What to Do When You're Experiencing a Cable Outage

The connected world offers many benefits that transform work, school, entertainment, healthcare, and staying in touch. 

Many of us rely on strong and consistent cable, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and Internet to access, collaborate, share, and consume information without disruption. So when a cable outage occurs, you want the quickest fix possible.

Don’t let cable outages hold you back. If you're having issues connecting to your cable or Internet service, SmartMove has the insights you need to  pinpoint and address the problem so you can get back to your priorities.

What Causes Cable Outages?

Any time cable network services become unexpectedly unavailable it’s important to understand why. 

Cable outages can happen for many reasons. ISP failures, hacking, faulty hardware, failing software, user error,  poor network equipment, and local disruptions to service are all culprits that can prevent the end-user from accessing their cable connection. 

Not all cable outages can be addressed by the consumer. That being said, those that can be addressed by the end-user should be.

It’s important to note that if you’re having trouble with Internet or cable outages, be sure to first backup important information if you’re able. Network and power losses mean your data isn’t being saved and is vulnerable to corruption or deletion. It’s important to have multiple redundant backup solutions, including local RAID and cloud deployments, to keep your vital information safe from accidental destruction.

Once you’re ready to move on, follow these troubleshooting steps to ensure you stay connected.

Check Your Device

Smart devices can have hardware and software errors that leave users unable to properly connect to their cable TV or Internet services. Bugs and glitches usually get patched by maintainers, but old devices might still be vulnerable to failure.

If your TV, Internet, or VoIP phone service is acting up, make sure your Internet connection is active. Then check user devices to make sure they are set up correctly. Also, look at your WiFi strength and make sure you aren’t having any connectivity issues before moving on.

Check Your Network Equipment

Another common cause of cable outages is faulty or misconfigured network equipment. Modems, cable boxes, and routers can also experience glitches that render services inaccessible to users. Poorly designed, damaged, or outdated network equipment can create outages when they fail.

Before looking beyond your home network for the issue, make sure to reboot your network equipment to see if that fixes the issue. Check the device manual or contact the manufacturer to see if there are ways to do a soft reset. You can also try the age-old fix of simply unplugging your network connection, waiting a few minutes, and plugging the device back in.

How to Tell if Hacking is Behind Your Cable Outage

Hacking and other forms of cyber crime are increasingly disrupting the digitally connected realm. Here are some signs that your connected equipment might have been hacked, leading to a cable outage:

• You can’t log in to your router/WiFi.
• When you are able to access the Internet, all browsers direct you to the same site.
• You find unknown software on multiple connected devices.
• There are unrecognized devices on your network.
• You have Internet access, but it’s very, very slow.
• You can’t control your device.

If any of these issues are happening and causing problems with your cable or Internet connection, you need to act. Disconnect your wireless gateway. Power everything down. When you turn your connected devices on again, change all the passwords; then, update your firmware.

Check Your Local Area

Sometimes, Internet and cable outages occur because of problems with the local infrastructure. Power outages and cable outages can result from downed lines or natural disasters, leaving important utilities offline. In such cases, users must wait for local utility companies to fix the problem before they can reconnect.

When experiencing outages, check to see if you’ve gotten any notifications about the issue. Try to find an outage map to see if anything is affecting your local coverage. Using the data on your smartphone, you can even check social media for posts, messages, or tweets to see if anything might have happened to disrupt service.

Call Your Service Provider

If all else fails and you’re unable to get reconnected when experiencing an Internet or cable outage, you should contact your local cable services provider. You may have forgotten to pay a bill, or there might have been an error on your account. ISPs will disconnect service for different reasons, leaving users without access to the Internet and television until the issue is resolved.

SmartMove Can Help Keep You Connected

Are you moving and need to transfer Internet, phone, or cable service, or are you simply looking for more reliable service? SmartMove can help you find Internet, cable TV, mobile, phone, and smart home packages and deals in your area to help you stay connected.

Enter your address to find out how SmartMove can improve your connected life today!