Troubleshooting
Why is my internet not working or staying connected?
Usually, most of the time, it isn’t the internet coming into the house at fault, but the router. The router is the issue for the interruption in connectivity within the house.
1
Power cycle - Reboot your router frequently
Just like rebooting your computer, power cycling your home Wi-Fi equipment will almost always help improve performance.
2
The router should be in a central part of the house, away from walls and electronics
Place your router in the middle of the house, centrally located and higher off of the ground, away from interference of other electronics and other devices with motors, this will give the best possible speeds. Some walls could be barriers and not let the Wi-Fi signal flow easily throughout the house.
3
Understand that many online activities that family members and devices are using can greatly reduce connectivity speeds
If there are several family members working and learning from home and there are several devices connecting to the Wi-Fi this can greatly reduce the speeds for everyone trying to use the Wi-Fi. Old cell phones given to children to surf the internet can still utilize a connection to the Wi-Fi and drag down speed also. Downloading large files will saturate a network connection as will streaming high quality (1080p / 4K) videos from popular services like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+.
4
Some routers have a 5Ghz SSID, take advantage and connect to it
Some routers broadcast both SSID’s at both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. If your router has the 5GHz option, it’s much faster. Just keep in mind that 5Ghz has shorter range than 2.4Ghz.
5
Update the Wi-Fi router firmware
Upgrading the firmware on your router can significantly improve Wi-Fi speeds. You do own your router, so it is your responsibility to check the product website on how to complete a firmware update, or call their tech support for assistance.
6
Upgrade to a higher end, modern Wi-Fi dual-band router with 5G speed
Consider upgrading to a more powerful router by a trusted brand. Some things to look for when buying a new router: dual band broadcast of 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz, very wide broadcast range that can easily cover your entire home, and ideally, even past your yard. Also look for a model that is easy to administer so you can update your own firmware regularly, change broadcast channels and even administer from your smartphone and remotely reboot if needed. Look for the higher end of the range of routers such as TP-Link. A Wi-Fi 6 system or
Wi-Fi 7 system. A larger house could utilize a mesh system with satellites to extend the Wi-Fi coverage in and around the house.