Troubleshooting an Unstable Internet Connection | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Troubleshooting an Unstable Internet Connection to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

La conexión a internet ha estado inestable desde esta mañana.

lah koh-nek-see-OWN ah een-ter-NET ah es-TAH-doh ee-nes-TAH-bleh DES-deh ES-tah mah-NYAH-nah. The internet connection has been unstable since this morning.

Mi videollamada empieza pronto.

mee vee-deh-oh-yah-MAH-dah em-PYEH-sah PROHN-toh. My video call starts soon.

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

kohm-PRWEH-bah see OH-troh dees-poh-see-TEE-boh es-TAH oo-SAHN-doh deh-mah-SYAH-doh AHN-choh deh BAHN-dah ah-OH-rah MEES-moh. See if another device is using too much bandwidth right now.

La tableta está descargando actualizaciones, así que eso podría explicar por qué todo parece lento.

lah tah-BLEH-tah es-TAH des-kahr-GAHN-doh ahk-too-ah-lee-sah-see-OH-nes ah-SEE keh EH-soh poh-DREE-ah eks-plee-KAHR por KEH TOH-doh pah-REH-seh LEN-toh. The tablet is downloading updates, so that might explain why everything feels slow.

Pon en pausa la actualización y luego reinicia el router si la señal sigue fallando.

pohn en POW-sah lah ahk-too-ah-lee-sah-see-OWN ee LWEH-goh ray-NEE-syah el ROO-tehr see lah seh-NYAHL SEE-geh fah-YAHN-doh. Pause the update, then restart the router if the signal still drops.

También tengo el punto de acceso de mi teléfono como respaldo, aunque es más lento.

tahm-BYEHN TEN-goh el POON-toh deh ahk-SEH-soh deh mee teh-LEH-foh-noh KOH-moh reh-SPAHL-doh OWN-keh es mahs LEN-toh. I also have my phone's hotspot as a backup, although it is slower.

Si el punto de acceso se vuelve inestable durante la reunión, cambia al modo de solo audio.

see el POON-toh deh ahk-SEH-soh seh BWEHL-beh ee-nes-TAH-bleh doo-RAHN-teh lah reh-oo-NYOWN KAHM-byah al MOH-doh deh SOH-loh OW-dee-oh. If the hotspot gets shaky during the meeting, switch to audio only.

¿Debería avisar al equipo antes de que empiece la llamada?

deh-beh-REE-ah ah-bee-SAHR al eh-KEE-poh AHN-tes deh keh em-PYEH-seh lah yah-MAH-dah? Should I warn the team before the call begins?

Un mensaje breve les ayudaría a entender lo que está pasando.

oon men-SAH-heh BREH-beh les ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah ah en-ten-DEHR loh keh es-TAH pah-SAHN-doh. A short message would help them understand what is happening.

Puedo decir que quizá cambie de red si la llamada se congela.

PWEH-doh deh-SEER keh kee-SAH KAHM-byeh deh REHD see lah yah-MAH-dah seh kohn-HEH-lah. I can say I may switch networks if the call freezes.

Eso debería evitar que la gente piense que te fuiste de repente.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah eh-bee-TAHR keh lah HEN-teh PYEHN-seh keh teh FWEES-teh deh reh-PEHN-teh. That should keep people from thinking you suddenly left.

Word by Word

La La is the article meaning “the” before conexión in La conexión a internet. It introduces the specific internet connection being discussed, and the same form appears as la before actualización, señal, and llamada.

conexión Conexión means “connection”; here it refers to the internet connection that has been unstable. It is useful in the technical expression conexión a internet, which identifies the connection being used.

a In conexión a internet, a links conexión with the service it connects to, giving the meaning “internet connection.” This preposition is reused in the exact pattern conexión a internet.

internet Internet refers to the online network in conexión a internet. The expression names the service associated with the conexión, so it is useful when discussing access or connectivity.

ha Ha is the auxiliary used in ha estado inestable to describe the connection’s condition over a period up to now. The reusable pattern ha estado + adjective describes a condition that has continued during a period.

estado In ha estado inestable, estado helps express that the connection has remained in an unstable condition. The exact combination ha estado inestable is useful for describing a condition that began earlier and is still relevant.

inestable Inestable means “unstable”; here it describes the connection’s unreliable condition. It can be reused after ha estado to describe something that has remained unreliable.

desde Desde marks the starting point of the period in desde esta mañana, meaning “since this morning.” It is useful before a time expression when stating when an ongoing condition began.

esta Esta means “this” in esta mañana and points to the morning connected with the current situation. The pattern esta + time expression identifies a current or immediately relevant period.

mañana Mañana means “morning” in desde esta mañana. Together with desde esta, it gives the starting time for the connection’s instability.

