A problem that we usually have is that the Internet goes out, that it stops working and when we check what is happening, it seems that we are still connected to the WiFi without manifesting any failure, but we still do not have Internet. Another frequent problem is that our WiFi connection is slow and these are some of the possible reasons why, or the WiFi is slow, or it does not work.
Although for some advanced users it is obvious, having WiFi is not the same as having Internet. WiFi allows our devices to connect to a network wirelessly. It is the connection established between the device and the router. But that they are connected correctly does not mean that we have Internet. It may be the case that we are connected to a LAN and that LAN does not have access to the Internet. On the other hand, we can also experience that the WiFi connection does not go as fast as we would like, since there are some reasons why we may be losing performance and that it is in our power to solve.
Router position
We have already discussed this issue on more than one occasion and that is that the placement of the router can make the difference between having a good WiFi signal or that the performance of our wireless network is not optimal.
One of the first things we have to take into account is the height at which the router is placed. When the technician comes and makes us install the fiber, it is quite common for him to place the router in the cabinet where the television is located in the living room. It is always better to place the router as high as possible and it is not recommended to leave it on the ground or behind objects that can hide it. In this way, we will have less interference and the signal will be much better throughout the coverage area covered.
Also keep in mind that some materials can block the WiFi signal . Metals are mainly the ones that affect the signal the most, although as a general rule it is better to leave the router uncovered. In addition, another important aspect regarding the placement of the router is to place it in the center of the house , since its signal expands 360 large and it does not make much sense to place it in a room that faces the street or a neighbor.
Interference
A wireless network spreads in waves throughout our home. This means that you may experience interference from other broadcast sources. The neighbor’s WiFi router, appliances such as a microwave or electronic devices among others. In the case of microwaves, although these are sealed to prevent the waves from spreading, it is best to avoid the router being close.
On the other hand, although you may not have considered it, a curious source that can cause interference is the Christmas lights . These types of lights cause electromagnetic fields that can lead to interference. Now we have a few days left of the Christmas period, but if you have noticed this last month that the WiFi was slower, it may have been motivated by the Christmas lights.
Background downloads
One of the reasons why your WiFi connection is slower than normal is because you have a device making excessive use of bandwidth and you did not realize it. For example, your computer may be updating the operating system and this is slowing down the connection.
It is advisable to consult the Windows task manager, if you use this operating system, to see if there is any task that is using the bandwidth, which may even be the cause of the operating system itself.
Check router and connections
If, on the other hand, the problem is that the WiFi does not work, the first thing we have to do is make sure that everything is correct in our router. For example, a cable may have come loose.
One of the things we can do when the Internet stops working is reboot the router . It is best to turn it off for ten seconds and turn it on again after that time, since turning the router off and on immediately is more than likely to be useless.
Reset the router
One of the most drastic options that we can carry out if we cannot get the WiFi to work is to reset the router to factory settings . In this way, we will leave the device as it came when we were installed fiber or as we bought it in the event that we have decided not to use the one offered by the operator with whom we have contracted Internet.
Once reset, keep in mind that you have to change the password for the WiFi and the password for accessing it. In short, these are some of the reasons why either the WiFi does not work or the connection is slower.
