Among the myriad issues that can affect your computer, network connectivity problems rank among the most frustrating. In today's highly digital world, where much, if not all, of our work and personal life relies on online connectivity, being unable to connect to the internet can bring productivity to a grinding halt. Whether it's the inability to access cloud-based applications or collaborate with colleagues, not being able to go online severely disrupts your daily tasks and workflows.

Therefore, addressing network connectivity issues promptly and effectively is crucial to maintaining productivity and minimizing disruptions in our digital world, which is dependent on staying online and connected.

In an earlier blog post, How To Troubleshoot Network Slowdowns, I shared some tips for troubleshooting network slowdowns. But before you can start troubleshooting, you need to identify the problem and establish a probable cause.

This blog post discusses the symptoms of the most common network connectivity problems, their probable causes, and how to remedy them.

1. Devices are unable to connect to the network

When you open a web browser and try accessing a website but are met with the “No Internet” message, or if you are unable to access a shared folder on the local network, your device is likely experiencing network connectivity issues.

To verify that it is indeed a network connection problem, you can take the following steps:

• Check that the WiFi is turned on and that your device is not in airplane mode.

• Look for network indicators on your device, such as Wi-Fi signal strength bars, Ethernet connection lights, or network connection icons. 

Once you have verified that the problem is not a switched-off WiFi or your device being in airplane mode, you will need to perform some troubleshooting steps. I’ve covered this in a previous blog post that you can access here: How to Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Problems

2. Slow network performance

A slow network can affect both internet and local network performance. Its signs can manifest in various ways including:

• Web pages load noticeably slowly, with significant delays when navigating between pages or loading media such as images and videos.

• Delayed response times when using real-time communication such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video conferencing.

• Video streams buffer frequently and their playback quality degrades, resulting in pixelation or stuttering.

• Transfer speeds when Transferring files between devices on the local network or accessing files from network-attached storage (NAS) devices are slow.

• Cloud-based applications experience slow performance or become unresponsive.

• Devices frequently experience timeouts when trying to access online services.

To verify if your network is slow, you can perform the following diagnostic steps:

• Use online speed testing tools or apps, such as Ookla, to measure your internet connection speed.

• Perform a ping test to determine if your network is functioning properly. Use the ping command in the command prompt or terminal to test latency and packet loss to remote servers or websites. High ping times or packet loss may indicate network connectivity issues.

The most basic step for troubleshooting a slow network connection is to power cycle your network devices, including your modem, router, switches, and access points (APs). A power cycle is a fancy term for switching something off and then back on again. This is a simple step that often resolves a variety of IT issues.

However, if this doesn’t work, you’ll need to perform some advanced troubleshooting that requires administrative access to your networking devices. Here are the advanced troubleshooting steps:

• Ensure that your router firmware is up to date and that network device drivers are properly installed and updated. Outdated firmware or drivers can cause performance issues.

• Access your router's web interface and check its status page for information on network connectivity, signal strength (for Wi-Fi networks), and any error or warning messages.

• For Wi-Fi networks, use a Wi-Fi analyzer tool to check for interference from neighboring networks or electronic devices that may be operating on the same frequency bands.

• Use network monitoring tools or built-in features in your router to monitor the network traffic and identify bandwidth-intensive applications or devices that may be causing congestion.

3. Weak WiFi signal

Weak WiFi signal affects the reliability and performance of wireless networks. Here are some common signs that indicate weak signal strength:

• Devices show a weak Wi-Fi signal icon or fewer signal bars in their network connection status indicator.

• Slow internet speeds, with web pages taking longer to load and streaming video experiencing buffering or interruptions.

• Slower data transfer speeds when transferring files between devices on the local network or accessing network resources like NAS devices.

• Increased latency or high ping times when accessing online services or using real-time communication applications.

To verify if you have a weak Wi-Fi signal, you can perform the following diagnostic steps:

• Use the Wi-Fi signal strength indicator on your devices to assess the strength of the Wi-Fi signal. Devices with weaker signals typically show fewer bars or a lower signal strength icon.

• Access your router's web interface and check its status page for information on Wi-Fi signal strength, connected devices, and any error or warning messages related to wireless connectivity.

• Use a Wi-Fi analyzer app or software tool to visualize Wi-Fi signal strength and identify areas with weak coverage or interference. These tools can also provide information about nearby Wi-Fi networks, signal strength, channel utilization, and potential sources of interference.

