Most of the support requests in this blog concern the failure to connect to the home Wifi network or connection problems with devices such as tablets and smartphones . The wifi connection is made possible by the router, such a simple device, which should require almost no configuration to operate. For this reason, when there are problems and if you have no knowledge or experience in wifi networks, you don't really know where to get your hands. It is therefore fundamental to understand what the router is and how it works, already explained in another article.
In summary, the router works as an access point or access point for the wireless network, assigns IP addresses and routes the data packets on the network so that they arrive at the right device (computer, mobile phone, tablet). The router creates an internal network that includes all connected devices and, through the modem function (the modem can be separated or included in the router), makes sure that computers and smartphones connect to the internet. The reasons for a failure to connect to the internet, slowdowns, repeated disconnections and other problems with the WiFi network can be many and a close intervention would always be required. Since, however, the cases report, at least 90%, all of the same causes, we can here try to solve the most common problems alone, without the need for technical intervention.
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1) The new router does not connect to the internet
With a new router replacing the old one, there may be initial configuration problems.
Even though you can see the new wireless network that computers or smartphones connect to, you cannot browse the Internet.
The first thing to do is to unplug the network cable and unplug the broadband modem and plug from the router (if they are not the same thing). Leave everything unplugged for at least 30 seconds and then reconnect the modem connection cables making sure and wait for the "Internet WAN" light to turn on. Only after that, connect connect the modem to the router with the ethernet cable and turn on the router again make sure that the internet connection activity light is on. Performing these operations forces the broadband modem to reset any information that bound it to the previous router.
READ ALSO: Guide to configure the router
If it is a new modem / router to be used instead of the modem supplied by Telecom, Infostrada or other providers, first of all you must make sure that it is possible to use a different one (by going to the supplier website and looking for how to add PPPoE connection on generic router) and then configuring internet access in the configuration options.
Usually this configuration is under the WAN section which can be under Network or network .
For example, for Telecom Alice, all you need to do is add a PPPoE WAN connection and enter the parameters as explained in this guide.
2) The router is not detected by the computer and the configuration cannot be opened
Usually, setting up a new router is an automatic procedure provided on the supplied CD. In case of installation problems, you can open configure the router manually. Then connect it to the PC via Ethernet cable, go to the computer's network settings from the Control Panel. In Windows 7 and 8, they are located in Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and Sharing Center and click on the link on the left " Edit card settings . " Find the local LAN (not the wifi one because we are connected by cable), right click on it and select Properties .
Double click on the last line by scrolling down Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP v4 / IP) and, under Default gateway, put that of the router (see how to find the IP address of the router) which should be 192.168.1.1
In "Subnet mask type 255.255.255.0 while in IP address write 192.168.1.22 (you must write a series of numbers where the first 3 are the same as that of the router, except the last one). Now the computer is on the same network as the router then you can open the browser and type the IP address of the router to enter its control panel.
You will be asked to enter a username and password which is written in the instruction booklet and which can still be obtained as explained in the article on how to find login and password for all routers.
Once you have entered the management interface (see also how to enter the router's setting panel), you can manually configure the wifi connection and choose a name (the SSID ), password or encryption key.
3) Name / SSID of the wireless network does not appear
If the SSID or name of the Wi-Fi network is not listed when choosing to see available wireless networks there can be various reasons.
If you see the wifi, to force the computer to connect to the router's wifi network, go to Control Panel> Network and Internet> Network and Sharing Center, left click on " Change adapter settings ", right click on the wifi network connected, go to Status and then press Wireless Properties .
In the options you can choose to connect even if the network does not broadcast the name or SSID and the automatic connection. If the network is not visible and you still cannot connect, in the Network and Sharing Center press on " Set up a new network or connection ", then on " manually connect to a wireless network ", write the name and password and put the cross to the " connect even if it is not sending " option. Finally, in the router configuration panel, check whether the transmission of the SSID has not been inadvertently disabled.
4) The wifi connection comes and goes or is slow
If the connection drops frequently there could be a problem with the modem or cable. Then try to replace them to see if it improves. Another cause could be related to the low wifi signal, so move the router closer to the device and try again. Also try changing the wifi transmission channel in the router configuration to connect to the wifi channel with the most powerful signal.
In another article, the guide to solving slow internet connection problems.
5) When trying to connect to another room in the house, the wifi signal collapses.
In the room where the router is located, it is normal for the signal to be at the maximum, but it is possible that only by moving to another room the reception is lost. There are many things that can cause a poor wifi signal: walls, mirrors, glass and, above all, interference from cordless phones and any other device that uses the 2.4 GHz band.
Another article describes all the ways to improve the wifi signal and avoid frequent disconnections and how to amplify the home wifi signal.
6) Forgotten router access password
If you can no longer access the router configuration panel because the password has been forgotten, you only need to reset the wireless router using the button on the back and holding it down for 30 seconds in order to use the default login and password (see point 2) .
7) The router turns itself off
If the router is old, it may be that due to overheating and the fact that it remains on 24 hours a day, it switches itself off.
In these cases it is worth changing the router or, if it is not possible, to clean it from dust.
8) It is not possible to connect to the internet and to the wifi network from other devices such as smartphones or tablets even if the computer works well . If the PC connects to the internet via wifi, the router is working fine and the problem lies in the configuration of the connection on the iPad, Android smartphone or other devices. When a new device does not connect to a router that is working, the first thing to do is to make sure there is no problem with the device and then try it on another network.
If the problem persists, verify that the device sees the wireless signal on the router, delete it and then re-enter the password. If the router is dual-band which transmits two types of bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, two connections with the same name may be active.
Then change the name or SSID to the two networks and connect to the 2.4GHz one. As for Android devices, the cause may be a bug that requires the reset of the wifi receiver.
In another article, the solutions if Wi-Fi on Android does not connect to the network or the internet.
9) Using a friend's router, it doesn't work
If you happen to use a router used previously, you will not be able to simply attack it to surf the internet. The best way to use a used router is to reset (see point 6) and reconfigure it manually (see point 1).
10) Additional resources, other causes and solutions to problems with wifi .
- If the pc does not connect to the internet, how to restore the network and web browsing
- Questions and answers about internet connection and wireless problems
- How to solve internet connection problems
- Solve network problems, connection between PC and internet sharing, files and printers
- Generate the wifi history and internet problems report in Windows 10
- Resolve invalid IP configuration over Wi-fi network
