Wausau Tech Support Resource Center
Home Wi-Fi Help Center
Slow, dropping or confusing home Wi-Fi? Work through a simple decision tree to find out what's likely happening and what to try.
Step 1: Is It Slow, or Fully Disconnected?
Open whichever matches what you're experiencing right now.
It's connected, but slow or laggy
Try these in order:
- Restart your router and modem: unplug both for 30 seconds, plug the modem back in first, wait a minute, then the router.
- Move closer to the router temporarily to see if speed improves — this tells you whether it's a coverage issue.
- Check how many devices are actively streaming, gaming, or downloading at once; a lot of simultaneous heavy use slows everything down.
- Restart the specific device that feels slow, not just the router.
If it's slow in one part of the house but fine near the router, that's a coverage problem — see the coverage section below. If it's slow everywhere all the time, it may be your internet plan's speed or an issue with your provider.
It keeps dropping or disconnecting completely
Try these in order:
- Restart the modem and router (unplug both 30 seconds, modem first on power-up).
- Check for a service outage: your internet provider usually has an outage-status page or automated phone line.
- Check physical cables between the modem and router for a loose connection.
- If only one device keeps dropping, "forget" the Wi-Fi network on that device and reconnect with the password.
If restarting your equipment doesn't help and there's no known outage, book Wi-Fi Help so we can look at what's actually happening.
Some rooms have no signal at all (coverage / dead zones)
This is common in larger homes, homes with metal siding, or multi-level houses. A single router often can't reach every room well. Options include repositioning the router more centrally, adding a mesh Wi-Fi system, or adding a wired access point in the weak area. We can review your home's layout and recommend what actually makes sense — not every home needs the most expensive option.
A brand-new router or modem needs to be set up
Book Wi-Fi Help and we'll get it connected, set your network name and password, and connect your important devices while we're there.
Your Equipment vs. Your Provider
It helps to know where the responsibility line usually falls. Your internet provider (the company you pay monthly for internet) is generally responsible for the signal reaching your home and for outages on their network. Everything from the modem/router inward — your home's Wi-Fi coverage, device connections, and network settings — is typically your (or our) responsibility. If restarting your equipment doesn't help and your provider confirms there's no outage, that's usually a sign the issue is inside your home's setup, which is exactly what we help with.
A Quick Router Restart, Step by Step
- 1. Unplug the power from both the modem and the router.
- 2. Wait a full 30 seconds — this matters, don't rush it.
- 3. Plug the modem back in first. Wait about 60 seconds for its lights to settle.
- 4. Plug the router back in. Wait another minute or two for it to fully restart.
- 5. Reconnect a device and test.
Ready for a Real Person to Take Care of This?
Wi-Fi & Internet Help is a flat $129.00 home visit, 60–90 minutes. A friendly local technician comes to you.
New customers can check if they qualify for $19.00 off their first visit (code FIXIT19) during booking.
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Written and reviewed by the Wausau Tech Support team. Last reviewed September 21, 2026. This guide offers general, plain-language information — it is not professional cybersecurity, legal or financial advice. When in doubt about a specific situation, call us directly.