David's
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Your friendly Neiborhood IT Guy
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Internet Issues
Internet issues will always be a pain for anyone with a device, I know how bad it can be when the internet is either incredibly slow or just not working at all. I've had a few different internet providers over the years, HughesNet, Viasat, and now Verizon Home Internet
There are plenty of variables that can affect internet speed and functionality, here are the major ones (at least the ones I know of)
1.) Service outage (waiting game for the provider(s) to solve)
2.) Reached the data cap (can purchase more from provider website)
3.) Driver/hardware issue (refer to my driver's page to solve a driver issue)
4.) Router/modem software needs updated
5.) Bad cables
6.) The satellite dish needs to be realigned (contact your provider for more information)
7.) Router location (may need to be moved for better signal)
8.) Let me know if there are any I did not mention and I will add them to the page (I am working on a comments section for easier communication)
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This guide will go over the following methods:
1.) Diagnosing the issue
2.) Finding the best replacement parts
3.) Router placement
4.) Updating the router and modem software
5.) Contacting your provider
How to diagnose the issue
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Diagnosing an internet issue can either be easy or difficult depending on how bad the issue extends, if you're lucky, the modem/router needs a restart, but if you're unlucky, you will need to contact customer support to diagnose your service and determine what to do (usually leads to a technician arriving to fix the problem)
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Luckily, I have been able to diagnose and solve my internet issues myself. The only time I needed a technician to fix something was when my Viasat dish was nearly flipped completely around due to high winds.
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You can read about the process I went through for repairing my Viasat internet service here, there was a lot of cleaning and part replacing
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Let's get into the diagnosing process:
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I will go over subjects that you have probably heard a thousand times already, feel free to skip over those to save yourself a headache. I will also refer to the modem and router as equipment
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1.) The first thing you will want to do is check DownDetector.com this website will give the details about an outage, other customers reporting status changes, and what services are affected.
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2.) Regardless of what DownDetector says, I recommend restarting your router and/or modem, unplug both for 30 seconds then plug them back in and power on. Now test the connection to see if that resolved it.
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3.) The issue could lie in the cables, if this is the case, you will need to check any cables connected to the equipment for damage and make sure they are firmly connected. If the cables or equipment are damaged, I recommend the following for replacements: the following are based on what I have used
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Ethernet: Cat 8 weather-proof, size 3ft -150ft options
Coax (if you can replace it yourself): RG-6 Cable w/Ground Messenger 50 ft
Router (non-gaming): ASUS RT-AX55 AX1800
Router (gaming): Asus Tuf TUF-AX6000
IF computer components need to be replaced:
PCI-E wifi card: Asus AX3000
USB adapter: Asus WiFi 6 AX1800
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Contact your provider if the power cables or hardware are damaged
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4.) Router placement may need to be changed
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If you're like me, you probably have the router right next to the modem because you use an ethernet cable instead of WiFi for a better connection. When placing your router, you want to have it somewhere it will be able to reach the entire household (or at least a specific area) the best way to figure out where to place the router would be the following:
-Elevated, either on a table or wall-mounted. Most routers come with a paper for wall mounting
-away from other electronics to reduce interference
- Not in a corner of the house, you want the router to have something of an equal distance to anywhere
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Try different locations and test which ones are giving off a better signal.
How to update the software​
Now most equipment will update itself by default, but, if yours has not done so, here's what you will need to do:
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1.) Search your router IP address in a web browser
Use the command prompt and type ipconfig to find the IP
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You may see a window that says the link is unsafe, and then click Proceed
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2.) Sign into the router with your username and password
If you do not remember your user and pass, you can reset the router and sign in with
user: admin Pass: admin if that is not the default, then you will need to either locate the manual or find the sticker on the router for the information
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3.) Locate the Update section, it will have a name similar to either update or firmware, this is typically found in the advanced section
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4.) Open a new tab and go to the website of the router manufacturer (the brand of the router if you are unsure) and search the make and model of the router and find the downloads for it
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5.) Once on the downloads page, find the firmware option. This may be called a software update, system update, or anything regarding an update.
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6.) Download the firmware and save it to your desktop, it will be a zip file so you will need to unzip it once it is downloaded
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7.) Now that you have downloaded the firmware, open the webpage for the router update and select the firmware to update
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8.) As the router updates, it may power cycle a few times to get updated so do not unplug or restart the router during this process.
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9.) Thats all there is to it for updating the firmware.
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Contact me to get a one-on-one for this process if needed, i know it may be confusing with so many steps
Contacting your internet provider​
This solution usually goes one of two ways, you contact them and the problem is resolved in a few clicks, or you call them and it's a lengthy chat that results in a scheduled visit from a technician.
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Now I hope you never have to call your provider, there are a handful of internet issues that would require it if you do not know anyone who can fix your internet such as:
-Satellite dish misaligned
-faulty hardware and equipment
-equipment upgrades that need a technician
-Other work that would be discussed during the call
If you need help contacting your provider, send me a message on the support page with the following information:
-Provider name
-your email and phone number
-The issue, I might be able to help solve it
-any other information that could be useful for finding a solution
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I will get the contact info for you and send you an email
