Having a solid internet plan with the right speed and connectivity is nothing less than a blessing. However, internet issues can occur at any time. Panicking and going for support services isn’t recommended because some internet issues can be resolved easily at home.
Although most internet providers offer reliable customer care; however, you don’t need to opt for them and face delays in resolving your issue. That is why we’re here to shed some light on these common internet problems that you can solve on your own. So, without further ado, let’s get started:
1. Slow Network
Perhaps the most common internet problem is having a slow network. It’s no less than a menace and a slow internet can ruin your entire online experience. The cause of this problem can be at your internet provider’s end or yours.
Most internet companies such as Windstream provide a thorough inspection in case the customer complaints regarding slowed internet. You can simply reach out to Windstream customer service, relay the issue and it’ll be sorted right away.
On the other hand, if the issue is at your end, you can use the following fixes to resolve it:
- Rebooting your internet gateway is a good way to improve speed. This helps re-establish the connection, sending data packets again with enhanced speed
- Rebooting the device that’s facing an issue is another fix as it’ll help fix the connection earlier
- Placing your gateway in an open space near your devices will help improve performance
- Enhanced the speed by upgrading your internet gateway to the latest model
- Use Ethernet cable for seamless connectivity
- Upgrade your gateway’s firmware
These common fixes will help you boost your internet speed. Applying these fixes will surely prevent your network from slowing down and you’ll be able to enjoy seamless internet connectivity at home.
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2. Weak Wi-Fi Signals
Another common issue that most internet users complain about is weak Wi-Fi signals. Having weak signals and poor coverage is even worse than no internet since it disrupts processes, and troubleshooting isn’t going to resolve it any soon.
However, weak Wi-Fi signals aren’t something that you should hassle with, unable to enjoy good internet speed. Several reasons contribute to weak signals around your place, some of which include:
- Poor placement of your internet gateway
- Outdated internet gateway with outdated firmware
- Using low-frequency band
- Incompatible devices
- Outdated drivers
Here are some common fixes that you can apply to ensure that this issue doesn’t persist:
- Place your internet gateway away from appliances and in an open area i.e. lounge, large room, etc. near your devices
- Upgrade to the latest model to achieve better performance and coverage
- Choose a higher band frequency for extended coverage and speed
- Upgrade the firmware of your existing internet gateway. Upgrade the drivers of your device
- Use updated Wi-Fi extenders for a better range
- Use devices in the same room of the gateway
Applying these fixes to an extent will help boost coverage and increase the range of your Wi-Fi device. In addition, you can also contact your internet provider to assist in upgrading your gateway.
3. DNS Issues
This is somewhat tricky because if you don’t know what a DNS is and how it works, then it’s probably better that you contact customer support for it. But for starters, let’s look into it and see what you can do to avoid such issues.
Domain Name System allows your device to connect with other devices on the internet using IP addresses. It’s just like matching an item with another item on request. When a DNS issue occurs, it means your device doesn’t have a name and the network can’t match your device.
This can happen when there’s high DNS latency (too many IPs assigned), high TTL (time to live) value of the data packet (discarding packets that have been in the queue for quite some time), network failure, etc.
You can resolve it by:
- Restarting your internet gateway so that it may assign DNS IP to your device
- Assigning a static IP
- Reconnecting your device after updating drivers
If the above fixes don’t work, it’s high time that you contact your internet provider for this so that they may look into and resolve it.
4. Wireless Interference
We’ve seen that sometimes your Wi-Fi won’t be offering a good range of coverage. However, this is something that is faced commonly and can be resolved at home. All you have to do is to check the placement of your device.
If it’s in an open space, then you can simply configure it to 5 GHz frequency. This will enhance the speed and coverage of your device; however, its range will be reduced and you won’t be able to use it widely. For that, you’ll probably need Wi-Fi extenders to work with.
In addition, you can also upgrade your router to the latest model to get effective coverage, especially in a crowded network space.
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5. High Bandwidth Usage
A good reason why you should observe your data consumption is that it sometimes goes quite high. It can be due to:
- Large downloads
- High-quality video streaming
- High-end applications running
- Packet loss and latency
If you’re facing a bandwidth issue and unable to send or receive information, then you should apply the following fixes:
- Close unnecessary tabs on your web browser
- Close background apps on your device
- Remove unwanted devices
- Reboot the gateway and refresh the connection
All of these will help improve the functionality of your network as well as help improve the overall internet speed that you can opt for.
Closing Thoughts
One should be savvy enough to handle basic internet problems on his own. Not only does it helps reduce the time needed for resolving the issue but it makes it easier to navigate through solutions on your own.
However, if things seem to go sideways, it’s recommended to contact technical support for assistance right away.
