WHAT TO DO WHEN THE INTERNET GOES DOWN: A TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

LEARN HOW TO DIAGNOSE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES AND WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE CALLING SUPPORT

Modern lifestyles rely on the internet as an essential component of daily living. Everything from video surveillance and remote door locks to home office conferencing and even your refrigerator connects to the internet these days. 

Nearly every aspect of your entertainment likely uses your home network to deliver streaming content from Netflix, Hulu, TIDAL, Qobuz, and more to your devices. Whether you’re watching a 4K movie in the home theater or listening to music throughout the house or outdoors, a consistent and reliable connection is vital. 

A poor connection causes lag, synchronization issues, and the dreaded buffering message, degrading your enjoyment. When network issues arise in your Park City, UT, home, do you know what internet troubleshooting steps you can take to remedy the problem yourself or know when to call for more help? We’ll provide some clarity below. 

SEE ALSO: Why Now Is the Time to Upgrade and Strengthen Your Home Network

INTERNET VS NETWORK

When looking into trouble with connectivity, the first concept to understand is the difference between the network in your home and the internet. It has become common for people to refer to both simply as 'The WiFi' when in reality they’re describing multiple systems.

• A network is an Ethernet-based connection in your home. All the data to and from your IP-capable devices travel through the network via a router. The links can be hardwired or wireless using RF signals (WiFi) or Bluetooth.

• WiFi is the wireless delivery medium for transmitting data such as that used between streaming platforms and your playback devices. The antennas and radio are most often built into a router. 

• The internet is a collection of computer servers that relay information, social media, and content from locations around the country and the world. Online data enters your home via a modem, supplied by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and then into your home network's router. 

An issue can arise at any point in these three systems. There may be trouble in your home network, wireless connection issues, or your ISP may be down in your area. How do you know where the problem stems from? 

BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING 

We have all been there: you are watching a show and the ‘device disconnected from the internet’ message appears, leaving you floundering to restore a connection. Following a few basic troubleshooting diagnostics helps you fix the problem or determine if a technician is required. 

The first thing to do is verify whether the outage is from one device or the whole house. Best practice is to: 

• Check if it is just the Netflix app or all apps on your smart TV, tablet, etc. It is not uncommon to have interruptions while others still operate. If only one app is down, it’s an app provider problem and their responsibility to fix it. 

• Is the issue affecting only wireless units, or are hardwired devices also showing a similar error? If the answer is both, you know that the problem is either your home network or ISP. 

• Does your phone or computer show a connection to the WiFi or network? If you see the network but still have no internet, rebooting the TV or the router may clear up the issue, but remember it may take the router up to two minutes to return fully. 

• Finally, suppose you still cannot get a connection to the outside world. In that case, websites like Downdetector (via a cellular connection) have very accurate reporting on troubles with providers, streaming services, and websites. 

Still no luck? It’s time to call in a technician to diagnose and fix the problem. 

BETTER CONNECTIVITY TODAY

We build better home networks for your luxury home and stand behind them with expert services and resolution when needed. Are you looking to upgrade to a reliable connection for your home and entertainment? Call us at 801-996-3146 or fill out an online contact form to start the conversation.