The tip I have for you this week is as simple as it can get! In short – my advice is “plug it in.” If you’re having connection issues when teaching online, dig out that old box of cords and cables you have stashed in a closet somewhere (everyone has that box) and find an ethernet cord. It’s the cord that looks a lot like a phone cord, but is usually thicker and sometimes yellow or blue. Use it to plug your laptop directly into the back of the modem or router and any connection issues you may be experiencing will very likely be solved! Trust me. I started doing this during the course I teach on Wednesday nights and I haven’t had a single issue since.

“But I have really strong internet/wi-fi!” you say. I believe you. You probably do. But right now our home wi-fi networks are under unusually high stress with everyone working, learning, and socializing from home. Internet service providers are also struggling to meet the demand the pandemic has put on their networks (especially if you live in a densely populated area – like Harrisburg City). Plugging your laptop into the ethernet port on your modem or router bypasses all the extra steps an internet signal has to go through to get to you. It also means that it doesn’t matter what other devices on your network are competing for the wi-fi signal, because you are plugged in directly to the source.

“I don’t think my computer has an ethernet port!” you say. It does! If you are using an HU provided laptop, IT promised me it has an ethernet port. It might be in disguise though. It took me a minute to find mine because it looks just like a USB port, but it has an expandable flap on the bottom. Look for the icon shown in the photo.

“But the modem/router isn’t located near the desk where I work!” you say. I hear that - mine either. Cables are so 20^th century that my router is hidden behind the sideboard in the dining room. Using a cable does immediately fix the problem though and the good news is that ethernet cables come in many lengths – even up to 100 ft long! I use my cable when I’m teaching and then roll it up and hide it with the router when I’m not. Don’t tell them I told you this, but my parents have an ethernet cable connected to the modem on the first floor that runs up two flights of stairs to the attic. (If they had asked for help, I would have helped them get a signal extender, but hey… it works! And I just avoid the subject at holidays.) Generally, the shorter the cable the better, but longer distances are definitely possible. Just make sure you tape longer cables down so you don’t create tripping hazards.

If you don’t have any ethernet cables on hand, you can pick one up for pretty cheap on Amazon or Staples.com and have it sent to your house. There are tons of options, but here is a basic one that comes in sizes from 3ft to 50ft: AmazonBasics RJ45 Cat-6 Ethernet Patch Internet Cable.

Hopefully this overly simple tip helps!