WLAN Optimizer is a utility for optimizing the performance of a Wi-Fi connection. Wi-Fi is unstable. Why is the Internet cut off through a Wi-Fi router? Installing a repeater or access point

Let's consider today the problem when the Wi-Fi network is unstable, and when the connection to the Wi-Fi network is periodically interrupted, or the Internet connection is lost. It seems to me that this is even worse than when the Internet does not work at all. Because the problem is not clear, everything seems to work, but not as it should, the signal disappears, devices turn off, and other incomprehensible moments. It’s just that when something doesn’t work, it’s at least clear where to look for a solution, but in such a situation, nothing is clear at all.

What is the unstable operation of the Wi-Fi connection:

• Periodic disconnection of devices from the Wi-Fi network. Or the Internet just cuts off for a while (), and everything starts working again. A very popular problem that causes a lot of inconvenience. For example, a laptop is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and the Internet is working. But periodically a yellow exclamation mark appears near the connection icon, and the Internet disappears. The download of files gets lost, etc. And, as a rule, after a while the connection is restored.
• Devices do not connect to the Wi-Fi network the first time, or do not see the Wi-Fi network.
• Wi-Fi network completely disappears, and appears.
• Very slow wireless internet speed (the cable is fine).
• When the Wi-Fi connection works only near the router.
• The signal strength of the wireless network is constantly changing.

This, of course, is not the whole list of problems that are associated with the unstable operation of wireless networks. There may be many more. Very often, Wi-Fi works fine for a while, and then problems start that go away again. Also, you can notice the appearance of problems, for example, in the evenings, or at other times of the day.

If you have something similar, and you seem to have an Internet connection, but you can’t always use it ( use without any problem), now we will try to fix everything.

Changing the wireless network channel when Wi-Fi is unstable

This is the first and most important tip that you should definitely try. We know that every Wi-Fi network operates on some channel. If there are many of these networks, then they begin to interfere with one another, and interference appears. And as a result, unstable Wi-Fi works. Well, and various incomprehensible problems that I wrote about above, and which you have most likely already encountered.

You need to change the channel of the Wi-Fi network in the router settings. I wrote in detail about channels, about finding a free one and about changing on different models of routers in a separate instruction:

You can try setting some static channel (if you have Auto), or vice versa, set to Auto if a static channel was selected. In the article linked above, I wrote about finding the freest channel using the inSSIDer program. You can use.

You just need to go to the router settings, go to the tab where the wireless network is configured, and change the channel in the Channel item. This is how it looks on Tp-Link routers:

And on Asus routers:

After every channel change, don't forget save settings and reboot router. Be sure to try several options. Should help.

As for interference, they can be created by household appliances. Do not place the router near microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc.

Shaving the Internet via Wi-Fi: router firmware, and other tips

Almost always, such problems in the operation of the wireless network occur due to the router. Not uncommon, this is due to the firmware. Therefore, I strongly recommend updating the firmware of your router. We have instructions for all popular manufacturers on our website. Here's an example, .

It is also possible that the wireless network may be unstable due to some technical problems with the router. Something with the board itself, or the power adapter. By the way, power adapters are very often the cause of such problems. The router simply does not receive the necessary power and connection breaks appear, etc. Well, strong drops in the power grid can affect the operation of the router. If the Internet is cut off after you create some kind of load on the router (online video, games, torrents, connecting new devices, etc.), then this one is usually due to an inexpensive (not powerful) router.

Need to eliminate problems on the side of the Internet provider. It may well be that it is on his side that the connection is broken, and the router has nothing to do with it. Checking is very simple, just connect the Internet directly to the computer and check its operation.

For many, the connection breaks in those rooms where the Wi-Fi network signal is very poor. When only one division of the network signal remains on the device, for example.

In such a situation, you need to increase the range of your Wi-Fi network. We have an article on this topic:. Or, install . After that, the problems with the Internet breakage should disappear.

And if your home devices find a lot of available networks that operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (as most likely your network), and changing the channel, and even changing the router does not work, and the Wi-Fi network is very unstable, then you can solve this problem by purchasing a router that supports operation at a frequency of 5 GHz. This frequency is practically free. I just know a case where there were a lot of wireless networks in the house, and Wi-Fi was simply impossible to use until they switched to a frequency of 5 GHz.

If the Internet disappears on only one laptop

And of course, it’s not uncommon for all devices to connect and work with a wireless network without any problems or disconnections, and one device keeps disconnecting, losing connection, etc. It’s not hard to guess that most often this device is called a laptop and works on Windows.

In such cases, be sure to update the wireless adapter driver. How to do this, I wrote. It is possible that the problem may be in the hardware. And it appears very often after disassembling the laptop (cleaning from dust). Why is that? During assembly, the antenna that is built into the laptop often suffers. Here are the problems in working with Wi-Fi networks. Very often, after that, the Internet works only near the router itself.

Update: changing the properties of the Wi-Fi network

Open "Network and Sharing Center" and click on your Wi-Fi network. In the new window, click on the "Wireless Network Properties" button and check the box next to "Connect even if the network does not broadcast its name (SSID)". Click Ok.

If it doesn’t help, and Wi-Fi will still fall off, then in the same window, on the “Security” tab, you can click on the “Advanced settings” button and check the box next to “Enable Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) compatibility mode for this network )".

You can restart your computer. Thanks for this tip Alexander. He suggested it in the comments to this article.

Here are some tips, if you have interesting information on this topic, personal experience, then write in the comments. You can also ask questions there, I will definitely answer!

Wi-Fi is the most popular way to connect to the internet today. This was made possible due to the good characteristics of this protocol, the ease of connection and the availability of a wide range of low-cost equipment.

However, this interface also has disadvantages. Many users experience incomprehensible disconnections, errors, or slow data transfer rates. In this case, do not rush to immediately call the support service or call a repair team. You can deal with many troubles in the operation of your home Wi-Fi network on your own.

1. Restart your router

Yes, yes, this is what is first of all advised to do when contacting the support service. And absolutely right.

A modern router is a complex device, in the operation of which software errors may appear over time. The easiest and fastest way to get rid of them is to reboot the hardware. Some routers allow you to do this automatically on a schedule, you just need to look for the appropriate option in the settings.

2. Install alternative firmware

Alternative firmware is written by enthusiasts to eliminate the shortcomings of proprietary software. The most famous project of this kind is DD-WRT. This firmware supports a wide range of hardware and is distributed free of charge.

Installing third-party firmware allows not only improving network performance, but in some cases activating previously inaccessible device functions. It is worth considering, however, that the process of flashing and subsequent configuration of the equipment will require time and special knowledge from you.

3. Use a Wi-Fi repeater

If devices in any part of the house constantly lose their connection to the Internet, then the signal of the router is too weak there. You can solve the problem with the help of a special repeater, which is also called repeaters, or repeaters.

The main task of the repeater is to amplify the signal of an existing Wi-Fi network. These compact and inexpensive devices are produced by almost all popular manufacturers of network equipment, as well as dozens of obscure Chinese companies.

4. Build a Signal Amplifier

Using a Wi-Fi repeater may not help out in all cases. Sometimes, to amplify the signal of the router, you have to resort to other, more artisanal methods. For example, you can design a special reflector from or for CDs.

But if you need something really powerful, then try to assemble an antenna from improvised materials to expand your “home zone” of wireless Internet, which we wrote about in this one.

5. Control App Access to the Internet

If someone in your home is constantly watching streaming video, playing online games, downloading large files, then this can significantly slow down the network. Particular attention should be paid to torrent clients. Some of them are configured in such a way that they automatically start at system startup and continue downloading and distributing data in the background. A separate pain is computer games that quietly download multi-gigabyte updates and add-ons.

6. Block access to strangers

By default, the manufacturer sets the same well-known logins and passwords on all of its routers. Each user must independently change them in order to protect their network from unauthorized access. However, unfortunately, not everyone does it.

If you do not want your neighbors to use your wireless network, thereby interfering with you, then you need to perform detailed configuration of the router. How to do this, you can read in our guide "".

7. Get rid of interference

The quality of the signal transmitted over a Wi-Fi network can be affected by many different factors, including interference from phones, microwave ovens, and so on. You can get rid of them only by placing the router and the source of interference at the maximum distance. A special WiFi Analyzer application will help to cope with this task, which can display signal strength in real time.

8. Tune in to a free channel

In modern apartment buildings, many wireless access points operate simultaneously, occupying all available channels. As a result, some of them have to share the same channel, which leads to a mutual decrease in the speed and stability of the connection.

9. Find a New Location for Your Router

The unsuccessful location of the router in the apartment can also affect the quality of the connection. If your workplace is separated from the connection point by several concrete walls, then you should not be surprised that the Internet constantly slows down.

You can choose the optimal place for the router only empirically, moving it around the apartment and measuring the signal quality. The NetSpot diagnostic utility and our instruction, which is called "", will help to do this.

10. Use modern technology

One of the best ways to make your wireless network as fast, stable, and secure as possible is to use modern hardware.

Communication standards are constantly evolving and improving. Newer implementations of this protocol provide faster connection speeds and reduce errors and susceptibility to interference.

