On our home internet, we are all susceptible to frequent broadband internet problems. The worst that can happen to our house WiFi varies from slow to nonexistent speed to catastrophic outages. It may only take a few simple mouse clicks or a hardware intervention to fix them. Today’s post will examine a few typical broadband problems and offer solutions. Go on reading.
Today, we have access to high-speed broadband. The days when we had to wait hours for mediocre Kbps download rates to complete a 1 GB movie download are long gone. It’s strange, but it’s true. More startlingly, the majority of the roadblocks we have encountered this year have occurred inside a strange 6-month window following the launch of CGNet’s internet bundle.
Speed, however, does not imply excellence. And our high-speed internet is not without its typical problems. While some of these irksome problems are within our power to resolve, others are not. The common problems with broadband internet and their fixes are listed below.
Common Internet Issues: Slow/unstable speed
The worst-case scenario is having an internet connection that crawls and won’t fly. It’s a significant inconvenience, especially when you’re downloading a large file and your internet speed is in kbps or less. The internet is delivered via a mix of multi-layered hardware/software and a global undersea fiber network, which naturally causes a reaction if the stated internet speed is not received. Thus, it is conceivable that the speed will occasionally decline.
Similarly, our home connection’s erratic connection or speed is another annoying incident. This could be brought on by irregular swings that make internet searches hit and miss. This is bad, especially for downloading files and playing games.
What is the root of the issue?
Your home WiFi or internet may be operating at a slow speed due to a number of circumstances. Major examples are listed below:
Congestion:
Your network has a large number of users who are stifling your device’s speed. Other connected devices can be using the bandwidth concurrently for bandwidth-intensive tasks like downloading files or watching HD films. Everyone is impacted by this. Additionally, the link that your service provider sends to your home may be unstable and defective. Additionally, this prevents your internet from operating at its best.
Equally crucial is the kind of wire used to connect your home to the internet. It is more likely that you see frequent speed fluctuations if you are still using copper-based ADSL. Fiber cable, on the other hand, is much more dependable and resistant to environmental risks. As a result, you will observe fewer instances of cable-related speed fluctuations.
Possible hacking:
Don’t exclude the possibility that a WiFi network breach led to your slow or inconsistent internet. Hackers can access your internet network by using tools ranging from mild to complex, taking advantage of the flows into your internet settings. They may start taking bandwidth from your network or clog the network, which may result in slow or unstable internet.
If there is a lot of interference from neighboring routers, your internet is likely to malfunction. Routers move through the air and employ frequency. However, if multiple routers are using the same 2.4 GHz or even 5 GHz frequency range, the network will be contested by these frequencies, resulting in interference. As a result, you can anticipate a slow internet. See more below about this.
Outdated Routers:
Routers produce the WiFi frequency. On PCs and laptops, you can connect via Ethernet and establish a connection. However, there are several requirements for routers. Modern high-speed internet cannot be complemented by the out-of-date single-band router. Even while ISPs are now including WiFi 6 routers and Mesh systems as part of their premium broadband plans, sticking with a 2.4 GHz router may prevent you from getting better internet.
Location:
The distance between your device and the router is another likely and evident cause of a sluggish internet connection. The router has multiple capacities, and the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands it uses likewise have different capacities for frequency coverage. The farther you are from your router, you can expect lesser speeds.
Solutions to common broadband internet issues
Lessen the number of users:
The cause of sluggish internet speed will determine how to fix it. Reduce congestion if the high user volume on your network is the issue. Cut off users politely or request that they reduce their broadband usage. This will help you with the slow speed issue.
Switch to fiber-optic internet:
If the problem with your ADSL internet connection is too frequent, we advise switching to a fiber-based FTTH. Currently, all major ISPs offer 3-digit speeds on modern fiber cable packages. That provides higher network performance and is more dependable. When considerably better internet is available for a similar price, staying on ADSL is not the best option.
Read: Best Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Nepal 2022
Upgrade to a dual-band router:
Your current router may occasionally be the problem. A cheap 2.4 GHz router has long been included with ISP plans. However, dual-band routers are the standard because of the internet speed war, which has led to 3-digit bundles. Because they experience less frequency interference, these routers function better and offer the stated speeds. Additionally, they offer an excellent balance of coverage and speed. Choose the top-notch Mesh configurations if you require an internet signal throughout a greater area because they will guarantee a consistent network on numerous gadgets nearby.
Change router channel
Your router’s channel has to be changed. If you are sure that the slow internet is caused by interference from the frequency, change the channel between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz or within the same band. In most cases, it’s the former that causes slow or unstable connections. because there are many devices that use this spectrum. Switching the frequency can help you elevate the internet performance as promised to you.
Dual-band can do wonders for your internet.
