#TechTuesday – Wi-Fi Troubleshootingh

Has your Internet been slow? When troubleshooting, it’s important to remember that for many devices you’ll need to check two different connections: your wireless network and your broadband access.

For this week’s #TechTuesday segment, I discuss how to check your Internet speed with Bill Wills of WTAM 1100 Newsradio.

Recommended Internet speed test sites:

  • geeksquad.com/speedtest
  • www.speedtest.net/
  • www.measurementlab.net/tests/

Whole Home Wi-Fi Systems

WiFi networks are the best thing ever. Except when they don’t work everywhere you need them. With the increasing number of wireless devices in your home, you may have discovered “Wi-Fi dead spots”. Areas where the WiFi signal is weak, spotty or non-existent. The solution may be a whole home Wi-Fi system.

A whole home Wi-Fi system can help cover your home with wireless connectivity beyond that of a standard wireless router, provide security and parental monitoring benefits, all without complicated setup or maintenance. This is especially great for homes larger than 2500 square feet, or with complicated layouts.

whwf1.jpgInstead of the familiar router placed centrally in your home, whole home Wi-Fi systems use two or more Wi-Fi nodes that can be placed around you home to give better coverage in all areas, especially those areas that otherwise give you trouble. And if you find you need more coverage, you can add more nodes to your network.

This is very important if you’re looking to upgrade your home with wireless security cameras, garage door openers, wireless doorbells, and other smart home technology. Or even if you just want to lounge around the back yard with your tablet and a wireless speaker.

With the whole home Wi-Fi system, you get seamless coverage as you move from room to room. While a central Wi-Fi router and a Wi-Fi range extender can help provide coverage to a wireless dead spot, devices may lose connectivity as they switch from the router to the extender.

Once you’ve placed the nodes where they need to be, setup of your whole home Wi-Fi system is straightforward, while still allowing you to make use of features such as enhanced network security that alerts you if it detects threats, as well as better monitoring of the online sites and services your children have access to.

Control Your Kids Time Online With Circle

On this week’s #TechTuesday segment on WTAM 1100 Newsradio, I spoke to Bill Wills about Circle with Disney. This $99.99 piece of hardware pairs with your home Wi-Fi network to help monitor and control your kid’s access to the Internet regardless of device they use.

Learn more at meetcircle.com.

Answers to 4 Common WiFi Questions

With all of the connected devices in your home these days, issues with your wireless network can cause a headache.

Connected Devices

Geek Squad Agent Woodworth and myself helped answer 4 of the most common home Wi-Fi questions we see from our clients in this piece in the Arizona Republic.