PANORA FIBER • WWW.PANORAFIBER.COM • 641 . 755-2424 IN PANORA • 641 . 332-2000 IN GUTHRIE CENTER Why a Guest Wi-Fi Network Makes Sense When people visit your home, one of their first questions is likely to be, “What’s your Wi-Fi password?” If your response is to give them the password for your main Wi-Fi network, you may want to think again. Revealing this information could pose a network security risk, since guests might accidentally download a malicious program or connect an already infected device to your network. A better approach is to set up a guest Wi-Fi network with its own password. A guest Wi-Fi network is essentially a separate access point on your router, which allows visitors to access the internet without compromising the security of your main Wi-Fi network. There are other benefits of having a guest Wi-Fi network. You can create a simpler password for guests that’s shorter and easier for them to remember. You can also put a limit on the speed/bandwidth available to your visitors while you enjoy maximum performance and speed from your main Wi-Fi network. Panora Fiber can help you set up a guest Wi-Fi network as part of our Managed Wi-Fi service. For details, call 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center. Curtis Thornberry, Technology Development Director for Panora Fiber, explains what to do should connection issues arise. When we can’t access the internet, we get frustrated and wonder what’s causing the problem. Is it my laptop? My router? My internet service? Recently I was streaming a show on my TV, and it froze. I checked to see if I had an internet connection on my iPad and found that I did. Moments later, the TV gasped back from its temporary pause. Because my iPad was connected, I knew my internet service and wireless router were working. The culprit for that TV pause was the streaming app, which will sometimes interrupt shows and cause momentary freezes. When I troubleshoot an internet connection, I typically start with my computer or whatever device is having an issue and work my way back to the internet service. As a first step, power cycle/reboot your computer or other device. If you’ve rebooted and things still aren’t working, move on to the router. Are there lights, and do they look normal? Power cycle the router, and after 10-15 seconds, check to see if your device reconnected to the internet. Should you still experience problems, ask yourself these questions: Is this the first time I’ve had an issue like this? Are my other devices having a similar issue? Am I using the internet where I normally would or, for example, am I using it outside but my router is inside? While I’m on the topic of routers, they don’t last forever. Wi-Fi technology keeps evolving. If you haven’t upgraded your router in the last few years and are having issue with disconnects and slow speeds, a newer router with Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 hardware will improve your experience. These routers support the growing number of connected devices now in use in homes. Keep in mind that to get strong Wi-Fi coverage inside and outside, mesh Wi-Fi extenders may be needed. Some people enjoy the challenge of creating a home network with the latest Wi-Fi technology, measuring signal strength, maintaining the security, expanding the coverage, and troubleshooting the connection. If you’re not one of them, I encourage you to sign up for Managed Wi-Fi service and let Panora Fiber handle it all for you. To learn more about Managed Wi-Fi, call 641.755.2424 in Panora or 641.332.2000 in Guthrie Center. TECH TIPS: Troubleshooting Internet Issues
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMzNDE=