Wireless Internet is an easy way to maximize the convenience of your home Internet service. Wireless routers take an existing Internet connection and broadcast it over the air, allowing devices like home computers, printers, smart phones and video game consoles to access the Internet without the need to physically plug an Ethernet cable into the devices. Just like traditional, hard-wired Ethernet connections, you may at times experience slower-than-normal data transfer rates. Compared with traditional, hard-wired connections, wireless connections demand a different approach to troubleshooting this problem. Troubleshooting this problem is still simple, however, and can be performed without difficulty by any home Internet user.
Instructions
1. Run an Internet speed test on one of the free test sites listed below. It is wise to run several tests and take the average of all speed test results in order to cover any variations that may occur between tests. Compare these results to the upload and download rates guaranteed by your Internet provider to get an idea of how much your wireless connection is slowing down.
2. Reset your home network by unplugging the power cords of both your modem and wireless router. Leave all devices unplugged for 30 seconds, then plug all power cords back in. After allowing the network time to fully reboot, rerun the speed tests to check for any improvement.
3. Unplug the Ethernet cable that connects your modem to your wireless router, and plug it into the computer's Ethernet port. This process, known as "bypassing" the router, is an excellent way of diagnosing the source or the transfer rate slowdown. If the speeds improve at this point, the wireless router is likely causing the slowdown and you would need to contact the manufacturer of the router to have them troubleshoot the device. If there is still a slowdown, the problem is with your Internet service generally and you would need to contact the technical support department of your Internet service provider for further assistance.
Tags: Internet service, wireless router, your Internet, Ethernet cable, home Internet, need contact, power cords