Pretty much everyone and everything needs the internet nowadays, be it for business or personal use. Naturally, when it goes down, everything grinds to a halt. When it goes down in a corporate setting, a Computer Systems Technician with a Networking background is the one they turn to, and in this career, setting it up, and keeping it running is your job. Centennial College’s Computer Systems Technician – Networking program will give you hands-on time and technical experience with the tech the world relies on to connect itself. On a personal level, though, here are a few basic tips on what to do when your internet goes down, sourced from Gizmodo, Rent.com and Wikihow, representing the shallowest bit of knowledge you’ll have from the program since it’ll make sure you’ll understand the technology behind these steps.
Figure out if the problem is on your device’s end
The most basic, but important tip is to restart your computer or phone. This may seem trivial, but think of how many computers are left constantly running nowadays, thanks to sleep mode and the ability to just close laptops. Other simple stuff you need to make sure of: Your wi-fi is actually turned on on your device, you’re connected to the right network, and that your password is correct. You can also see what end the trouble’s on by trying to connect another device, like your phone, to the network, and seeing if it works. Additionally, many computers have a diagnostic program or setup wizard you are automatically directed to if you can’t catch a signal, and need to troubleshoot.
Clear your browser cache, and check if the website is down
Sometimes, old data from a website stored in your browser can cause errors, so resetting your browser can fix the problem, via emptying your cache, which you can usually do under your “Delete history” section by checking off a few extra options. Alternately, check another website to see if the one you want is just down, or use “Down for everyone or just me,” one of the most useful tools on the internet I’ve ever stumbled across.
Move closer to the router
Some devices are bad at catching signal, and some routers are bad at giving out signal, so sometimes, you just need to get closer, especially if the signal has to move through a lot of walls, objects, barriers, technology, or anything else that can obscure the signal. If it’s a persistent problem, you might look into upgrading your internet, which is another discussion entirely. Additionally, getting an ethernet cable and making it a wired connection could solve these problems, or at least clarify if the problem is with the signal, or the router itself.
Reboot the router or modem
Presuming the problem is at the signal’s source, just like restarting your computer clears up a lot of issues, unplugging the router, waiting 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting a minute for everything to boot back up can fix a surprising amount of bugs and issues, too. Just remember to give it time to boot back up.
Hard-reset your network
If you need to escalate things, most modems and routers have a hard-to-reach button on them that needs a paperclip or pen to reach, which brings them back to factory defaults. If you really need to, this can clear up issues, though you’ll have to set your network up again from scratch, so don’t casually set it up.
Call your Internet Service Provider
It’s a last resort, but if the problem is a legitimate hardware failure, they can fix it for you. They may run you through some more troubleshooting on the phone, it may turn out the internet in the area is down in general (tough, but at least your stuff isn’t broken), or they may even give you a new router.
In the meantime, find a place that does have wi-fi, if you need it
That’s why the “person hanging out at Starbucks with their laptop” stereotype exists, after all. That being said, there’s plenty of other spaces that offer free wi-fi, such as libraries, and Centennial College itself, with both private and public networks across our campuses for your educational needs.
By Anthony Geremia