It’s easy to do if you simply follow these steps:

Did you just get a new tablet or other device and can’t figure out how to connect it to your home’s Wi-Fi network? Or are you wondering how to use the Wi-Fi network in a public place or the home of a friend or family member? You’re not alone.

RTC Networks receives many calls from our customers with questions related to connecting devices to Wi-Fi. So we’re sharing these step-by-step instructions to help you understand the process. You may want to keep this article handy for future reference.

1. Make sure the Wi-Fi connection for your device is on.

Regardless of the device — laptop, tablet, or smartphone —  it’s possible to turn off Wi-Fi. Some devices have a physical switch that turns Wi-Fi on or off, while others provide the ability to toggle Wi-Fi on the software settings. Make sure your device does not have the Wi-Fi capability turned off before proceeding.

2. Access your device’s settings.

Navigate to your device’s “Settings” and open them. Then navigate to “Network Settings,” followed by “Wi-Fi.” You can also click on the Wi-Fi icon on a computer’s toolbar to open up a dropdown menu, which will list the names of the Wi-Fi networks in the area.

3. Find the name of the Wi-Fi network you want.

When you see the names of the Wi-Fi networks in the area, find your home network’s name and select it. If you’re somewhere other than home, look for the name of the network at that location, such as “Susie’s Coffee Shop Wi-Fi” and select it.

Here’s a tip: If your home network’s name is not easy to remember, perhaps because it contains random letters and numbers, make sure you have the name (and password) written down somewhere. That way, when guests at your home ask about Wi-Fi access, you’ll be ready!

4. Enter the password for the Wi-Fi network.

For security reasons, many private and public Wi-Fi networks require passwords to gain access. If the network you’re trying to connect to has a password, you’ll be prompted to enter that password before you can access the internet. When at a hotel, restaurant, or other public location, you may need to ask an employee for the current password. In some cases, the password will be displayed on a counter or other prominent spot for the convenience of guests.

5. Test out your internet connection.

Once you think you’ve connected your device to the Wi-Fi network, open up a page in your web browser to make sure it loads. If it does, you’re ready to go. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.

6. Troubleshoot if your device won’t connect to the Wi-Fi network.

There are a variety of reasons why a device may not be able to connect to a particular Wi-Fi network. Here are a few of the most common problems and their solutions:

• Some older computers are unable to connect to the internet wirelessly. You may need an Ethernet cable to get online.
• If the internet is slow or won’t connect, you may be out of range of the wireless router. Try moving closer to the source.
• You may have entered the password incorrectly. Double check that you were given the correct password and try entering it again.

As a cooperative, one of RTC Networks’ values is “Focus on the Customer.” We’re always happy to help you use and enjoy the communications technology available today. Please stop by your local RTC office or call us at 1.888.862.3115 if you need assistance.

If you’re having issues with any of your RTC Networks services, please call our office immediately at 888.862.3115. Many times, customers will tell us they’ve been experiencing troubles for days, weeks, or even months. By waiting to call us, they experience a longer period of technical difficulties than is necessary. Remember, RTC typically does not know you’re having an issue until you inform us.

RTC Networks’ business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. RTC does have an after-hours answering service that can troubleshoot email and Internet troubles over the phone. We also have technicians on call for emergency situations. If it’s not an emergency, we can try to fix the service issue over the phone. If the problem cannot be resolved over the phone, we’ll send out a technician the next business day.

When you call to report a technical issue after hours, please provide the following information so we can help you in a timely manner:

• Name
• Home telephone number
• Cell phone number
• Account number

If you’re not available when we return your call, we’ll leave you a message if possible. (Sometimes when we call cell phone numbers, the mail box is full or not set up, and we can’t leave a message.)

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Since your power was off for an extended period of time, you may need to reboot your router.  Here is some info on how to do that:

Do NOT press the reset button.

• If your router is equipped with an on/off button on the lower left side, press that button to power off. Wait 20-30 seconds and press again to reapply power to the router.
• If your router does not have an on/off button, remove the power cable from the lower left side by squeezing in the sides of the cable and pulling out. Wait 20-30 seconds and then reattach the power cable to apply power to the router.
• The router will take roughly 3-5 minutes to fully boot back up.

If you are still experiencing issues, please contact us at 701-862-3115.

Given how much use your home’s Wi-Fi network gets, the last thing you want is a weak Wi-Fi signal that can reduce your available bandwidth and internet speed. Here are some issues that often cause Wi-Fi problems:

Distance

The farther away you are from wireless routers and access points, the weaker your Wi-Fi signal will be.

Construction

If your Wi-Fi signal mysteriously drops off in certain rooms, it may be due to your home’s construction. Especially thick walls can muffle Wi-Fi signals, as can certain types of construction materials such as metallic mesh inside plaster and lath walls.

Device Interference

You may find intermittent signal problems caused by interference from other devices. Wi-Fi operates in the 2.4-gigahertz band, as do cordless phones and some remote alarm products. Additionally, microwaves can produce substantial interference in the frequency range used by wireless devices and can completely disrupt a Wi-Fi connection.

Want help managing your home’s Wi-Fi network? RTC Networks offers Whole Home Wi-Fi, a monthly service that provides guaranteed Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home and includes an RTC assessment, installation, setup of your network, connection of devices, and Tech Home Protect Plus. To learn more, visit www.rtc.coop/wifi.

There could be a few reasons why your Wi-Fi is slow or non-existent in certain areas.

1. The distance between your Wi-Fi router/modem and your device is too far.
2. There could be things blocking or interrupting your Wi-Fi Signal. The more walls the Wi-Fi signal has to travel through, the weaker your signal will become.
3. Numerous Devices: Cell phones, smart TVs, tablets, appliances, baby monitors, wireless security cameras and wireless speakers all operate on the same frequencies and can lower your Wi-Fi speeds.

Remote Support

RTC Networks offers Winter and Summer disconnect plans. Contact us to place your services on a seasonal disconnect plan.