Why is my Business WiFi slow or dropping offline?

Did you know WiFi modems have a limited range which can be affected by radio interference, physical obstructions, and distance, so keeping the device in a central and unobstructed location in your business will ensure the widest possible area of coverage. If you find your WiFi has slowed down to a snail's pace, try the tricks below to reset your WiFi connection.

Power cycling equipment Power cycling all equipment is the best first step you can take for any connection issues you may be facing.

1. Unplug the power cable from the back of the WiFi modem.
   2. Wait 30 seconds.
   3. Reconnect the power cable into the back of the Internet modem.
   4. Wait for the online light to go solid green.
   5. Connect to your WiFi network and test to see if the connectivity issues are still present.

Note: Most devices will use the same basic steps. For computers, shut them down first.

Restoring WiFi modems This process will restore your WiFi modem to default settings. This means that if you manually customized the password or network name, this information will be lost. To find the original default network name and password, find the white sticker on the top or side of the WiFi modem and refer to the SSID and passphrase or pre-shared key.

1. Locate the small pinhole reset button located on the back of the Rogers WiFi Modem.
2. Push and hold this button down for 30 seconds with a paper clip or pen. This will cause the modem lights to begin to flash, and after a few moments the modem will come back online.
3. Reconnect to your WiFi network and test to see if the connectivity issues are still present.

WiFi technology is named 802.11 with a letter added to the end to indicate the generation of the technology, with each new generation offering more performance, range, and ability to overcome interference from other wireless devices.

Similar to improving generations of iPhones or Android, each generation gets better. When WiFi was first standardized, the protocol was named B, then G, then N and most recently 802.11AC. These standards transmit and receive data via a radio-style connection between the access point and the client using two possible frequencies, 2.4GHz for all generations, and more recently in 5GHz on most newer N and AC models.

• 2.4GHz has longer range, but can’t be used by too many devices simultaneously, and can’t go as fast as the latest Business Internet plans allow for.
• 5GHz can’t communicate as far from the wireless router or access point, but can go much faster and handle more wireless devices before running into issues.
• Newer WiFi technology has improved greatly. If you encounter repeated issues and don’t have AC capable routers and computers, consider upgrading to newer equipment.
• Large areas can require multiple access points for full coverage. Solutions like Advantage WiFi or others that use multiple access points allow the same network to be used throughout a large space.

Do you have your own internal network equipment?

Device limitations may be preventing you from getting the speeds that your are subscribed to.

• Are your third party networking devices (IE router, firewall) Gigabit or 10/100/1000 capable and enabled?
• What speeds are your individual devices capable of?

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard, or select the search box in the bottom left corner of your screen.
2. Search for “Device Manager” in the search box.
3. Select Device Manager.
4. Check under Network Adapters for the network card information.
5. In the name(s) of the adapter(s) listed below Network Adapters, look for “Gigabit” or “10/100/1000”. If found, then your computer is capable of up to 1000Mbps when using a wired connection.
6. If more than one result is listed, it is likely because you have a separate network card for WiFi. WiFi network cards can be identified as having one of the letters 'a', 'b', 'g', 'n' or 'ac' listed in the card's name. WiFi cards that do not contain 'n' or 'ac' in their names are older devices and will experience limited WiFi speeds.

WiFi access for customers can be a popular request at businesses. To avoid security concerns though, this should only be done by way of separate guest networks, either by using two routers, or newer options that can broadcast a second, separated guest network.

Rogers’ Advantage WiFi plans do this, as do many newer third party routers. Properly setting up a guest network will ensure that guests can’t gain access to important business information, including other customer data like credit cards.

Sites that only have one WiFi network should generally limit the use to internal business use and not provide the access to guests.

• How to change the wireless channel on your Rogers Business Modem

• How to test your internet connection direct from the Rogers modem
• Troubleshooting my slow Business Internet
• [Understanding WiFi interference and impedance](https://business.shaw.ca/support/understanding-wifi-interference-and-impedance"Understanding WiFi interference and impedance")
• Troubleshooting why I can't connect to my Business Internet