What's Wrong With Your Network? Common Problems and Solutions

Here at Gravity Systems we fix business network problems every day, so we know how frustrating they can be. Here are some common problems and possible answers from our Austin tech support crew.

Wireless connectivity issues – Wireless connectivity problems can occur either at the router or at the device itself. If your network suddenly becomes unavailable to all devices, then the router may be off, damaged or dead. Lack of connection at the device may be caused by out-of-date drivers, a network card problem or an incorrect security key. You may even fix the problem by moving the device closer to the router.

One IP, multiple devices – This network conflict occurs when more than one device tries to access a LAN or Internet server using the same IP address. This used to happen a lot when systems depended on static IP addresses, but it can also happen with dynamic (DHCP) IP addresses. Re-booting the router should force the DHCP server to assign fresh unique IP addresses to each device. You can also use the command prompt to make the server release the problematic IP address. If all else fails, look into a firmware upgrade.

Sluggish or spotty performance – Does your network seem slower than it once did, to the point that productivity is starting to suffer? Ask yourself whether any new devices, workstations or applications have been put into use. The extra workload may be spreading your available bandwidth too thin – especially if you rely on VoIP, streaming video and other bandwidth-heavy applications. You may need to either modify your employees' usage habits or invest in more robust bandwidth.

Networks are tricky things, but your Austin IT support team at Gravity Systems can come to the rescue. If your network is acting more like a “net-not-work,” give us a call!