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Community Support

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6.7K Messages

Monday, August 10th, 2015 7:57 PM

Having Trouble With Your Internet or Wi-Fi? (Wi-Fi 101)

If you have blinking red lights on your router, please visit our Blinking Red Broadband article for more troubleshooting steps.

 

If you stream or download, check out our Streaming Support article for tips to improve performance. 

 

It’s important to identify potential issues that may be causing your Wi-Fi to be slow and intermittent. Here are some simple suggestions to consider when you run into issues with your Wi-Fi:

  • Are there other electronic devices near your router?
    • Provide at least 3’ of separation from other electronics and appliances for less interference.
  • How is your router connected to the power source? Is it connected to a power-strip, directly to the wall outlet, a battery back-up unit, a GFCI outlet…?
    • Plug your router directly to a non-GFCI wall outlet to help isolate potential power issues.
  • Where is the router located in home? Is it in the basement, a cabinet, on the floor…?
    • Place the router in an open space so it can stay cool. Be sure to keep the router elevated off the ground.


You may need to Factory Reset your router after making changes to the environment. Find out more information on How to Restart and Factory Reset your Router here.

  

If still having issues after arranging your router environment, you may need to run a Speed Test to determine whether the issue is with your wireless environment or your equipment connection.

  • It’s common to assume that your Wi-Fi and Wired (Ethernet) speeds would be equal, but because wired connections are less prone to interference, the wired speeds will always be the more stable and reliable internet connection.

This test measures the speed between your computer and the internet and can help determine if you should take steps to improve performance.

 

Test your internet speed with only one wired device connected to your router to establish the baseline internet speed. Is the speed test result in line with your subscribed service?

  • If yes, then test the speed with only 1 device connected to the router wirelessly (Wi-Fi). If there is a big difference, then wireless connection is the issue. Proceed to section 3.
  • If no, and your hard wired is either as slow as the wireless connection, or isn’t in line with your subscribed service, then you can proceed to login to the myAT&T app to further diagnose the issue using the Fix it now! Support tools.

Go here for more information about How to check your Internet Speed or Visit att.com/speedtest to run your speed test today. For more information about internet latency, check out this article on Understanding Ping and Traceroute

 

After going through resets/speed test, if Wi-Fi has been identified as the issue, you may want to consider changing your Wi-Fi channel. Get more information on How to change your Wi-Fi channel on an NVG and on a 2Wire/Pace gateway. 

  • Wi-Fi can be broadcasted on different channels and issues may occur when everyone is on or near the same channel. By changing the Wi-Fi channel you will help reduce the interference from other networks in range (e.g. neighbor’s Wi-Fi).
  • You may need to do some trial and error to find a good Wi-Fi channel, since it depends on how congested a channel is and how much electromagnetic noise there is for the local area.

 

Thanks

ATTJohnCS, AT&T Community Specialist

*I am an AT&T employee, and the postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent AT&T's position, strategies or opinions.

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3 Attachments

Contributor

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1 Message

8 years ago

I have had problems with my modem for over 3 weeks now.First it was dropping the wireless signal.I rebooted several times and could get the wireless working but then it only last's about an hour.Now i have a red light showing broadband is out.It will work for about an hour then shows red light again.No wires in my house have been touched.I checked my phone line with test equipment and it all shows good.I have contacted ATT three times now and they checked outside line 3 times.All 3 times it shows good.I keep telling them the modem is bad and they want to send a service tech.I can't be here for a service tech.I just need a replacement modem.I have been a customer for years and never missed or been late on a payment.How can i get them to send me another modem?I am tired of calling them because i spend an hour on the phone and just get a big run around.Won't take me long to switch to another internet provider.

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

have not had wifi for three days just went "out" have tried several reboots the router light shows nothing is on with the setup so what now??

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

Now both laptops will not let me post on Facebook also my mouse freezes and has to recycle. I have already rebooted a couple times .

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

We have a 2 wire 425 router.  Yesterday the wifi went out..red light blinking at wifi, after messing and trying several resets we were able to finally get a stable green light but the signal is very weak and slow.  I only get 2 bars with my laptop right next to it..The signal is not strong enough to be able to go to regular websites...They just time out.  I was finally able to get online by plugging my lap top into an ethernet port.

 

I have read about outages...Does anyone know if this is part of the outages or what I can try to fix this?  It is getting really annoying.

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

All of a sudden my phone gets the Authentication error while connecting to my home WI fi

Community Support

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6.7K Messages

7 years ago

@Pariah999,

 

Great information and thanks for sharing your feedback with the community.

 

~ATTU-verseCare

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

It always says "Your device was unableto connect your W-Fi network. Please exit and try again.  Can you help me?

Contributor

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2 Messages

7 years ago

I have been dealing with the same problem for over a month and when I thought the problem was solved it returned. My internet has been either not working properly or not at all. It was even causing the wireless recievers to cutout thus having to do the reboot procedure on the screen to get reception back. Had Technician out on the 19th of December seem to resolve the issue with the wireless TV reciever but not the wireless. Did the online guide for technician problems with no resolution. Did a chat guide with an att technical representative and he checked the line and had me reboot the system. The problem got worse not better. Texted the technician that serviced me and all he gave me was the same response the guide gave. Finally called and got a woman that was difficult to understand. I explained to her that I needed a technician to come out and fix the problem and all she wanted me to do was go through the same procedures I had already done. I told her that I had done these and that this was getting furstrating and she refused to send a technician without going through this process plus told me it will cost me $149 for the technician to come out if she sends one. I asked to speak to her supervisor and was told they are busy and that they will call back within the hour. 2 HOURS later and no call. I finally went online through my phone using up my data plan to avoid losing connection and spoke on tech chat and now have a technician coming out. I switched to ATT hoping to get better service but as it stands this experience is having me doubt my decision. Hope this message get through and it doesn't get cutoff.

Pablo

Contributor

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1 Message

7 years ago

I have to keep checking settings on my iPhone to make sure I am using WiFi. I have Optimum. I am using too much data each month and my phone is not used excessively. Can you detect what I can do or what I am dong wrong. Thanks!!

Community Support

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230.7K Messages

7 years ago

Hi @portiz,

 

Sorry to read of the trouble you are having. We have a few questions that will give us an idea of what needs to be done.

 

Does the modem ever blink red?

What is around the modem? Electronics? Speakers?

What is around the Wi-Fi box? Speakers?

Is the modem plugged into a surge protector and power strips?

Is the wireless receiver plugged into a surge protector and power strips?

 

-ATTU-verseCare

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