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Wi-Fi drops or is slow: what to check first
Slow or unreliable Wi-Fi is either a problem with the internet connection coming into the building, or with the Wi-Fi inside it. Work out which one first.
Internet or Wi-Fi?
- Check whether everyone is affected or only some devices. One device with problems points to that device.
- If you can, plug a computer into the router with a network cable and run a speed test. If it is also slow, the problem is the internet connection, and your internet provider needs to look at it.
- If the cable is fast but Wi-Fi is slow, the problem is the Wi-Fi.
Fixes for Wi-Fi
- Restart the router and any access points: switch off, wait 30 seconds, switch on.
- Move closer to the router or access point. Thick walls, concrete, metal and floors weaken the signal a lot.
- Keep the router out in the open and up high, not inside a cabinet or behind a screen.
- If your Wi-Fi offers 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, use 5 GHz close to the router for speed, and 2.4 GHz further away for range.
- Disconnect devices you do not need. Many phones, cameras and streaming devices share the same capacity.
- On the device, forget the network and join it again, and install any updates for the device.
When one router is not enough
One router seldom covers a large office, a building with thick walls, or several buildings. Additional access points connected by network cable, mesh Wi-Fi, or a point-to-point wireless link to another building usually solve dead spots for good.
Still stuck?
Download the remote support tool from our remote support page and call us on +264 83 376 4016, Monday to Friday 08:00 to 17:00. You can also email info@microtechnamibia.com.