Mi Mi means “my” in Mi videollamada and shows that the video call belongs to or concerns the speaker. The reusable pattern is mi + noun, as in Mi videollamada.

videollamada Videollamada means “video call”; here it is the call that starts soon. It is used as the noun in Mi videollamada and refers to a meeting conducted by video.

empieza Empieza means “starts” or “begins” in Mi videollamada empieza pronto. It is useful for stating when an event or scheduled activity begins.

pronto Pronto means “soon” and places the start of the video call in the near future. It commonly follows an event or action when the time is close, as in empieza pronto.

Comprueba Comprueba is a direct instruction to check or find out something in Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda. The reusable pattern Comprueba si introduces something the listener should verify.

si Si means “whether” in Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda, introducing the point to be checked. Here it does not introduce a condition; it connects comprueba with the question being investigated.

otro Otro means “another” in otro dispositivo and identifies an additional device besides the one already being considered. The pattern otro + singular noun is useful when asking about one more item of the same general type.

dispositivo Dispositivo means “device”; here it refers to another piece of equipment using the connection. It is the subject of otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda.

está Está helps form está usando, describing an activity currently in progress. The reusable pattern está + gerund describes what a person or device is doing at that moment.

usando Usando means “using” in está usando demasiado ancho de banda and describes the device’s current activity. It appears after está to form an ongoing-action expression.

demasiado Demasiado means “too much” in demasiado ancho de banda, indicating an excessive amount of bandwidth. The pattern demasiado + quantity or noun phrase is useful for describing an amount that is more than appropriate.

ancho In ancho de banda, ancho contributes the idea of width within the technical expression for bandwidth. Its meaning here comes together with de banda, so the complete expression is the useful reusable unit.

de In ancho de banda, de links ancho with banda to form the technical expression for bandwidth. The same preposition also marks relationships in de mi teléfono, de solo audio, and antes de que empiece la llamada.

banda In ancho de banda, banda is part of the technical expression meaning “bandwidth,” not a separate reference to a musical band. Reuse it together with ancho in the exact expression ancho de banda.

ahora Ahora means “now” in ahora mismo and places the checking in the present moment. Together with mismo, it forms the time expression used for an immediate situation.

mismo Mismo reinforces the immediate time reference in ahora mismo, giving “right now.” It is useful in this exact expression when stressing that something is happening at this moment.

tableta Tableta means “tablet”; here it is the device downloading updates. It is the subject in La tableta está descargando actualizaciones.

descargando Descargando means “downloading” and describes the tablet’s activity in está descargando actualizaciones. It follows está to show an action in progress.

actualizaciones Actualizaciones means “updates”; here these are the files or software changes being downloaded by the tablet. It is the object of está descargando in La tableta está descargando actualizaciones.

así In así que, así helps introduce the result of the tablet downloading updates: it may explain the slow performance. The complete connector así que means “so,” and it is useful for linking a reason with a result.

que Que links parts of several expressions in the dialogue, including así que, lo que está pasando, and antes de que empiece la llamada. Its exact contribution depends on the construction: it completes the result connector, links lo with the following clause, or introduces the clause after antes de.

eso Eso means “that” or “that thing” in eso podría explicar and refers back to the tablet downloading updates. It is useful for pointing to an already mentioned situation as the possible explanation.

podría Podría expresses possibility in eso podría explicar, meaning that the updates might explain why everything seems slow. The pattern podría + infinitive is useful when presenting a possible cause without stating it as certain.

explicar Explicar means “explain” in eso podría explicar por qué todo parece lento. It is the action that the updates might perform as a possible cause, and it follows podría in this expression.

