When you have a router at home that provides internet to your various devices, tablets, consoles etc. there are a number of problems that you could face. Whenever one or all of your devices no longer connect to the internet, there could be multiple reasons behind the disconnection. As home users, it isn’t easy figuring out the problem right away and requires multiple steps of troubleshooting and understanding router jargon. Each problem has a different solution and it takes a bit of time to find the right solution that will eliminate the problem. Sometimes when you experience slow internet or buffering streams, the problem is most likely to be at your end rather than the ISP’s. So make sure you try different solutions before coming to a conclusion.
The first common problem most users face is disconnected internet. If you could previously surf the internet but can’t anymore, then try unplugging the modem’s power cord. This cord goes in the WLAN port at the back of the router. Wait for 15 seconds for the router to power off completely. Then re-plug in the modem cord and wait for the router to restart. Restart the browser and see if it worked. If it hasn’t, there are other ways you can check for a solution. Wait for 15 to half an hour to see whether it’s an issue with the router or with your internet, which may be down locally for a while. You could also directly connect the modem wire to your device to see whether it’s the internet that’s down or if the router is malfunctioning.
Firstly, try to see if you can ping it by running command prompt and typing “Ping” followed by the IP address of the site you want to ping. If it’s successful, you’ll see several times results. If it fails to ping, then it means there’s a problem at the router’s end or at the ISP’s end. Also check the LED indicators on the router to make sure it isn’t a power issue. Check for the Internet or WAN indicator, which on most routers is green and flashing. If there is no power, try turning it off and then back on.
Other problems could include incompatibility. For instance, the router must be able to support all versions of WiFi used by the devices. Like routers which are configured to run in 802.11g mode won’t support 802.11n or previous devices. Also make sure the problem isn’t with the main cable running into your home, which might get damaged over time or worn out and dirty which may be causing the disconnections. Make sure you have the current firmware installed and look for any updates that might be available for the router. If all else fails, factory reset the router which will return all settings to default. Commonly, there’s a small button at the back of the router which resets it after being pressed down for several seconds.
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