3 of the most common broadband fails – and how to fix them

What do you do when your internet goes down? Aside from losing your phone or keys, few things feel more stressful than when your phone, laptop or TV suddenly gets that spinning wheel and no connection message. If it’s going to happen, you can guarantee it does so just when you need it most – when you’re mid-video call, near the end of a level, or that good bit in the film.

So what do you do when the worst happens? Well, if you have EE’s Smart Hybrid Connect installed, you can sit back and relax, as your connection will come straight back on – even if the problem is bigger than just your home connection.

Smart Hybrid Connect uses EE’s mobile network to provide you with a data connection even if the unthinkable happens, and there’s a signal outage in your area. This uses a separate box that can be placed anywhere in your home and connects to your WiFi network. In the unlikely event that your broadband signal goes down, your router will automatically switch over to the Smart Hybrid Connect box and use its 4G signal to connect you.

Below are some of the most common occasions when that connection fails and what

1. The work call freeze

It’s a busy day of working from home, and you have a morning of video calls to get through. Halfway through that second call, the picture starts to freeze, you lose parts of the conversation. You try to battle through, but it’s just getting worse. Will it hold till the end of the call? The signal drops, terminating the call and leaving you cut off…

Seconds later, though, it springs back into life. The Smart Hybrid Connect box has taken over, allowing you to rejoin the call and carry on your meeting. While the 4G connection isn’t as fast as fibre broadband, it’s enough to keep things going in situations like this and avoids you having to resort to phone calls.

2. The online game-over

After an all-day online gaming session, you’ve finally made it to the final challenge. Just one last push to complete it and return to real life for a while. Except, just as you’re loading up your weapons, the screen pauses and that dreaded no connection warning flashes up. Is this the one battle you can’t win?

Luckily the Smart Hybrid Connect box kicks in before the zombies start to attack and you’re free to carry on your mission. The data connection takes over giving you the bandwidth to keep fighting till the end, even if it takes a few more goes.

3. When a movie thriller turns into a horror story

There’s something comforting about a predictable plot on a film. You know the ones that start off well, then everything goes downhill, but then they turn it all around and come back winning? When you’ve invested in a three-hour blockbuster, though, you’re still hanging on the edge of your seat as you reach the final act. That’s when a new plot twist hits, but this time it’s down to your internet connection. Everything stops mid-chase, like some kind of Matrix move, as you check the red light flashing on your router.

Suddenly, something swoops in to save the day, and this hero doesn’t wear a cape. The Smart Hybrid Connect was waiting to tag in, with full bars of 4G signal when the router switched across to it. And just like that the action on screen continues and the on-screen stars are able to win after all.

In case of emergencies

While restoring your internet connection might not be life and death, going without is a real pain. EE offers some of the most reliable broadband connections around but even if it does fail, there’s a solution to keep you going. The Smart Hybrid Connect box comes included with selected broadband plans or can be added for a small monthly fee. Visit EE.co.uk for more details.