A checklist for resolving your Wi-Fi internet connection

By Chris Lord|25th January 2016

I’m sure everyone out there has at least once experienced an issue with their Wi-Fi internet connection not working. So what could go wrong? Here are a few scenarios:

Out of range / weak signal: a common one. Are you close enough to the Wireless Access Point (WAP)? The range will be very different depending on your environment. Obstacles that can really hinder wireless signals include walls (particularly thicker walls in older buildings) and metal obstructions (metal can also act as a mirror with radio waves – making signals bounce around the room).
Faulty equipment: the Wireless Access Point (WAP) or your device could be faulty. Does your device works well on another wireless network? Have you tried restarting your device? Are others working OK on the same Wi-Fi?
You live in a densely populated area: in many businesses or homes, there will be a lot of wireless networks competing for airspace. This is often a recipe for a poor connection depending on what you’re trying to do.
Free Wi-Fi: if an organisation offers Free WiFi, don’t expect to connect without filling in an on-line form first and / or creating a username and password. You may have to regularly re-connect to the Wi-Fi too.

Bear in mind that performance can be affected by what are you trying to do?

Twitter, BBC News, YouTube, e-mails are all types of traffic that are not time-sensitive and can react reasonably well with poor or sporadic Wi-Fi performance. Traffic that is time sensitive such as voice and video calling (Skype, FaceTime, VoIP enable PBX) really needs a quality Wi-Fi and internet connection if you need to rely upon it.

Bear in mind the types of traffic!

All Wi-Fi network providers allow the browsing of websites and picking up e-mails. However, some providers do not permit certain types of network traffic. For example, VPN (Virtual Private Network), remote desktop and CCTV traffic could all fall into this category. This could really hinder your working when out of the office.

Finally, it’s worth asking yourself a couple of questions to resolve your wi-fi problem

1. If you have a smartphone or tablet capable of 4G, live and work in an area with good mobile signal and you have a generous data allowance, is there actually a benefit of turning your Wi-Fi on at all?
2. Instead of connecting your laptop or tablet to the Wi-Fi of the hotel, plane, train, Starbucks, customer or supplier’s office, why not use the “Personal Hotspot” (aka Tethering) feature on your mobile phone. This means you have your very own wireless access point to carry around with you and the experience will be the same every time.

A checklist for resolving your Wi-Fi internet connection

Bear in mind that performance can be affected by what are you trying to do?

Bear in mind the types of traffic!

Finally, it’s worth asking yourself a couple of questions to resolve your wi-fi problem

DCS 40^th Anniversary Easter Competition Terms & Conditions

· As the competition runs up to the 14th of April the prize will be sent out asap, however, the winner will most likely receive the prize after the Easter weekend.

· The Promotors competitions with entry via Twitter and/or LinkedIn are open only to residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). One (1) winner will be chosen at random from all entrants and across all platforms.

· No purchase is necessary. Winners will not be required to pay to enter the competition.

· Entrants must be over 18 years old on the date of their entry.

· Employees of The Promoter are not eligible to enter.

· Twitter or LinkedIn are not in any way affiliated or involved in the competition.

· Only one entry per social platform per person will be accepted.

· The Prize will be awarded to a randomly selected winner who has entered on Twitter or LinkedIn, using a random number generator. The Promoter will not be held liable if the named prize becomes unavailable or cannot be fulfilled.

· The Promoter will not be held liable for any failure of receipt of entries. The Promoter takes no responsibility for any entries which are lost, delayed, illegible, corrupted, damaged, incomplete or otherwise invalid.

· To the extent permitted by applicable law, The Promoter’s liability under or in connection with the competition or these terms and conditions shall be limited to the cost price of the Prize in question.

· Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available. Where a Prize becomes unavailable for any reason, the promoter reserves the right to substitute that prize for a prize of equal or higher value.

· The name, address, email address and phone number of the winner must be provided to The Promoter if requested and will be shared to enable the fulfilment of the Prize.

· In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond The Promoter’s reasonable control, the promoter reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice.

· The Promoter’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

· The winner’s name and social media username may be posted on the social media profiles of The Promotor after the winner has been selected.