Repairing the Internet

internet

When everything works well, we do not repair in the amount of configurations and technologies involved in our Internet connection or WiFi link. However, when it fails, it is not always easy to diagnose the exact problem and find the solution.

Failures in the internet

Symptom 1 – Flashing light synchronization

If we cannot surf the Internet, one of the most typical causes is that our router is unable to synchronize the ADSL signal to the telephone exchange. In this case, we will see how the front light of the router, indicating the status of the line, blinks slowly or is off.

In response, the first step is to restart the router and wait about 1-2 minutes. If the problem is resolved, begin by checking our internal wiring, making sure that we have the phone cord connected properly and that each home phone or device connected to the telephone line (alarms, set – top boxes, etc.) have their own microfilter.

Yes, always we have in mind that there can be no more than three microfilters in total over the same facility; otherwise, also different faults. If this does not work, we can try to turn off all phones and microfilters domestic connecting line and go one by one to rule out that one of them was causing the failure.

internet

If we discover during the previous process that does not have an active line (no dial tone), you most likely have a problem in the home wiring itself or in any of the boxes or lines that bring the service to our house. In this situation, we must call our operator for review, although before it would be nice to locate the PTR (a small gray box that is installed in the entry point to our house and has a phone jack located behind a sliding cover ) and try to connect directly there a phone or router to see if the problem is internal or external to our home.

Symptom 2 – The ADSL line suffers frequent cuts

Many ADSL broadband users complain of regular courts in their Internet connections. Such failures are attributable, usually, poor cabling having large attenuation or our housing is too far from the center.

A clear sign that we have a lot of noise on the line is too late that the router to synchronize with the center, making the light flashes slowly ADSL for more than 30-45 s to achieve synchronization. This means that our connection is not very good quality, which causes an unstable ADSL line can lose the link with the central as some kind of microcode or higher than usual noise.

The fundamental reason for this is an internal wiring of low quality , poorly made connections at some point in the installation and, in many cases, a poor connection in the junction box of the building, fault lines or very old. It can also be caused by an excessive distance from the center. In fact, beyond the 3 Km, things get too complicated to have a stable ADSL.

On the other hand, some routers are “optimists”, always trying to synchronize as much as possible in line with much attenuation. The problem is that, if the sync speed is too high, it can cause falls and cuts that require restarting the router every few minutes. Other models, however, are much more restrained and synchronized at speeds below the limit, which provides a more stable and safe operation.

The solution to these failures sometimes just a matter of changing the router. However, in others, it requires cable installation check our home or building. In cases where there is no easy measure, the sensible passes ask our operator to drop us a line speed to a lower.

Symptom 3 – The low-speed line syncs

Another classic problem with the ADSL line is that the sync speed router (and, therefore, the navigation) is much lower than the contracted. In this case, it is interesting to access your router settings to display the actual speed at which you are synchronizing.

Except in the lines of “up to 20 Mbps”, whose rare maximum speed time is reached, we must see that we are not synchronizing below the contracted speed (e.g. 8,000 Kbps, when an ADSL 10 Mbps), both upstream and downstream.

When this happens, the causes can be common to those of the above symptoms, and of those, the most common is an excessive distance from the center. Either way, the result is the attenuation of our line; or the most distant is the largest central attenuation.

Overcome this obstacle is very complicated because it involves reviewing all internal wiring or, although not easy, make our operator check the telephone wiring external that leads to our house.

Symptom 4 – The router is misconfigured

If we need to change our ADSL router for any reason, you may setup new device comes our way uphill. The vast majority of users, the fact configure a router ADSL from scratch often it seems to them a complex task. However, it is easy if you have the right data and some experience.

The main problem is that many operators are reluctant or little collaborative indicate when the basic data such as the VPI / VCI no more. They prefer to install applications of their own routers configuration so that they can overcome problems and additional incidents.

Symptom 5 – A few pages are and others do not

On many occasions, we suffer an exasperating one slow to resolve the address of a page. Others detect problems accessing specific addresses (such as international websites). In both situations, it is possible that our operator having some kind of problem in the routing of external addresses. It is also possible that the technical impact falling within the DNS servers that we are using in our Windows network settings to resolve web addresses.

A simple change of DNS servers assigned to us by default the router or the operator can improve access times or eliminate connectivity issues certain services or websites. To do this, a good option is to use a DNS service like OpenDNS, which will provide us the address 208.67.222.222 as primary DNS and 208.67.220.220 as secondary DNS. Thus, we achieve an extremely reliable operation and advantages such as preventing access to sites classified as sources of malware.

To change them in Windows 7, we must go to Start / Control Panel / Internet / Center Network and Sharing Networks. Then we click on the left column on the option Change adapter settings.

Then we will see a window where, after clicking the right mouse button on the WiFi adapter or cable you use to connect to the Internet, choose Properties. Then we go to Internet Protocol Version 4 ( TCP / IP ) and pinch in Properties. We see a new window, where, at the bottom, insert the DNS servers manually.

WiFi connection failures

Symptom 1 – I do not see the network or cannot connect

Today we find cards and access points / routers WiFi compatible with disparate standards like 802.11b / g / a / n , frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz, and various proprietary technologies that some manufacturers have implemented to improve coverage or benefits. Such disparity of standards makes us unable to connect certain computers to certain access points, and even that does not find itself WiFi networks that are accessible from other computers.

The answers to this are tremendously diverse. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of updating the firmware on the access point or wireless card driver. Others, however, will have to turn over thoroughly with the access point settings.

