Monday, March 24, 2014

Troubleshooting Tutorial: Basic Home Network Configuration

As an end user, we only care about being able to use our computers and gadgets on the Internet. Now when something goes wrong like we can't go online or open some applications it seems to be the end of the world. Sometimes we don't have any clue on what to do. If we try to fix the problem on our own we tend to make things worse. What if we don't have anyone who can help us fix it or if there is someone then it might cost us if it’s already out of warranty. I used to ask myself before how I can save myself from that situation and I came up with this tutorial on what to do to resolve the problem. You may use these troubleshooting guidelines to isolate and solve network problems involving your router. Just remember that there may be more than one issue involved.

Check Physical Connections
You may need to double check if the devices are properly connected and are turned on. Start checking the modem, then the router, and other peripheral devices attached to your primary Internet device.  Also make sure that the power strips are switched on and receiving electricity from the outlet. Also make sure that it is using the correct power adapter. Make sure the Ethernet cables are firmly seated by unplugging and re-plugging them. A clicking sound when snapped into position is an indication that it is properly seated. You may also perform power cycle to all the devices involved. Always start powering on the modem and then router and the connected devices. If everything fails, bypass the router and connect the computer directly to the modem and check if it works that way. If not, then call your ISP.

Check Wireless Settings
The most common cause of wireless issue is if the wireless settings on the router were changed or if the client device is not compatible with the type of security set on the router. You may access the router user interface to verify the wireless settings in order for you to connect for the first time as well as reconnect if there were changes made. If you are sure that the wireless settings are correct and if only one device couldn't connect, it is possible that it is not compatible. In this case, you may need to update the driver of the wireless adapter. Refer to the computer/device’s manufacturer for possible driver update.

Limitation on the Wireless Signal and Interference
The home network connections sometimes fail because a device's signal cannot reach the router due to limited range of Wi-Fi signals. If the signal is enough, maybe there are other wireless devices running on the same frequency with the router.

Those that use the 2.4 GHz radio bands may experience this issue. There are some who experienced wireless disconnection as soon as anyone in the house turned on appliances like microwave, garage door openers and other consumer gadgets inside their homes. These can interfere with the signal of Wi-Fi networks. What you can do is change the wireless channel on the router and see which channel will work best. You may also try to reposition or relocate the router. Also, you may try changing your router's name (SSID) if you noticed that there is an identical name.


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By: Shirley Bon Go

About the Author: Shirley is one of the tech support engineer at Supportrix for more than 5 years. Loves to write about tech reviews, tips, and troubleshooting steps to help people who are technically challenged.

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