What to do when my Wi-Fi and Router go down?

Technology is great and has become a part of our daily lives, whether at work or home, and we don't realise how much we rely on it until we don’t have it! YCG hope this blog has given you the advice and tips you need. If you are not happy with your current provider then get in touch with us now!      

When your WiFi and router both go down, it can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially if you rely on the Internet for work or other important tasks. However, you can take a few steps to troubleshoot the issue and get your Internet connection back up and running. In this blog post, we will discuss some common causes of why your WiFi and/or router suffers outages/downtime and provide tips on getting back online. Whether you are experiencing a temporary outage or a more persistent problem, we hope that the information in this blog post will help you to get your Internet connection back up and running as quickly as possible.

Can my router slow down my wifi speed?

Yes, it is possible for a router to slow down the speed of your WiFi connection. There are several reasons why this might occur: 

Interference: Other electronic devices in your home, such as cordless phones or baby monitors, can interfere with your WiFi signal and cause connectivity issues. 

Overloaded router: If you have too many devices connected to your router, it may struggle to keep up with the demand, leading to a slower or unstable Internet connection. 

Outdated hardware: If your router is old or outdated, it may not be able to handle the demands of modern Internet usage and may struggle to provide a stable and fast WiFi connection. 

Incorrect configuration: If you have made changes to your router settings, it is possible that you may have misconfigured the device, which can lead to slow WiFi speeds. If you are experiencing issues with the speed of your WiFi connection, it is a good idea to troubleshoot the problem by following the steps recommended by your Internet service provider or by consulting a technical support specialist.

How to troubleshoot your internet connection issues

If you are experiencing issues with your Internet connection and don't know where to start, here are some steps you can try to troubleshoot the problem: 

1. Check if there is an outage in your area: Contact your Internet service provider to see if there is a known issue with the infrastructure that provides your Internet service.
2. Try restarting your router (we know this sounds obvious but sometimes a quick reboot is all you need!): To do this unplug your router from the mains electricity, we recommend you wait a few seconds or even minutes, and then plug in it back in. This can often resolve connectivity issues. 
3. Are you aware of the number of devices you have connected to your router? We recommend disconnecting any unnecessary devices, the more you have connected the slower your connection will become 
4. Move your router: If you think interference from other electronic devices may be causing problems, try moving your router to a different location. 
5. Check your settings: If you have recently made changes to your router or modem settings, try resetting them to the default configuration to see if this resolves the issue.
6.  Run a virus scan: If you think a virus or malware infection may be causing problems with your Internet connection, run a scan to check for and remove any infections.
7.  Update your hardware: If your router or modem is old or outdated, it may be time to upgrade to a newer model. 

Tried all of the above? If these steps have not resolved your issues we recommend contacting your Wi-Fi Provider or a technical support specialist for further support.

Does power saving mode affect the speed of your wifi?

Power saving mode is a feature that can be found on some devices, including laptops and smartphones, that is designed to reduce the power consumption of the device in order to extend the battery life. When a power-saving mode is enabled, certain features of the device may be disabled or reduced in order to save energy. In some cases, power saving mode may have an impact on the speed of your WiFi connection. For example, if power saving mode disables certain features that are required for optimal WiFi performance, it could potentially lead to a slower connection. However, the extent to which power saving mode affects the speed of your WiFi connection can vary depending on the specific device and the settings that are enabled. In general, the impact on WiFi speed is likely to be minimal and may not be noticeable in most cases. If you are experiencing issues with the speed of your WiFi connection and you have power-saving mode enabled, you may want to try disabling it to see if this improves the performance of your WiFi. Remember once you choose to turn off the power-saving mode on your device your battery will start to decrease.

Do wifi boosters increase the speed of your overall WiFi?

WiFi boosters, also known more commonly as range extenders or WiFi repeaters, are devices that can help to extend the range of your WiFi network by rebroadcasting the signal from your router. While they can be effective at increasing the coverage of your WiFi network, they may not necessarily increase the overall speed of your Internet connection. When you use a WiFi booster, the data that is transmitted to and from your device must pass through two separate WiFi connections, which can cause a decrease in speed. The further your device is from the router or if there are barriers in the way including thick walls in an old house, the slower the connection may be. However, there are a few situations in which a WiFi booster can potentially improve the speed of your Internet connection: If you have a weak or spotty WiFi signal in certain areas of your home, a WiFi booster can help to strengthen the signal and improve the speed and reliability of your Internet connection in those areas. If you have a lot of devices connected to your WiFi network, a WiFi booster can help to distribute the load more evenly and potentially improve the overall speed of your Internet connection. If you have a large or old home and your router is unable to reach all areas of the house, a WiFi booster/receiver can help to extend the range of your WiFi network and improve the coverage in those areas. In general, a WiFi booster can be a useful tool for improving the coverage and reliability of your WiFi network, but it may not necessarily increase the overall speed of your Internet connection.

WHat is the average wifi speed in the uk?

It is difficult to provide an exact average WiFi speed for the UK as Internet speeds can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as the type of Internet connection, the location of the user, and the service provider. According to data from the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the average fixed-line broadband speed in the UK was 63.7 megabits per second (Mbps) in November 2021. This is an increase from the average speed of 49.2 Mbps in November 2020. However, it is important to note that these figures are just averages, and actual Internet speeds can vary significantly from one location to another. Factors such as the distance from the exchange, the quality of the phone line, and the number of users on the same connection can all impact the speed of your Internet connection.

Technology is great and has become a part of all our daily lives whether for work or home life, and we don't realise how much we rely on it until we don't have it! YCG hope this blog has given you the advice and tips you need and if you are not happy with your current provider then get in touch with us today!