Our advice here is to reset the configuration of WiFi access point and start with the basics. Adjust the WiFi standard used by the access point to native WiFi card that does not work us (802.11b, gon) compatibilities and forgetting completely disable the security temporarily. If the connection after this works, we can go complicating things.

We will start by adding the first WEP security, then the WPA (the most recommended today), and finally increase network performance by activating the 802.11n mode compatibility with all WiFi standards. Thus, we can see the time when the error occurs and decide if we adjust the settings of the access point. Another option is to change the wireless access point to a safer, stable or modern.

Symptom 2 – I do not accept the password

Other of the most common issues in WiFi networks we have observed is what causes, although we see the WiFi network you want to connect to the list of available, we are unable to link up to it because it does not accept us the password.

This situation arises because the device you are using either a laptop or a mobile does not support the level of security access point WiFi. Thus, we can find no older devices that support WPA encryption and, by necessity, have to configure your WiFi access point with WEP so they can run and connect properly. The same is true if we set WPA2 and WPA only handle our device.

Apart from the above, we can also acknowledge this problem when the access point has experienced a drop in performance or is overly saturated with customers or traffic. In these cases, a simple reboot of the access point, and if possible, the device you want to connect, you can solve the episode.

Symptom 3 – WiFi is cut or is very slow

Typically, a WiFi connection is very sensitive to electrical interference or physical barriers. As a result, we have low coverage, low – speed link and slow data transmission and, in extreme cases, intermittent cuts.

With regard to interference, the most difficult to diagnose and fix, it is typical that our connection pass function at 100% quality and signal to disconnect and prevent any traffic. We have seen cases of the microwave, but especially cordless phones DECT, which debunks a WiFi signal when put into operation.

We can also see us affected by external equipment such as frequency inhibitors usual if we live near official buildings or specially protected sites. Finally, we can also suffer interference due to excess wireless access points in our area.

In this context, one of the fastest options is to start by changing our WiFi channel, accessing the configuration access point / router and looking for a less saturated or the invading frequency channel does not affect that. Our recommendation is that perfect look for a separate channel, at least, two numbers up or down the current.

After this, we will do tests of trial and error until you find free channel problems. If this does not work, we can choose to mount an access point 5 GHz, one different from the usual 2.4 GHz, allowing us to enjoy a frequency airwaves very little saturated today. Of course, in the latter case, we will need that support portable 5 GHz band, which is common in models sold in the last 24 to 18 months.

As for the physical obstacles, the basic solution is to relocate the WiFi access point in a place of the most suitable home (sometimes simply place over a wall unit) or center (the living room instead of a room). In homes spread over several floors or if we have to cover larger areas, the best alternative is to purchase an omnidirectional antenna of some gain (5 or 10 dBi gain should be enough for a house). This will increase coverage and transmission speed. We can even try some of the latest 802.11n access points with MIMO technology (riding three antennas).

Symptom 4 – I am connected but no traffic

There are occasions when even being connected to our WiFi access point, not any kind of traffic between the laptop and the network logs. In this sense, the first step we take will always restart the laptop and WiFi access point. If after that we continue the same, we must ensure that our router is assigning us the IP correctly.

For this purpose, we will click with the right mouse button on the icon on the network Windows taskbar and pinch the option Open Network and Sharing center resources. In the new window will click on Wireless Network, which will show us the details of the adapter. If we click on details, we will see if we are assigning an automatic IP by DHCP or self – assigned. In the case of the self – assigned IP, will have to check that the router is working properly or to attribute the problem to own adapter.

In fact, if the router assigns the IP properly to other computers, we first check for the latest update available for our WiFi card driver. Remember that pressing the Windows key + Pause will see the window System Properties. There, we click on Advanced System Settings, and in the new window in Hardware / Device Manager. Here we will see listed all computer hardware components, including the WiFi adapter. Double – clicking on it, we will show all the details and we will update your driver.

Finally, we may have to make changes in the configuration of the access point as we indicated in the Symptom 6 or check that our security suite or firewall is not blocking all network traffic.

Failures Wired

Symptom 1 – Quick Link, low speed

The connection speed of Windows that informs us about the adapter must not deceive ourselves. Sometimes we read that our network adapter is connected to 100Mbps or 1Gbps (in the case of Gigabit Ethernet), but actually, get very poor transfer rates. The fundamental reason is that our network adapter is detecting a switch 100Mbps or 1Gbps across the wire but actually is not able to reach that speed constant transmission failure-requiring repeat the process.

In the scenario, the most classic are that the fault is due to a cable poor quality, a bad connector or does not meet the minimum specification required (Cat 5 or 6 depending on speed). It may even be the case that the wiring passes through places with electromagnetic interference important (electric motors of air conditioners, broadcasting antennas, etc.) and need to use cables with metal shielding.

Therefore, the most immediate solution is to replace the PC cable to the switch (if that is direct), or going to the rosette, and it is installed on the wall (in professional facilities). If we cannot make this last, another option is to manually reduce the speed of our adapter from the Properties of Device Manager in Windows, forcing him to connect at speeds of 10 Mbps, which is not recommended unless there is no alternative for its poor performance.

Symptom 2 – No connection or transmission

As in the previous symptom, if not appreciate any connectivity or data transfer, most of the time we have to find the culprit in the cable or in any of the connectors. Still, we recommend you start by resetting the switch / router to which we have connected the Ethernet cable. Sometimes they are left “hanging” shutting down immediately.

Regarding the wiring, we can look if stepped on by a table or damaged at some point by pulling or misuse. Discarded this, we can focus on applying some of the solutions that you were proposing in point: rewire by other appropriate means to the speed of our switch / PC; buy armored face significant interference or ultimately threads, reduce the speed of our adapter to see if it works.