Why does your internet connection keep dropping?

Is there anything more annoying than losing your internet connection every few minutes? It’s frustrating and drives us to the point of dumping the router in the trash. But most of us suffer in silence and don’t think about ways to get rid of this daunting issue. It’s important to identify the root cause of the problem before it becomes worse. So, we’ve listed down the most common reasons why your internet connection keeps dropping every few minutes.

How many times has your internet disconnected and reconnected when you’re on your laptop or phone, browsing the internet, checking your social media, or just streaming your favorite show? We bet you’ve lost count. Your ISP isn’t the only one to blame because there are several causes of a weak internet connection. Let’s identify the most common ones below:

Loaded network

When a lot of devices are connected to a network, traffic increases and the network gets busy, weakening the signal strength, which causes the internet to disconnect every few minutes. Let’s say 5 devices are connected to a single network and all 5 of them are dealing with different internet activities – browsing, gaming, streaming, and video conferencing. The bandwidth consumed by each device is dependent on the activity.

Consuming higher bandwidth leads to slower internet and eventually no internet at all. Once the data cap is exceeded, you will experience frequent connection drops. Therefore, it’s important to sign up for a plan that suits your internet needs. Spectrum gold package offers some great internet packages that promise high speed and stability at cut-throat prices!

Weak signal strength

One of the most common causes of connection drops is weak Wi-Fi strength. Your internet connection may be disrupted because your network fails to establish a stable connection due to weak Wi-Fi strength. How to fix the strength of your Wi-Fi signals? Make sure the router is placed on a high level or mounted to a wall free from any obstructions, electrical appliances, and brick walls. You can also invest in Wi-Fi extenders to boost your Wi-Fi signal range.

Unstable connection

While sometimes you may appear connected to a specific network, more than often, that’s not the case. You’re only connected virtually and the internet is working on your device. This is because a strong connection was not established between your device and the network. You might have connected to the wrong router or entered the wrong username or password. Try resetting your router by turning it off and back on again. This refreshes signal strength and successfully connects your device to the internet.

Outdated router or modem

A defective or outdated router/modem also causes serious connectivity issues. The router and modem you invest in seriously affect your internet experience. Make sure your router is compatible with your local ISP. Contact them and confirm compatibility before you invest in one to avoid any future problems. Once your ISP approves the router, you can go ahead and test the connection.

Typically, the modem is connected to the router wirelessly, which allows multi-device connectivity. But if the modem is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable, make sure the cable isn’t damaged. Invest in a high-quality Ethernet cable to avoid the modem from disconnecting.

Always remember to reset the devices and give them a break as well to avoid frequent connection drops.

Wrapping it up

If you’re facing frequent connection drops, don’t worry! Take your time to identify the root cause of the problem and fix it on the spot, so you don’t have to deal with the frustration again. Hopefully, this brief guide will help you understand your connectivity issues. If you need more help, you can always contact your local ISP and seek help.