Portable Wi-Fi routers have gained popularity over the past few years as a quick and easy solution if your Wi-Fi isn’t working. With most of our devices requiring some form of internet connection and more of us working from home, they can become quite the lifesaver. They work by using signal from a SIM card to provide a Wi-Fi connection via the network data.
Although they are usually a temporary solution, it can still be inconvenient if you experience any drop in the connection. In this article we have outlined the essentials to check to get your connection up and running again.
Has the SIM card been inserted?
As portable Wi-Fi routers run off network data, you will need to ensure the SIM card is inserted before usage. You may find that your device connects to the router without the SIM card inserted, but you will not be able to use the internet until the SIM is inserted.
Does the router have enough charge?
To make the router portable, the unit will have an internal battery which will need to be charged. Without sufficient charge the router will not operate for long periods of time and may switch off shortly after being turned on.
This can be quite simply rectified by recharging and ensuring that any charging lights are indicating a full charge. It is worth noting that your router may not function whilst being plugged in and charging, so ensure it is unplugged to use when fully charged.
Do you have sufficient signal coverage?
With the router relying on the data from the SIM cards, it is integral that you have good signal coverage. Without this, the router will be unable to provide a good connection for your devices. So if the signal is weak, the connection speeds via the router will be slower. You can use online tools, such as Ofcom, to check the signal coverage in your area.
Have you used all the data?
If you notice a drop in connectivity, it is worth checking your data usage. The methods to check the data usage will vary via network provider, but you can either contact the network directly or visit a URL to check the remaining data. If it is all used up, you will need to top this up with more data to
continue using the router. For more information on this, check your user manual and network information.
Do you have too many devices connected?
Although some routers will state that many multiple devices can be connected, you should be wary to not exceed the limit. You should consider that whilst a large volume of devices can be connected, you may not be able to stream mass content at the same time from the router. This is because it may struggle to provide data quick enough to all the devices and affect the streaming quality.
Is the network out of range?
The router range will vary depending on your unit you have chosen. The range is likely to be shorter than a domestic Wi-Fi router, so be sure to check this. You may be able to regain connectivity by simply moving your device closer to the portable router.
To summarise…
Connectivity issues are fairly easy to rectify using the steps above. If you experience any difficulty with your portable router, if you’ve tried everything in the above guide, we recommend contacting your network provider who may be able to delve into deeper troubleshooting to get you up and running again. For more of on tech, click here.