But if you live in a small region and have slow service while having a high-speed internet package, it’s probably because of the distance, therefore put your router in an accessible spot. Your router should be placed in the middle of your home, away from physical obstructions, to maximize the speed that may be achieved by your devices.
FUP slowing you down:
Don’t rule out the possibility of an internet speed cap by your ISP. You have a daily volume limit on your internet subscription thanks to the FUP threshold that comes with your internet packages. If you use too much bandwidth, it interferes with other users’ ability to browse the shared network. Therefore, you must determine whether the slow internet speed is caused by a FUP. To confirm your FUP status, call your ISP or check the company’s mobile app. There you will find the notification. The chances are you have received those notifications and even emails, and you were just not aware of it.
Common Internet Issues: No signal or signal but no internet
It’s also a problem that every internet user encounters regularly. Your device may occasionally appear to be connected to our SSID but display “no internet” instead. This indicates that the signal needed to set up an internet connection is not being sent by your router. Sometimes it simply displays an outage or no signal.
The reasons
Faulty cables/breakages:
It can be a defective wire. Faulty wires. Check for any cut in the wire or disconnection from the plugs. Additionally, make that the router’s power indicator is turned on. Regarding the cable break, it could occur inside your walls or at the poles.
International outage:
International outage: Our internet links occasionally experience subsea cable-related sluggish or no internet speed. Additionally, a company’s internal problem can only affect certain apps or services on our devices. Apple’s situation, where most of its services were unavailable but were swiftly restored, is a recent example. A few months ago, bad internet connectivity also affected Nepal as a result of problems with the underwater cables.
Solutions
Look for any cable breakage:
You should contact the ISP rather than attempt to fix a cable break on your own if you see one or it really occurs. If the ISP is aware of the problem, it will also notify you in advance; if not, let them know so that they can send a crew to make repairs.
Read: The History of The Internet in Nepal: 1995 to 2022
Restart the router or reset it:
However, you can attempt various tactics, like resetting your router, if the problem is not with the connections. Most of the time, this should do the trick. But it’s also possible that even when the WLAN, internet, and power LEDs are all blinking, the internet connection is not working. At this point, you can restart your router to get it back to work. Be careful that you could also notice red lights blinking If you see them, it means the connection is not there yet, or it has suffered a cable breakage causing the red light to blink.
But also, beware of unauthorized access to your Wifi, which could be due to hacking or password stealing. At this, we suggest you look for who is on your WiFi and regularly change your WiFi password to keep your network protected.
Have your ISP refresh your internet package:
If it still doesn’t work for you, try resetting your router or, better yet, calling your ISP to upgrade your internet plan. Although you may manually restore your router settings, it is much more practical for us when ISPs handle this for us remotely.
Set up the router nearer to you:
The distance may occasionally be the reason there is no network or connectivity. If the connection is lost, try moving closer to the router and boosting your device’s signal to see if it helps. In the meanwhile, hardware or server failure causes outages across the entire internet. Check to see if it is restricted to particular apps and services or the whole network. You can exercise patience in these situations and wait for the signal to come back. You can also stay in contact with your ISP to get updates.
Another issue: Unsatisfying service from the ISP
The majority of internet users will immediately mention it as the main cause of their subpar broadband performance. While ISPs occasionally fall short of providing everyone with satisfactory service, it is also their responsibility to persuade customers that the service they provide is worth paying for. After all, we are among the countries who pay the greatest for internet and the customers’ expectations must be reasoned with.
The ISPs must be sufficient to meet the demands of their clients, whether it be for poor speed, maintenance, technical assistance, or other minor inquiries. We are not claiming anything different either, as we well understand that on the internet, the loudest also speak the least, but everyone must feel as though they are being well taken care of.
In a gist
To sum up, these are the common internet problems, their causes, and solutions in general.
Common internet issues | What’s causing it | Solutions |
Slow/ unstable speed | Congestion, cable, routers | Router upgrade, place router closer, change router channel, switch to a fiber connection, check for FUP flag |
No signal, or signal but no internet | Cable breakage, connection outage | Repairing, contact your ISP |
Unsatisfying service from the ISPs | Too many clients, complacency | More engagement with customers, timely addressing of customers’ concerns |
What can you do?
Call your service provider if you require any help with an internet problem, a move, or if you have any questions. Through Facebook, the official mobile app, and other social media, you can communicate with them. ISPs are generally responsive, although occasionally we must wait for our services because customer assistance centers can get busy.
How do I restore my broadband connection?
Here’s how:
- Unplug the power cord from the back of your gateway or modem. If you have: …
- Wait 20 seconds.
- Put the internal battery back in, if applicable.
- Plug the power cord back in.
- Wait up to 10 minutes for the gateway or modem to restart and your Broadband light to turn solid green.
Which of the typical problems with broadband internet do you encounter the most frequently? Are you happy with your ISP’s response time and service speed? Please tell us in the comments section below.