por In por qué, por contributes the question about the reason for something. The complete expression por qué asks “why,” as in por qué todo parece lento.

qué In por qué todo parece lento, qué helps ask for the reason, while por completes the expression meaning “why.” The exact pattern por qué + clause is useful when asking why a situation occurs.

todo Todo means “everything” in todo parece lento and refers broadly to the things affected by the slow connection. It is the subject of parece lento in the explanation being considered.

parece Parece means “seems” or “appears” in todo parece lento, presenting slowness as the observed impression. The pattern parece + adjective is useful for describing how something appears.

lento Lento means “slow” in todo parece lento and describes the observed performance of everything. It completes the description after parece in this exact expression.

Pon Pon is a direct instruction meaning “put” or “set” in Pon en pausa la actualización. The reusable command pattern Pon + object + en pausa tells someone to stop an activity temporarily.

en In Pon en pausa, en places the update in the state called pausa. The exact pattern en pausa is used when something is temporarily stopped.

pausa Pausa means “pause” in Pon en pausa la actualización and names the temporary stopped state. Together with en, it forms en pausa, the state the update should enter.

actualización Actualización means “update”; here it is the download that should be paused. It is the object in Pon en pausa la actualización.

y Y means “and” and joins the two instructions Pon en pausa la actualización and luego reinicia el router. It is useful for connecting successive actions in one instruction.

luego Luego means “then” or “afterward” and places the router restart after the update is paused. It is useful for marking the next step in a sequence.

reinicia Reinicia is an instruction to restart in reinicia el router. The pattern reinicia + device names the equipment that should be restarted.

el El means “the” before router in reinicia el router and identifies the specific router involved. It marks the noun as a particular device in the situation.

router Router refers to the device that manages the local internet connection. In reinicia el router, it is the equipment that should be restarted if the signal continues to fail.

señal Señal means “signal”; here it is the connection signal that may continue to fail. It is the subject of sigue fallando in si la señal sigue fallando.

sigue Sigue means “continues” or “is still” in sigue fallando, showing that the signal’s failure has not stopped. The pattern sigue + gerund describes an activity or condition that continues.

fallando Fallando means “failing” or “dropping” in la señal sigue fallando. It follows sigue to describe the continuing problem with the signal.

También También means “also” and adds the phone hotspot as another available option. It is useful at the beginning of a statement when adding information to what has already been mentioned.

tengo Tengo means “I have” in También tengo el punto de acceso de mi teléfono como respaldo and expresses possession or availability. The pattern tengo + noun is useful for stating what the speaker has available.

punto In punto de acceso, punto contributes to the name of the access point or hotspot. Its meaning here belongs with de acceso, so the complete expression punto de acceso identifies the backup connection.

acceso In punto de acceso, acceso contributes the idea of access within the expression for a hotspot or access point. Reuse it together with punto in the exact expression punto de acceso.

teléfono Teléfono means “phone” in de mi teléfono and identifies the device providing the point of access. The phrase de mi teléfono connects the hotspot with the speaker’s phone.

como Como means “as” in como respaldo and presents the hotspot in the role of a backup. The pattern tener algo como respaldo is useful when describing an available fallback option.

respaldo Respaldo means “backup” in como respaldo and refers to an alternative connection kept for use if the main one fails. It is useful after como when naming a fallback role.

aunque Aunque means “although” and introduces a limitation in aunque es más lento. It connects the useful backup option with the fact that it is slower.

es Es means “is” in aunque es más lento and links the hotspot with the property of being slower. It is useful for identifying a current characteristic of something.

más Más means “more” in más lento and forms the comparison “slower.” The exact pattern más + adjective compares a quality with another understood reference.

se Se is part of the state-change expressions se vuelve inestable and se congela. In these dialogue forms, it marks the subject as entering an unstable or frozen state rather than describing a simple action on another object.

durante Durante means “during” and places the possible problem within the time of durante la reunión. It is useful before an event or period to say when something happens.

reunión Reunión means “meeting”; here it is the period during which the hotspot might become unstable. It appears after durante in durante la reunión.

cambia Cambia is a direct instruction to switch or change in cambia al modo de solo audio. The pattern cambia al modo + option tells someone to select a different operating mode.

al Al is the contraction of a and el in al modo de solo audio, meaning “to the.” It marks the mode selected after cambia.

modo Modo means “mode” in al modo de solo audio and identifies the setting to switch to. It is useful after cambia al when naming a selected operating mode.

solo Solo means “only” in solo audio and limits the mode to audio without the video component. It comes before audio in this exact setting expression.

audio Audio refers to sound communication in modo de solo audio. Here it names the reduced call mode to use if the hotspot becomes unstable.