However, they require the right equipment to use them. Therefore, the most radical and expensive method to improve the quality of your home network is to buy a modern dual-band router from a well-known manufacturer.

As an IT journalist who has worked for many years in a newsroom testing various hardware, including network hardware, I can say that we practically cannot find out one thing during tests. It is impossible to seriously check the stability of the Wi-Fi router during continuous operation.

Tests and measurements will show the speed and coverage provided, they can reveal vulnerabilities, it will be possible to find out whether it is convenient to configure the router and whether the cat can sleep on it, but how stable it will be, working 365/24/7, it will not be possible to find out, simply because there are so many tests don't last.

I gorged myself on some ZyXEL routers that managed to hang several times a day, and returning home began, each time, with jarring power. It especially delivered that I now have four routers, they need to cover several floors of the house and provide roaming between floors. Having eaten with zuhels, he switched to Netgear, and until recently he quietly used the WNR-3500L as the main one, he worked for about three years without a single failure. Extremely stable piece of iron.

Returning home, first of all, I don’t take off my shoes and undress, but I climb from the iPhone to 10.0.0.1 and restart it so that the Internet returns. And this is sad, but I can not get through, at the right time, to the home network when.

In this article, I will try to answer a very popular question, which in most cases is even difficult to explain. They often write to me in the comments about some kind of problem with Wi-Fi, I read the question several times, but I can’t understand anything. And to the question, I answer with several questions in order to understand what the problem is and to clarify the necessary information. Let's talk today about the unstable operation of the Internet, when connected via Wi-Fi.

Let's try to figure out what exactly this connection instability is, what could be the problem, and what can be done to solve problems with the wireless network.

There are times when the Internet does not work as it should. For example, you connected the Internet to your computer via a network cable. We bought and installed a wireless router, and began to connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. And they began to notice that the Internet was somehow not working properly, it was constantly interrupted, the speed was low, etc.

Probably, I will now highlight the problems that can be attributed to the unstable operation of the wireless network. So, it will be easier for us to navigate the problem itself and a possible solution.

• Frequent disconnections. For example, you connected a smartphone, and after a while, it turns off by itself. Or a laptop, constantly disconnecting and connecting. I saw cases when the connection disappeared for a few seconds, and was immediately restored. This is not always noticeable, but if you have Skype installed, then its connection status is constantly changing. Or a yellow icon appears next to the connection icon. Here is another article on this issue: ““.
• Low internet connection speed, or speed spikes when connected via Wi-Fi. It may be that, for example, during the day the speed is normal, and in the evening it drops significantly (If connected by cable, the speed is always stable).
• Unstable Wi-Fi connection. This includes a large number of connection problems. For example, when the device connects to the network from the second or third time. Or, only in a certain place (for example, near the router, I already wrote about this problem ) .
• When you notice any problems, but, not always. For example, the Internet works fine for several days, and then strange problems with Wi-Fi begin again. Or, as I already wrote, in the morning everything is fine, but in the afternoon the connection is unstable.

This list could go on, but I think you get the point. I would only like to exclude from this list popular problems that have their own characteristics, and about which separate articles have already been written:

• Error “ ” on computers, or when there is a connection on mobile devices, but .
• Errors on mobile devices: , and "".

Solving the problem with unstable Wi-Fi

I have some universal solution. And there are no special settings with which you can adjust the stability of work, either. You have to try and find a solution. I will give you some tips that should help you in this difficult matter.

Restart your router and laptop (smartphone, tablet, etc.).

This is the first thing to do. Just unplug your router and plug it back in. Also, restart the device that you are trying to connect to the network, or that is experiencing some problems.

You need to understand what the problem is.

Everything is simple here. We need to find the culprit. This could either be your router or the device itself. (computer, smartphone, etc.). How to do it? Just try to connect other devices to your network (preferably those that run on the same operating system). If the problem persists, then it's most likely the access point. And the problem must be looked for in it.

If another device connects and the Internet works stably, then most likely the problem is in the device itself. (who had difficulty). I'm already confused myself.

Make sure the internet is working directly.

What does directly mean? This is when it is connected without a router. Network cable directly to the computer. Perhaps there are some problems on the provider's side. And you are already torturing your router and other equipment.

Change the channel your wireless network is on.

It is necessary! If there is interference on the channel on which your Wi-Fi is working (as wireless, neighbor networks), then a variety of and incomprehensible problems may arise in the operation of your Internet connection, which are even difficult to explain. For information on how to change the channel, read the article. This is probably the most important and effective advice.

Update the software on the router.

Afterword

If nothing works, then write about your problem in the comments. Try to describe the problem in as much detail as possible. Let's figure it out together.

If you have something to add to the article, I will only be grateful. Best wishes!