• Walk around your office with a Wi-Fi-enabled device and observe changes in signal strength in different areas. If you consistently experience weak Wi-Fi signals in certain areas, consider deploying additional APs to improve coverage and signal strength.

4. Intermittent connectivity

Intermittent connectivity issues typically manifest as unexpected drops in connection or temporary unresponsiveness. They make network connectivity unpredictable, which leads to inconsistent user experience. These issues can be challenging and time-consuming to diagnose, making them difficult to resolve.

The usual causes of intermittent connectivity issues include

• loose, damaged, or improperly connected network cables,

• radio frequency interference from nearby electronic devices,

• faulty network devices, such as routers, switches, or network interface cards (NICs),

• outdated drivers and firmware bugs,

• conflicting IP addresses assigned to devices, and

• overheating of network devices due to inadequate cooling or poor ventilation.

Here are the steps you can take to identify and troubleshoot intermittent network problems:

• Inspect network cables and connections to ensure that they are not damaged or loose.

• Check network device logs for any recurring error messages or patterns of intermittent disruptions.

• Test the performance of network devices under different conditions to identify intermittent hardware malfunctions.

• Ensure that all network devices are running the latest drivers, firmware, and security updates.

• Ensure that best practices for locating and mounting network devices have been followed.

• To prevent IP address conflicts, ensure that proper IP address management practices are implemented.

5. Unable to access certain websites or resources

The inability to access certain websites or resources could also be a network connectivity problem. Here are steps to verify this issue:

• Check if users can access other websites. If they can access other sites but not specific ones, the problem is likely related to those particular websites or services.

• Use websites like downdetector.com or isitdownrightnow.com to check if the websites or services in question are experiencing outages. If the websites are down for everyone, it's likely not a network connectivity issue on your end.

• Check if the issue is affecting all users or only specific devices. Try accessing the websites from multiple devices on the same network to determine whether the problem is widespread or isolated to certain devices.

• Try accessing the websites from a different network, such as a mobile hotspot or a different Wi-Fi network, to determine if the problem is specific to your network.

Here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

• Check if the DNS (Domain Name System) resolution is working correctly. If DNS is unable to resolve the domain names to IP addresses, users will be unable to access certain websites. You can test DNS resolution by pinging the domain name from the command prompt or terminal.

• Ensure that firewall or security settings on the network or individual devices are not blocking access to those specific websites or services. Check firewall logs for blocked traffic.

• If using a proxy server, verify that proxy settings are configured correctly on users' devices. Incorrect proxy settings can prevent access to certain websites.

6. Network connection drops when using certain applications

Sometimes, network connectivity problems can also manifest as connection drops when using certain applications. Here are steps to verify this issue:

• Check if other devices are experiencing the same issue. If multiple devices are affected, it indicates a broader network connectivity problem.

• Test network connectivity using different applications or services. If the connection drops only when using certain applications, it suggests that the problem is related to those applications or their network configurations.

• Test using the affected applications on different networks such as a different Wi-Fi network or a mobile hotspot. If the issue persists across multiple networks, then the problem is likely with the device or application itself.

Here are the steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

• Review the network settings and configurations within the affected applications. Ensure that there are no specific settings or restrictions that could be causing the connection drops.

• Ensure that the affected applications are up to date with the latest software updates and patches. Consider reinstalling the applications to rule out any potential software corruption or issues.

• Use network monitoring tools to analyze network traffic while using the affected applications. Look for any patterns or anomalies in network activity that may coincide with the connection drops.

• Background processes or updates running on the device can affect network connectivity. Check for any background processes or applications that may be consuming network resources and causing connection drops.

• Ensure that firewall and security settings on the device are not blocking network traffic associated with the affected applications. Check firewall logs for blocked traffic.

• Check online forums, support sites, or knowledge bases for known issues or updates related to the affected applications. If this is a known connectivity issue, patches or fixes may be available.

Conclusion

Network connectivity problems are common yet persistent issues that many of us encounter regularly, causing frustration and draining our efficiency, particularly if we are working from home and lack quick access to IT support. Compounding the problem is the inability to search for solutions on the World Wide Web when offline, creating a frustrating double setback.

With this blog post, you should be well-equipped to identify the network problem behind the common symptoms and troubleshoot your way out.

Is your business plagued by frequent network connectivity issues? Are continued network issues causing a loss in productivity and frustration among your staff? Reach out to us by clicking the button below to schedule a call back from our network experts, who will help you solve any and all of your network-related problems.

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