Having to deal with an internet connection that keeps disconnecting is enough to test anyone’s faith. When your connection cuts out mid-call or freezes while you are trying to submit an important document, it forces you to pause or call customer service.
Before you assume your provider is entirely to blame or rush out to buy expensive new hardware, it helps to understand what the potential cause of the disconnection might be.
Is the Problem Your Wi-Fi or Your Broadband Line?
The very first thing to confirm is whether the disconnect affects your entire network or just your wireless connection. You can determine this by plugging your laptop into your router using an Ethernet cable. If the wired connection stays rock-solid while your wireless devices keep dropping off, your incoming broadband is working as it should.
Consequently, the fault might be with wireless interference, router placement, or congested Wi-Fi channels. Conversely, if the wired connection drops out at the same time, the issue involves your router hardware or your internet service provider.
Why Does Your Broadband Router Keep Losing Connection?
If your entire network goes down, there could be a few factors resulting in this. Once you have pinpointed the actual cause, you can take active steps to resolve the problem.
- Overheating and hardware strain: Routers can generate a surprising amount of heat. If your router is placed inside a closed cabinet or directly behind a television, it can overheat, causing it to freeze or restart on its own.
- Network overload: Homes and offices connect dozens of devices at once. This could include anything from phones to smart TVs, security cameras, and laptops. An older or very standard router cannot handle the demands of all these devices at once.
- Faulty power adapters: A failing or loose power cable can cause your router lights to flicker and trigger random reboots whenever the cable gets moved slightly.
- Outdated firmware: Bugs in your router’s internal software can cause connection issues or communication failures with your modem.
How Can You Fix a Disconnected Broadband Router?
When you suspect the fault lies with your router, you can try a few things at home to prevent your connection from constantly dropping when you need it the most.
Perform a Thorough Power Cycle
You can unplug both your modem and your router from the wall outlet, and then wait for about a minute. After that, you can plug the modem back in. Wait for its lights to settle completely before you power up your router.
Improve Ventilation and Placement
As we mentioned, routers can overheat. To address this, move your router out of confined spaces like closed cupboards and place it in an open, central location that is well ventilated. Keep it away from thick brick walls, microwaves, and cordless phone bases that could interfere with wireless signals.
Inspect Your Cables and Sockets
Make sure your Ethernet, fibre, or DSL cables are securely plugged in and show no signs of physical damage. You can easily tell them apart by their design, as Ethernet cords have a thick cable with a wide, clear plastic locking clip, whereas DSL cables use a similar shape but with a much smaller telephone-style plug. Meanwhile, fibre cables are very thin and usually end in rigid, square, coloured plastic tips.
If your setup relies on copper or part-fibre broadband, make sure to plug your router directly into the main master phone socket where the line enters your property rather than using an extension lead. Using an extension can introduce unwanted electrical noise and lead to continuous connection dropouts.
Call Your Broadband Provider
Write down the exact dates and times when you lose connection. If you need to contact your broadband provider, a logbook can help their support teams run accurate line tests or dispatch an engineer much faster.
How Can You Keep Your Broadband Stable Moving Forward?
Having a broadband connection that just lets you down the whole time is not something you just have to accept. By taking proactive steps at home, like allowing your router to get better ventilation, keeping your firmware updated, and inspecting your cables, you can make it much easier to identify the issue and resolve it as quickly as possible so that you can have dependable and fast broadband.
