It's not easy to pinpoint a problem with your Internet connection. In terms of hardware, there are several devices involved from your network interface card to your modem to the connecting cables. Then there's the Internet Service Provider (ISP). Then there's the configuration of the relevant software. The breakdown could happen in any of these points. Whether you're using wired broadband internet, a wireless connection, or even a simple dial-up connection, the one general procedure to always employ is to isolate each of the factors that make the connection possible. This will enable you to figure out more quickly where the problem is actually located.
1. Check the modem.
The one piece of hardware that's central to accessing the Internet is the modem. ISPs that offer a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, which is a type of broadband internet, provide their customers with an external modem. Cable internet services also use a similar device. On a modem there are several LED displays that indicate the status of its operations. These LEDs are typically labeled as 'power', 'DSL', 'Ethernet', or 'Internet'. Steady green lights indicate normal operation, flashing green lights mean a process is being enacted, red lights or no lights at all usually means no connection is getting through or certain processes are not functioning. To figure out if the connection problem lies with the modem, you can either restart the modem by turning it off and then on again after a few minutes, or temporarily replace it with a similar model such as one you can borrow from a friend who has subscribed to the same ISP. With dial-up connections, the modem used could be either external or internal (built into the computer's motherboard). Modems usually have a small speaker that gives out an electronic sound when it's trying to establish a connection. If the modem's speaker is turned on, and you don't hear this dialing electronic sound then there's a big chance the device is not functioning normally.
2. Check the cables.
Ethernet, phone jack and USB cables are used to connect network devices such as modems and routers to each other, to the phone line and to the computer. These can also be subject to malfunction. They could be plugged into the wrong port, the wrong cable could be used, or the cable itself could have some breakage in the jacks or the along the wires. Replacing them with cables that you know are working will easily reveal if the problem lies there.
3. Contact the ISP.
It's not a remote possibility that the ISP could be having trouble providing their customers with Internet connection. They could be performing maintenance on their servers, repairing or replacing some of them, and this usually results in downtime or a slow connection. A quick call to your ISP's technical support will usually reveal this. Slow connections can also be due to not having enough internet bandwidth. Bandwidth can be simplistically understood as how wide the connection road is to the Internet. This road can get congested if several subscribers within an area are simultaneously online or if the individual user is downloading or uploading a large file. Again calling your ISP will shed more light on this problem. You can always ask for more internet bandwidth, but this usually results in higher subscription fees.
4. Look into Device Manager or Network Connections.
On the software side of an Internet connection problem, the first thing to look at should be drivers. These are programs that integrate pieces of computer hardware into your operating system. Your computer's network interface card (as well all other hardware) should always have the latest driver compatible with your operating system. In a Windows-based system, one can check this by accessing 'Device Manager'. This system application also has other options that can help troubleshoot the network card. Another important folder in a Windows system is 'Network Connections'. This is where you could find, figure out and adjust Internet connection settings. You can access these by right-clicking on the ISP's icon and choosing 'Properties'. It's important that you know the default settings required by your ISP before you attempt any adjustments so that you can restore them to the original configuration in case no positive results arise.
5. Find a good location and secure the wireless connection.
With wireless connections, the possible problems are a little different. Signal strength can vary in a wireless environment, because it can be easily affected by physical obstructions or other wireless electronic devices. The wireless software utility you're using will show a meter of the signal strength. You can try transferring your laptop or wireless router to various locations within your home or office until you find one that will give you the highest signal level. Another common problem with wireless connections is that without proper security and delimitation of the signal, it can easily be hijacked. Anyone with a wireless capable laptop can steal some of your signal's bandwidth as long as he's within range of the signal. Use of the proper wireless encryption software and limiting the router's signal range just within the confines of your home or office can solve this problem.
A certain degree of familiarity with how network devices work and how they interact with your operating system is necessary to successfully diagnose Internet connection problems. You're also going to need a lot of patience and deductive reasoning to finally figure out where the break in the chain of devices and software settings occurred.
Delicious
Digg
Google
Yahoo
