Wi-Fi troubleshooting

Before troubleshooting problems with your Wi-Fi connection, ensure that you have followed the Wi-Fi location requirements guidance provided in the relevant installation instructions and performed a power cycle/reboot of the devices you are experiencing problems with. The troubleshooting information below can be used if you are experiencing problems connecting your router to an external Wi-Fi network (Dock WLAN) such as the Wi-Fi provided at a marina or if you are experiencing problems connecting mobile devices to the router’s Wi-Fi access point Boat Wi-Fi).

Cannot find network

If you cannot find the Wi-Fi network, it could be for one of the following reasons:

  • Wi-Fi is disabled — Enable the Wi-Fi connection on the device you are trying to connect to the network.

  • Router not broadcasting — Ensure that the router you are trying to connect to is broadcasting its SSID. If you have no control over the router’s settings or do not want the router to broadcast its SSID then you will need to connect to the router manually by entering it SSID and password.

  • Router is out of range — Wi-Fi performance degrades over distance so devices farther away will receive less network bandwidth. Devices close to their maximum Wi-Fi range will experience slow connection speeds, signal dropouts or not being able to connect at all. Move the device closer to the router and try to connect.

  • Signal blocked or degraded — Bulkheads, decks and other heavy structure can degrade and even block the Wi-Fi signal. Depending on the thickness and material used it may not always be possible to pass a Wi-Fi signal through certain structures. If possible, remove the obstruction, or try moving the device so that the obstruction is no longer present.

Cannot connect to the network

If the network is available but you cannot connect to it check the following:

  • Incorrect network credentials — Ensure you are entering the password correctly. Network passwords are case sensitive.

  • Wrong network — Ensure you are selecting the correct network.

  • Router is out of range — Wi-Fi performance degrades over distance so devices farther away will receive less network bandwidth. Devices close to their maximum Wi-Fi range will experience slow connection speeds, signal drop outs or not being able to connect at all. Move the device closer to the router and try to connect.

  • Signal blocked or degraded — Bulkheads, decks and other heavy structure can degrade and even block the Wi-Fi signal. Depending on the thickness and material used it may not always be possible to pass a Wi-Fi signal through certain structures. If possible, remove the obstruction, or try moving the device so that the obstruction is no longer present.

  • Wi-Fi channel congestion — In areas where there are a high number of Wi-Fi networks Wi-Fi channels can become congested making it difficult to connect or maintain a network connection. Try changing the Wi-Fi channel used by the router you are trying to connect to. You can use a free Wi-Fi analyzer app on a smart device to help you choose a less congested Wi-Fi channel.

  • Interference (2.4 GHz frequency) — Interference can be caused by other devices that use the 2.4GHz frequency See list below of some common devices that use the 2.4GHz frequency:

    • Bluetooth devices

    • Microwave ovens

    • Fluorescent lighting

    • Cordless phones / baby monitors

    • Motion sensors

    Temporarily switch off devices in turn until you have identified the device causing the interference, then remove or reposition the offending device(s).

  • Interference (electrical and electronic devices) — Interference caused by electrical and electronic devices or equipment and their associated cabling could generate an electromagnetic field which may interfere with the Wi-Fi signal. Temporarily switch off devices in turn until you have identified the device causing the interference, then remove or reposition the offending device(s).

Slow connection / frequent connection dropouts

If you experience slow connection speeds or a connection that regularly drops out, work through the ‘Cannot find network’ and ‘Cannot connect to the network’ troubleshooting above.