Easy Ways to Fix All Your Broadband Connection Issues

Being online isn’t very useful if you don’t have a lightning fast broadband connection. However, regardless of your Internet service provider (ISP) or Internet package, connection issues are unavoidable. This article unravels a few of the most common broadband hurdles, their probable causes, and the troubleshooting steps to restore your Internet connection swiftly and efficiently.

Common Broadband Connection Issues (and How to Fix Them)

Slow Internet Speed

There’s nothing worse than a perpetually loading movie, lagging video game, or choppy voice conference. That said, having slower than normal Internet speed is rather common. It could be caused by an outage from your ISP, too many connected devices using bandwidth, or even a malware infection.

How to Fix Slow Internet Speed

There are many strategies that can potentially address this problem, including:

• Reboot your router and modem
• Call your ISP to inquire about service outages or even unauthorized devices connected on your WiFi network

If you find that your service provider is the issue, there’s good news: there are plenty of high-speed Internet providers in your area. We help you find the right one based on your Internet habits and needs.

Connection Drops

Sporadic connection issues can be caused by all sorts of issues, like WiFi signal interference, outdated firmware, or wireless signal obstructions. Luckily, there are a few quick and easy fixes that should rectify the issues. They include:

• Checking the signal strength on your devices and looking for physical obstructions or electronic interference might reveal the issue
• Firmware updates on your router
• Repositioning the router
• Using a WiFi extender

Try each solution independently, so you can identify the exact reason why the connection keeps dropping and how to avoid it in the future.

WiFi Connection Not Working

Failure to connect to the WiFi network is perhaps one of the most annoying types of connection issues. Generally, it could be due to an incorrect WiFi password, network settings issues, or an outdated network adapter. If you’re not sure if it’s your device, router, or connection, you can test the WiFi using another device.

If the problem only occurs on one device, but not the other, then you’ll know it’s a problem with your device. Otherwise, you can hit the reset button on your WiFi router or update the network adapter drivers. If none of these solutions solve the problem, it’s recommended that you reach out to your ISP for more help.

Related article: WiFi Not Working? Here’s How to Troubleshoot

Slow Loading Web Pages

Whether you’re doing some casual browsing, working from home, online shopping, or doing research, slow webpage loading is a major problem. This can happen for many reasons, including:

• DNS issues
• Internet speed limitations
• Glitches with Chrome, Safari, or another web browser
• Problems with the website
• Hardware issues

One way to solve this issue is to open many websites at once and use another web browser to see if the problem is ubiquitous. If the problem is on your end, you can clear your browser cache, update your DNS setting, and/or run diagnostics to pinpoint the issue.

Can’t Access Certain Websites

There are many reasons why you can’t access certain websites. It could be due to your firewall setting, problems with your operating system, geoblocking, or VPN issues. But first, you can use an online tool to see if the website is down for everyone. If it’s just down for you, you can try the following:

• Temporarily disable your firewall or VPN
• Enable your VPN
• Run network troubleshooting on your Windows or Mac

It’s important to note that sometimes your antivirus, firewall, or browser might block unsafe websites. In cases like this, it’s essential to be cautious and avoid potentially harmful sites.

Wired Connection Issues

Wired connection woes can be caused by many factors including, faulty ethernet cables, incorrect network settings, or snags with the network adapter. You can get to the root of the issue by inspecting the ethernet cable for any visible damage and/or trying a different cable.

Next, ensure your network settings are accurate and update network adapter drivers (if necessary). If these steps don’t work, you may need to replace faulty hardware to restore your wired connectivity.

Devices Unable to Obtain IP Address

Unable to Obtain IP address is one of the most confounding and frustrating problems to encounter. Generally, your devices could be struggling to obtain an IP address due to router problems, DHCP glitches, incorrect wireless security settings, or a network overload.

You can get an idea of what’s causing the issue by restarting your device and checking/updating your router settings. If the problem still persists, you should:

• Reset your router
• Ensure DHCP is enabled
• Reduce the number of devices connected to your router
• Assign a static IP address to your device
• Toggle flight mode on, off, then on again

Mobile Device Connection Issues

If you’re an Android or iPhone (iOS) user, you’ll need to ensure that the WiFi settings are correctly configured, and the network name and WiFi password are accurately entered. If you’re using your home network’s Internet, you should ensure you have a signal and you’re not in airplane mode. In most cases, these steps will quickly clear up any connectivity issues with your mobile device. However, if they don’t, you can try the following:

• Restart your device
• Update your iOS or Android operating system
• Contact your mobile service provider

Getting to the Bottom of Your Connection Issues

Fixing broadband connection problems isn’t always easy, but with a bit of patience and troubleshooting, most of your issues can be diagnosed and fixed rather quickly. These step-by-step solutions are geared toward helping you fix common problems and restoring your Internet access as fast as possible.

However, if you’re dealing with more complicated issues, it’s in your best interest to contact your Internet provider or work with a professional technician to resolve the problems.

Need to Switch Internet Providers?

If even after troubleshooting these issues, you realize your current Internet service provider (or even the type of Internet connection you have) isn't meeting your needs, SmartMove can help. Discover fast, reliable, and affordable home Internet providers in your area today.