Without a doubt, the router is a fundamental piece for our connections. It is an essential device to be able to connect, either wirelessly or via cable. This means that in case of suffering a problem we could not have a connection. For this reason, in this article we are going to explain what we can do if we have a fault in the router . A series of basic steps to try to fix the error.
How to troubleshoot the router
Whenever our devices do not work properly the causes can be very diverse. We can be facing software problems, hardware, configuration error … Therefore the solutions may also be different. Sometimes they can be very simple, while other times it may be necessary to change some settings or features.
One of the most common problems users face is with the Internet connection . They try to connect to the network through the browser or any program and see that they do not have access. Logically this can be caused by different reasons, both software and hardware. However, one of the most present is some problem with the router.
Although the router is capable of being always on and being able to bring together a large number of connected equipment, it can sometimes cause problems. Therefore we will see what to do if we know that there is a fault with the router.
Restart the router successfully
Starting from the simplest and fastest, something that we can take into account is to restart the router . This helps us in many cases when we have problems with the computer, mobile or any device. Simply by restarting it we can solve some failures that could occur when we have many connected equipment, for example.
Now, we must bear in mind that we must restart it correctly. Simply pressing the button and turning it back on is not enough. The idea here is to turn off the router for about 30 seconds and then turn it back on. In this way we guarantee that it restarts correctly.
Update the router
Some bugs may arise from having the device out of date. Having the latest version of the firmware is essential to avoid errors and also to correct possible vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hypothetical attackers.
Therefore, another tip is to update the router to the latest version. It is possible that we will be able to solve the failures that prevent us from having an optimal performance of our connection.
Try connecting by cable
Sometimes problems with the router do not affect the entire device. That is, a specific failure may not prevent us from connecting to the network, but only affects Wi-Fi. Therefore, one way to see if the problem resides only in the wireless network and to be able to take additional measures is to connect by cable .
It is true that today wireless networks have improved considerably and that we have more devices connected in this way. However, sometimes problems can arise, such as poor coverage, using a saturated channel, an inadequate band, etc.
Change cable
The problem may be with the wired connection, but it may not necessarily be a bug with the router itself. One of the most common failures is that our computer does not synchronize at 1 Gbps with the router, but is limited to 100 Mbps. This may indeed be due to a problem with the router, with the Ethernet ports, but it could also be a failure cable.
Therefore, something we can take into account is simply to change the network cable and make sure it is in optimal condition. This way we will rule out that this is the reason for the errors.
Place the router elsewhere
When it comes to connecting wirelessly, a common problem is where the router is placed. It may work correctly, but the location is not optimized in the best way.
A good idea is to place it in a central location in the house. In this way, it distributes the connection with other devices better. It is also important that it is away from walls and walls, as well as other electronic devices.
Improve security
Without a doubt, security is a very important factor for our devices. There are many problems that we can suffer if we do not protect them properly. In the case of the wireless network, it is important to have a good password and encryption to avoid intruders who can access the router, change the settings and slow down the connection.
That key must be complex and strong. It must contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and other special symbols. Furthermore, encryption is also important. Obsolete ones like WEP encryption should be avoided.
Modify settings
Finally, to solve problems with the router we can also modify some aspects of the configuration . Are we connected to a saturated channel? Don’t we have the dual band configured correctly? All this can influence good stability and speed.
We should take a look at the device settings in case of problems and if it is necessary to reset the factory settings. This on many occasions can fix bugs that have arisen after making an inappropriate change.
In short, these are some steps that we can take into account if we have problems with the router. The goal is to make the connection work as well as possible.
