There is nothing more frustrating than having poor connectivity, especially when you have deadlines to chase. The pages refuse to load, videos keep pausing now and then and emails are extremely delayed. It becomes even more annoying when you just want to relax on your couch and watch movies yet the Internet isn’t cooperating. You’re sure that there’s no widespread coverage outrage, so what seems to be the problem?
In most cases, this means that you’re having WiFi and router problems you aren’t aware of. The good news is that you can get back online without hiring a computer repair technician in India. You can instantly get back to gaming, streaming and news binging and experience the strong connection you deserve!
To start troubleshooting your router, follow the steps below:
Check the lights on the equipment
Almost every router you’ll see in India comes with LED status lights. These lights are there for a reason—they help you quickly diagnose network problems without things getting too complicated.
First, you need to check the internet signal light which is typically labelled WAN, Internet or a globe icon. You can instantly tell if the Internet is running when the light is solid green or white. However, if you notice that it is red, your router or modem isn’t successfully connecting to the Internet.
You should also check the WiFi lights on your router. They are usually labelled 2.4G and 5G, WLAN or Wireless. These lights should be blinking but if one of them is red, it means that your router is failing to broadcast a signal.
Here’s a pro tip: sometimes, internet issues can instantly be solved by simply restarting your router and modem. It doesn’t take much time and it’s always worth the shot. All you have to do is unplug the cable for about ten seconds and wait for a few minutes to reboot.
Check for overheating
Like any other equipment, your router is bound to overheat at some point especially if you’re not careful. If it falls prey to overheating, it can make your router unstable and may even result in complete damage. So, from time to time, make sure that you check its temperature. Ensure that it gets proper ventilation and good airflow if it gets too hot to touch.
Connect the cables properly
In most cases, people often forget to check if their cables are properly connected before complaining to their internet service provider. Someone may have accidentally kicked the wires or cables that caused the router to become mildly dysfunctional.
Make sure that you check the power cables to your router and modem. Don’t forget to also check if every Ethernet cable plugged into the back of your router is securely connected.
Try another website or device
One of the questions you have to ask yourself when encountering network issues is this: Is the problem only happening on one particular device? For example, if your laptop has problems loading YouTube videos or web pages, use your tablet or smartphone and see if it can successfully connect to the Internet. If you notice that it’s only happening on your laptop, then the problem isn’t with your WiFi or router.
Similarly, you should try other websites if the site you’re visiting refuses to load. If most of the websites you’ve checked are doing just fine, then the problem is out of your control. You might have to wait for the website’s administrator to fix the issue on their end. To check if there’s a service outage, you can use downforeveryoneorjustme.com or downdetector.com.
Use an Ethernet cable
Try plugging your device directly into your router with an Ethernet cable if you’re connected to WiFi. This is an effective way to differentiate WiFiproblems from signal issues. To get started, connect the Ethernet cable to the port on your device and plug the other end into a LAN port in your router. They are typically yellow.
When you connect your computer directly to a modem’s port, you quickly bypass security measures built into the router which helps you save time. Just make sure that you connect to a router so you remain secure online.
If your internet is working when using a wired Ethernet connection, then you’re likely to have a WiFi problem on your end. To solve this issue, you can try switching WiFi frequency bands, particularly 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This method will help you prevent interference while resetting the connection between your router and devices at the same time.
Each frequency has its strengths and weaknesses. With the 5GHz WiFi, your connection can be faster but it doesn’t travel that far. Meanwhile, connecting to the 2.4GHz WiFi allows you to stay connected far from the router but things may get a bit slower.
Verify if there’s an internet outage
You might not be the only user who experiences connection problems. One thing you can do is find information about internet outages on Down Detector or directly contact your internet service provider for further verification.
If your ISP in India claims that there is no service outage, make them run a diagnostic test on your modem to check if it can successfully communicate with the network. Some issues they may discover include registration issues, low signal levels, system glitches or outdated equipment, among other things.
There are cases where you might just have forgotten to pay your bill. Make sure that you have reminders on your calendar!
Reset your router to factory default settings
Another thing that can affect your router’s performance is if it has problems with the configuration. To solve this, you have to try resetting your equipment to its factory default settings. This isn’t to say that you should do it every time your router exhibits issues, but this can be your fallback when other methods don’t work at all.
Keep in mind that if you go for this troubleshooting method, you need to reconfigure everything such as your wireless network name and passphrase. Look at the back of your router and long press a Reset button to reset its settings. This will vary depending on the router, so check the user’s manual to keep you guided.
Find a better spot for your router
When it comes to troubleshooting router issues, keep in mind that you need to consider where it’s currently placed. There are three things you have to remember: elevation, distance and obstructions. When finding a better location for your equipment, make sure that you place it somewhere in the middle of your house. Just avoid placing it near electronic devices like microwaves or refrigerators which can disrupt its performance.
Luckily, there’s a WiFi signal meter on your device, helping you assess the strength of your internet signal. Always remember that the higher the router, the better the connection. Contrary to popular belief, a router’s signal broadcast shines out like a bulb instead of a straight line. This means an elevated router will blanket your home with good connectivity.
Devices and obstructions can also make your WiFi signals weaker. Although WiFi can easily pass through drywall and wood, materials like tiles, metals and concrete can cause interference.
Scan for viruses
Sometimes, the router isn’t the problem. Your internet connection might be affected by malicious codes and viruses you’re not aware of. To start, try doing a scan for malware, viruses and spyware. These things can have an impact on your surfing speed and system performance.
If you’re a Windows user, then a built-in program called Windows Defender can automatically do the job for you. You can also take advantage of free utilities available on the Internet if you don’t want to spend a fortune.
Make sure that your IP address is working
One of the reasons why your router seems to be having a problem is that it’s having an issue configuring a valid IP address. Before a device can be connected to the Internet, it needs to have a unique IP address to work without issues. However, you won’t achieve this if several devices are assigned the same IP or if your computer hasn’t been assigned one.
This is not a common issue that most people encounter. But it can happen if you have multiplier routers in the same network.
Get a fibre internet connection
If you’re at your wits’ end and nothing seems to be working, we recommend that you get fibre internet—the fastest and most reliable connection you can experience. It will significantly reduce downtimes and outages that you’d often encounter with other connection types.
A fibre connection provides you with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1,000 Mbps. Just make sure that it’s available in your area since this internet connection type is not yet universal.