Proper precautions for keeping your laptop safe when traveling - SofTech Computers in Prescott

Most people travel light - some clothes, a couple things to do on the plane or in the car, your cell phone, and a laptop. Little do they know that bringing a laptop with you can present a lot more hazards than you might expect. From extra trouble with the TSA to hassles with Wi-Fi, it can be a real burden to bring your laptop places. Fortunately, SofTech Computers, Prescott’s hometown computer heroes, can help you make your travel experience less stressful and more what travel should be - FUN!

Airplanes - If you plan on traveling by air, you might want to consider carrying your laptop in an easy to access bag and or in the front pouch of your carry on bag. All airports in the United States now require that you put your laptop and all other large electronics in a separate container for x-ray scanning. You can save yourself a lot of hassle if you are prepared for that. Also, if you are carrying sensitive media like internal or external hard drives, solid state drives not enclosed in a metal housing, or tape drives (not cassette tapes), you should ask the TSA for an alternate screening of those items, as they are what is considered “x-ray and magnetic sensitive media”.

Cars - If you’re bringing your laptop on a trip that is particularly bumpy, like an off-roading trip or a trip where you know you’ll be going down a very bumpy road, we would like to advise you that you should not use your laptop during that time, and even go as far as consider investing in a foam case or pad of some kind that can help absorb the shock from the small bumps. These bumps can really wear on a computer and potentially cause it to die faster than expected.

Wi-Fi - Next, we would like to advise you about security when using Wi-Fi on your laptop. Only trust your friends’ and family’s Wi-Fi connection as secure. Any Wi-Fi that isn’t secure, or that doesn’t need a password to connect to is ill-advisable for anything containing personal information -- passwords, online banking, etc. You should refrain from using your laptop or any device connected to the Wi-Fi if you need to do these things. A great alternative would be using your smartphone as a hotspot, or using a Mi-Fi hotspot because, while they can be expensive, they are the most secure way to bank on the go. Or, purchase a VPN and avoid all the hassle to begin with. If you’d like to know more about VPNs and how they can help you, call SofTech Computers.

Desktops - These tips were relating to Laptops and travel, but what if you are going to somewhere for an extended trip or need to use all of the computing power of your desktop? Always keep your computer on its side, not standing up. Plus, you might want to consider bringing your computer to SofTech to travel-proof it. This constitutes making sure that everything is in place and that there is little to no movement among the parts of the computer. Overall, it is not advisable to move desktops over long distances frequently, and can seriously hurt the life of the machine.

Have more questions about travel safety when it comes to your laptop and personal information? Give SofTech Computers, your local Prescott computer repair shop, a call. We’re always available to help you and would be happy to make sure that you are travel ready. We can be reached at 928-443-8770 or you can visit our website as http://www.softechcomputers.com

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Simple Solutions to a Slow Wi-Fi Connection in Prescott - Softech Computers

A Wi-Fi connection is something that we take for granted. There those days when we encounter a slow connection, and believe it or not, here at SofTech Computers in Prescott, we have had similar issues. You might ask, "Why is my connection slow?" SofTech answers the question, "How can I fix my Wi-Fi problems?"

Faster speeds are keeping us more closely connected from around the block, across our beautiful state of Arizona, to around the world. If your connection still works, but is slow, try these simple tips:

• The most common problem with slow Wi-Fi is being too far from the router. The farther away you are from the router, the less reliable your connection. Try moving a little closer to the room where the router is located. If you find the constant moving inconvenient, simply re-locate your router to a centralized room, away from other devices, and on a shelf.
• Lack of bandwidth can cause a slowdown. Your internet could be spread too thin when everyone in the house is placing a demand on it through use of additional phones, computers, and televisions – all with data hungry apps such as Netflix and YouTube. Try disconnecting any device that is not in use. Try connecting one of the devices with a Cat-5 Ethernet cable directly to the router. It could also be that someone is leaching off your internet. Prevent that by a secure setup for your network, and keep your password a secret!
• A real issue could be interference. Most of us leave the settings unchanged when we first set up the Internet. Avoid channels 1, 6 and 11. They can be overcrowded. Try a newer model of router. They are capable of selecting less crowded frequencies upon rebooting. Otherwise, you can perform a power cycle or log into the admin panel and choose a different channel.
• Once in a while there really is no Internet connection. Something glitches and the router, modem, or both stop communicating – for no reason. It happens. The first thing to try is pulling the plug. Disconnect both the modem and router, wait 30 seconds, then restore power to both.
• If any of these quick fixes don’t work, the cause could be a service outage, most likely a severe one. It’s not always an issue that has to do with the hardware. There’s not much you can do other than to call your Internet Service Provider. While you won’t get instant results, at least they will know from your call which area is being affected.

SofTech Computers is your first choice for computer repair in Prescott. If our tips don’t solve your slow Wi-Fi problems immediately, talk to one of our specialists today. We are conveniently located in Downtown Prescott a few doors away from Far From Folsom. Call 928 443-8770 or visit us at http://www.softechcomputers.com/ to learn about the services SofTech Computers offers.

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