Common Router Problems and Solutions

Use these troubleshooting guidelines to isolate and fix network issues relevant to your router. You can encounter more than one problem at the same time. When your Wi-Fi is down, you can restore connectivity on your own by troubleshooting some of these common problems.

1. Correct your Wi-Fi Security Settings

   Test the following settings on all Wi-Fi devices to make sure they are compatible:

   1. Network Mode: The router must be allowed to accommodate all Wi-Fi models used by network clients. For example, routers designed to run in 802.11g mode only will not support 802.11n or old 802.11b devices. Adjust the router to run in mixed mode to remedy this kind of network failure.
   2. Security mode: Most Wi-Fi devices support several network security protocols (typically different variations of WPA and WEP). All Wi-Fi devices, including routers belonging to the same local network, shall use the same protection mode.
   3. Security key: Wi-Fi security keys are phrases or sequences of letters and digits. All devices that enter the network must be configured to use the Wi-Fi key recognized by the router (or wireless access point).

2. Update your Hardware or Firmware

   The reason for this step is twofold. You can take benefit of any additional features and improvements of the new version of the firmware. Also, your router will normally receive any critical security updates.

   Typically, you will have the choice of checking, evaluating, downloading, and installing the latest firmware on your router's administration tab. The exact steps depend on the make and model of your router, so check the specifics of the router manufacturer's support site.

   

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3. Fix Overheating or Overloading

   You can set up a different Wi-Fi router or allow the "Guest Network" option for your router. You can also set up a separate SSID and password for your host network to avoid issues with your main network. This segregation would also work with your smart appliances and secure your key devices from attacks on the Internet of Things. You can also use QoS (Quality of Service). QoS is a feature on some routers that lets you prioritize traffic according to the type of data being transmitted.

4. Remove MAC Address Restrictions

   A number of network routers support a function called MAC address filtering. While disabled by default, router administrators can turn this function on and limit connections to only those devices by their MAC address number. Check the router to ensure that either the MAC address filtering is off or the MAC address of the computer is included in the list of allowed connections.

5. Check Wireless Signal Limitations

   If you have a newer router, check if it supports the 5GHz band. Newer routers typically have dual-band capabilities. By allowing dual bands, you could hold older devices that only support slower G specification on the 2.4GHz band and newer devices on the beefier and faster 5GHz band. Essentially, this is like having two routers in one.

Read tips and tricks to increase your wifi speed here