Tip of the Week: 3 Simple Tricks to Resolve a Troublesome Wi-Fi Connection

We've all hit the Wi-Fi dead zone: that place where a wireless signal drops or becomes unstable. This week we review some basic troubleshooting tips you can use to resolve your connection troubles.

Step One: Check Yourself
First, make sure your router is located far away from other electronic devices. Other devices can often hamper your router’s ability to broadcast a signal. When there are devices or obstacles like walls or floors between your device and the router the signal is further weakened.

A simple fix for this is to elevate the router, especially if the signal needs to reach a higher floor. This cuts down on the distance between point A and point B, allowing for both a stronger signal and a more efficient router location. Hopefully, this resolves the problem, as there will be fewer places where the connection can get caught up.

Step Two: Antenna Adjustments
If your router or device has an external antenna, try to adjust it to find the ideal connection. It’s hard to suggest any optimal antenna orientation, but chances are you’ll be able to figure it out pretty quickly with a little trial and error.

If you still can’t get out of the dead zone, you can replace the antenna entirely. You might have to resort to a standalone antenna/extension cord combo. The idea is to extend your device’s reach to a place far beyond the dead zone. With any luck, you should be able to pick up the signal you need, even if you technically shouldn’t be able to. If the equipment you’re using doesn’t have an antenna, you can use USB adapters for a similar effect.

If these adjustments still don't help your technology to connect, it might be time to buckle down and go all-in on a Wi-Fi extender. Instead of figuring out the optimal position for a router, a Wi-Fi extender takes your signal and extends it further, effectively repeating the signal so that any devices within range of the extender can connect to the Wi-Fi. Extenders are great for getting around an immovable object like a wall.

Step Three: Upgrades and Updates
The final step is to make sure your router and any adapters are up-to-date. Like all office solutions, it’s important you keep your connectivity technology updated with the latest patches, firmware updates, and drivers. Doing so can help you considerably extend the lifespan of your technology.

With these best practices, you should have no trouble with your Wi-Fi connection troubleshooting. If you still have difficulty, however, let SMART Services give you a hand. To learn more about the services we offer, reach out to us at 586 258-0650 .

Let Smart Services position your agency for tomorrow’s technological challenges. For 25 years, Smart Services has helped agencies across the U.S. face a changing environment by providing innovative technology solutions that allow agencies to focus on growing their business. MyAgency Cloud, our complete cloud solution, covers all your technology needs in the cloud or at your agency. In today’s competitive environment, it’s time to make your agency technology a strategic asset, instead of a liability. Let us show you how. To learn more, please call our expert agency technology advisor at 586-258-0650.