings > General > Transfer or reset iPhone > Reset on iOS.
Another action that sometimes results in success is something as trivial as turning the mobile off and on. But first you can use a computer to check if it’s a general failure or only one device has it.
Problems with the Wi-Fi of your mobile: update your device
Possibly, your mobile still receives updates that correct errors or improve its performance. Nevertheless, these improvements can end in more problems, and it is that when a device is updated there is always the risk that they have touched something that previously worked well. Try going back to the previous firmware of the device, or vice versa, check if you have updates available and update the system. Maybe in this way, all Internet problems will disappear.
With these tips we have seen how to fix various network problems without blaming our Internet provider or the router. They are not always to blame, and Internet problems can originate from many reasons. The seriousness of the problem will mark the time and effort that we must dedicate to it, but do not be discouraged, fixing something that doesn’t work by yourself is always comforting.