cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Rebooting your router: a simple solution to help speed things up!

SoutienTech
Spécialiste Soutien Technique
Latest update : 03/26/2020

 

When one or several of your devices is lagging, a simple device reboot, starting with your router, can help solve most problems. Our Technical Support experts delve into the subject! Routeur_Wi-Fi_AC_390x289.png

 

HelixBorneXB7-Face-1072x920.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebooting your gateway or router: yes, but why?

The gateway or router is your household’s first point of contact with the network. Even when it’s properly installed and working (strong signal, sufficient coverage), it could be experiencing interference with other sources:

 

  • Wi-Fi interference

The Wi-Fi networks around your home may be using the same frequency channel as yours. The number of channels is limited, especially in cases when the Wi-Fi network is running on frequencies of 2.4 GHz.

 

If you have a Helix Fi gateway, it automatically and continuously chooses the most appropriate radio frequency. If you have a Videotron router, it automatically selects the best frequency channel during the initialization phase only. So, if conditions change in or around your home, the initial channel selected may no longer be optimal. By rebooting your router, you’ll obtain the best channel for your current environment.

 

  • Other sources of interference

Several other devices—telephones, wireless headphones and speakers, surveillance monitors, microwaves—can cause interference if they all use the 2.4 GHz bandwidth. Avoid this kind of annoyance by setting your router’s bandwidth to 5 GHz.

 

Is unplugging and reconnecting your gateway or router on a regular basis helpful?

Yes. In doing so, you help maintain the optimal performance of your Internet connection. If you never reboot devices that use the same Wi-Fi network frequency, you run the risk of having devices access the Internet at the lowest programmed speed. This is especially true if you live in a large city, in a densely populated area where more gateways or routers means more connected devices, and that means a higher chance of interference.

 

Good to know: If you don’t like cables and wires that much, you can reboot your gateway with the Helix Fi app, and your router with the Videotron WiFi app.

 

And what about your modem?

 

If you have a Helix Fi gateway, you don’t have a modem. If you have a Videotron router and only one of your devices is lagging, rebooting the router should do the trick. However, if all your devices are lagging, you’ll need to reboot your router AND your modem. It could be that in both cases, your router is the problem. If at least one of your devices is working, it generally means your modem is ensuring your Internet connection.

 

Where in your home should you install your gateway or router to ensure the best possible Internet connection?

 

 

The best location is always the very centre of the Wi-Fi network usage area. This means as close to the centre of your home as possible, in an open space, about one metre off the ground, and away from possible sources of interference.

 

If a Videotron technician installs your equipment, they will recommend the best location to ensure the best connection.

 

What’s the difference between 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands?

The 2.4 GHz band provides better coverage and easily travels through obstacles, whereas the 5 GHz band is less affected by interference from other devices and offers a faster transmission speed.

 

How does the Wi-Fi signal work? How should you position your wireless router? What are the different types of interferences? We literally tell you everything you need to know in the article How to improve your Wi-Fi network.