Troubleshooting your Internet problems can be a difficult task, especially if you don’t know what to look for. Even if you do know what to look for, fixing that problem can be new to you if you haven’t done it before. You always want to restart your router and modem, before trying anything else as this can typically fix a lot of issues in itself. If this does not work, however, you’ll have to take the time to figure out what is going on. By troubleshooting your router and modem, you can take the necessary steps to diagnose the problem.
Figuring out what is going wrong is the first step in the process of fixing your Internet connection. A lot of times, you can be connected to WiFi and still not have Internet. When this happens, it means there is something interfering with your Internet signal. The modem is experiencing problems with transmitting the connection to devices. This can be due to a multitude of factors.
The first solution you should always consider, as said before, is restarting your router. The initial solution a technician will suggest you do is restart your router, so might-as-well do it before you throw in the towel. If this step doesn’t work, that means the problem was obviously not fixed.
The next thing you should do is to see if your problem lies with the physical connections inside your house. A lot of times, chords and wires can become worn down due to repeated tension and continual stress. Your modem is obtaining an Internet connection from the conduit available in your home. This can be done with an ethernet cable, coaxial cable, or a cable for a phone line.
You’ll want to test these cables to see if one of them is the offender. The best way to do this is by swapping out your cables. They should be connected to both the outlet in the wall and your modem. Both ethernet and phone cables will be directly inserted into the outlet. Coaxial cables need to be screwed in for installation.
Before changing these cables, check to make sure they are in good condition and feature no tears or breaks in the cable. Ethernet and phone cables are more vulnerable to harm so be especially careful when handling them.
It is always a good idea to attempt to identify the source of trouble yourself before phoning your Internet service provider (ISP). More than likely, they will take you through these same steps. To avoid wasting time, try out our suggestions for fixing your Internet issues beforehand. If your ISP is experiencing an outage, that could explain your issues with connecting to the internet. If this isn’t the case, they can pinpoint what exactly is causing your issues by running a diagnostic test on your modem. Your modem could be glitching or not effectively communicating with your network. It could also be possible your ISP has disconnected your service due to a late bill.
To learn more about the difference between WiFi and Internet, click here to read our next article.