96 PCWorld JUNE 2022HERE’S HOW HOW TO DIAGNOSE ROUTER ISSUES
Wi-Fi is fundamentally at
odds, then, with my desire to
answer questions with specific
recommendations. The best I
can do is walk your through
how I diagnose Wi-Fi
problems myself. That way,
you can make better decisions
on whether (and how) to
upgrade your own gear.SIZE UP THE
WI-FI PROBLEM
The first step to solving Wi-Fi
issues is to see if the slowdown
is coming from your cable modem (which
brings internet service into the home) or from
the router (which distributes Wi-Fi
connectivity throughout the home).
Start by plugging a computer directly into
your modem with an ethernet cable and
running a speed test. (The easiest way is to do
a Google search for “speed test,” then click
the blue “Run Speed Test” button atop the
search results.) A USB-to-Ethernet adapter
(fave.co/38Atwtq) will be necessary for
testing on computers that don’t have an
ethernet port, but if that’s too much trouble or
you don’t have a proper computer at all, you
can also try calling your internet provider and
asking it to test your internet speed remotely.
If wired connection speeds are on par
with your internet provider’s advertised
speeds, the next step is to start running speedtests throughout the house. Measure speeds
around the area where connectivity feels
slow, then work your way back to where the
router is located, running multiple tests in
each area as you go.
The goal here is to figure out where your
connection troubles are occurring.
Consistently slow speeds throughout the
house may be a sign of an outdated router,
while dead zones or range issues may require
a more powerful router or mesh Wi-Fi system
(more on that shortly).FIND YOUR WI-FI ROUTER’S
802.11 VERSION
To figure out whether a router needs
replacing, it helps to know how old it is. One
way to do this to locate the router’s model
number—it’s likely printed on the routerRunning speed tests throughout the house can help you figure out
where the Wi-Fi trouble spots are.