After a long and hard work week, a Friday night movie is a ritual for me, so you can probably imagine my frustration when my internet chooses to act up. Now I could’ve vented by pulling my hair out, punching every wall in my home, or even switching to other internet providers in my area.
Instead, I just followed a few simple steps that quickly fixed my internet connection and got me back to business without having to call my internet provider. In this article, I’ll share some of those with you.
Who knows, I might help you make your weekend ritual better. Let’s get right into it.
Restart your Modem and Router
Yes, sometimes it’s as simple as unplugging and replugging a cable.
This is always the first step I take, because it often solves the problem, saving me a lot of time and effort. But let me explain a bit about what your router and modem are and what they do, so you can understand how this works.
The router is the device that connects the various devices you use to the internet, whereas the modem is the device that converts digital signals from your devices to analog signals that the internet runs on, allowing data to be transferred between your devices and the internet.
You might want to restart the modem first, as this allows it to create a strong connection with your provider before the router can share it with your home network.
While you could press the button on your modem and router to restart them, I recommend you unplug the cable from the power source, as this allows a complete power cycle that clears your device’s memory, improves its connection to your provider, and resolves glitches more effectively than pressing the button.
Normally, you want to wait between 30 seconds and 2 minutes before plugging back in your router and 2 to 3 minutes before plugging back in your modem.
Reposition Your Internet Setup
Longer distances paired with physical barriers such as walls and even other electronic devices can impact the strength of your internet connection’s signals, resulting in slow speeds or disconnections. To work around this, you can either use the internet closer to your setup (which might not always be possible and could totally kill the vibe) or you could reposition your internet setup.
To reposition your router, you first want to measure the distance at which the signals start to lose their strength. You can use your device to identify this. Once that’s done, assess how many physical barriers and electronics there are within that distance.
You can then reposition your internet setup somewhere where both physical barriers and electronics are minimal, as this will reduce interference and improve the strength of your Wi-Fi signal.
I would recommend a centralized location that has a little bit of elevation to it, such as a high shelf. This can prevent interference and make sure signals evenly reach across each part of your home.
Switch Between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bands
Most internet services allow you to switch between two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Choosing the right one depends on whether you prefer speed or range, as 2.4 GHz has better range, whereas 5 GHz has better speeds.
You can work around this by dividing certain activities and devices to either of these bands based on what they require.
For example, if you’re working remotely, I assume you’re going to need to stay connected consistently, in which case 2.4 GHz can work for you. However, if you’re gaming, and have the need for speed, 5GHz can do the trick for you.
To switch between bands, you can follow the steps below. Don’t worry, they’re not too technical:
- Identify Your Router’s IP Address: Most routers have generic IP addresses. If you’re a Windows user, you can find out which one you have by pressing Win + R, typing “cmd”, pressing Enter, typing “ipconfig /all”, pressing Enter, and voila, your router’s IP address will be mentioned next to the Default Gateway heading. Mac users need to press and hold the Option/Alt key, then press the Wi-Fi icon from their menu bar.
- Log In to Your Router’s Configuration Page: Open your web browser, type in the IP address, and log in using the username and password, both of which you can find mentioned on your router.
- Navigate to Wireless Settings: This section is normally found under Advanced Settings or the Advanced Wireless section. Once you reach here, you can change the frequency band and hit save to apply the changes. Your router might restart and take a few minutes to bring back the connection.
Troubleshooting Your Internet – Much Easier than it Sounds
So, there you have it, folks, I’ve shared some of the easiest, affordable, and effective steps you can use to improve your internet connection before dialing your provider.
By restarting or repositioning your setup and switching your Wi-Fi bands, you can improve the speed and strength of your internet connection and enjoy anything you like.
