Picture these scenarios. You’re in the middle of the movie that’s just about to break the suspense but suddenly start buffering. Or you’re on an important work call with your boss with an unstable internet connection. We’ve all been there, and quite frankly, it’s frustrating. Most of these network drops have to do with home Wi-Fi router issues. So here are four common Wi-Fi issues with ways to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

Excessive distance
You might be subscribed to the best Wi-Fi provider that offers customers the fastest and most reliable internet speeds. However, if the router at home is placed far away, it may result in poor signal strength. This may hamper the overall speed transmitted to your devices. The most straightforward workaround is to position the router in a centralized location in your home. Doing so can help distribute the maximum signal to all parts of your home. However, if you reside in a bigger house, consider pairing the existing router with Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters. These devices multiply and amplify the strength of the signal in the rooms they are placed in to ensure you receive the best internet speed throughout the day.

Malfunctioning router
A router is an electronic device that has a limited lifespan. Therefore, there are chances that it may start to malfunction after a couple of years. In such situations, the first thing you should try is to give the router a full reset. Most Wi-Fi routers have a reset button accessible with your finger or with the open end of a paper clip. Ensure you hold down the button for at least 30 seconds to initiate a complete reset. Once the process is completed, reconfigure the device and give it a go. If the issue persists, consider replacing it with a new one.

Frequent interference
Most Wi-Fi routers run on 2.5GHz frequency bands. These connections may often drop due to the use of other appliances that run on the same frequency, including microwave ovens. This issue might be more prominent in households that use older microwaves without a shield. You might also notice dropped connections due to other routers in the vicinity that work on a similar network. In this situation, you can change your router’s channel by visiting its settings page or performing a factory reset to see if there is any improvement. If this does not work, consider upgrading to a router that supports 5GHz bands, as fewer appliances run on this frequency. Other devices that may interfere with the Wi-Fi signal include metal accessories, Bluetooth-connected devices, and the water in fish tanks.

Older device connection failures
There might be occasions when you install a new router at home, but some devices fail to connect to the router. This may occur when the electronic device, such as a smartphone, is an older model that is incompatible with the latest router specifications. So there’s a chance you might have to upgrade the devices. A more inexpensive method is to check with the seller about which router is best suited for older devices. Furthermore, if the problem occurs with a laptop or smart television, connect the devices directly to an ethernet cable. A direct wired internet connection is usually more stable than a wireless connection. Furthermore, the absence of a wireless network makes the ethernet cable safer from hackers.

Apart from these problems associated with poor Wi-Fi connectivity, you should also account for the network’s security. One way to secure your devices at home is to ensure the router has a strong password. Moreover, surfing the internet can be dangerous on several occasions as many websites may gather your location, activity, and other personal information without your consent. You could invest in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for safe browsing. The service can establish a protected network connection when you use your home Wi-Fi or a public network. Buying a VPN service from companies like IPVanish can help you secure the network at attractive prices. The price of the service is about $12 when you go for the monthly plan. However, you can pay as low as $3.99/mo when you purchase the yearly subscription. IPVanish bills the customer about $48 for the first year. You can find all the relevant details of the plan on their official website.