Debería Debería asks whether an action would be advisable in Debería avisar al equipo. The pattern Debería + infinitive is useful when asking for guidance about what the speaker ought to do.

avisar Avisar means “notify” or “warn” in Debería avisar al equipo. It names the action of informing the team before the call, and it follows debería in this question.

equipo Equipo means “team”; here it refers to the people who should receive the warning. It appears as the recipient in avisar al equipo.

antes Antes establishes an earlier time in antes de que empiece la llamada, meaning “before the call begins.” The reusable construction antes de que introduces an event that must happen later than the notifying action.

llamada Llamada means “call”; here it is the call that is about to begin. It is the subject of empiece in antes de que empiece la llamada.

Un Un means “a” in Un mensaje breve and introduces one short message. It is used before mensaje to present the message as a possible helpful action.

mensaje Mensaje means “message”; here it is the short communication that would help the team understand the situation. It is modified by breve in Un mensaje breve.

breve Breve means “short” or “brief” in Un mensaje breve and describes the message’s limited length. It is useful after a noun when specifying that the communication is concise.

les Les means “to them” in les ayudaría a entender and refers to the team receiving the benefit of the message. The pattern les + verb marks the people affected or helped by the action.

ayudaría Ayudaría means “would help” in Un mensaje breve les ayudaría a entender. The exact pattern les ayudaría a + infinitive describes an action that would help people do something.

entender Entender means “understand” in les ayudaría a entender lo que está pasando. It names what the team would be helped to do and follows ayudaría a.

lo In lo que está pasando, lo refers neutrally to the thing or situation that is happening. Together with que, it forms lo que, meaning “what,” so its contribution should be understood as part of that complete expression.

pasando Pasando means “happening” or “going on” in lo que está pasando. It follows está to describe the situation currently taking place.

Puedo Puedo means “I can” or “I am able to” in Puedo decir and presents saying the message as an available option for the speaker. The pattern puedo + infinitive is useful for stating an ability or possible action.

decir Decir means “say” in Puedo decir que quizá cambie de red. It names the communication the speaker can give and follows puedo in this expression.

quizá Quizá means “perhaps” or “maybe” and signals uncertainty in quizá cambie de red. The pattern quizá + verb is useful when presenting a possible action rather than a definite one.

cambie Cambie means “switch” or “change” in quizá cambie de red, referring to a possible change of network. It appears after quizá to express the uncertain action the speaker may take.

red Red means “network”; here it is the network the speaker may switch to if the call freezes. It appears after de in cambie de red.

congela Congela means “freezes” in si la llamada se congela and describes the call becoming unresponsive. The pattern la llamada se congela names the call as the thing entering that frozen state.

evitar Evitar means “avoid” or “prevent” in debería evitar que la gente piense. The pattern evitar que + clause is useful for describing an action intended to stop a result from occurring.

gente Gente means “people”; here it refers to the participants who might misunderstand the speaker’s sudden disappearance. It is the subject of piense in la gente piense.

piense Piense means “think” in evitar que la gente piense que te fuiste de repente. It expresses the belief that the people might form, inside the clause introduced by evitar que.

te In te fuiste, te is part of the expression referring to the person addressed as having gone away. Together with fuiste, it describes that person’s departure from the call or situation.

fuiste In te fuiste, fuiste means “left” or “went away,” describing a completed departure. The exact expression te fuiste de repente is useful when explaining that someone seemed to disappear suddenly.

repente Repente appears in de repente, meaning “suddenly,” and describes the departure as unexpected or abrupt. The complete expression de repente is a reusable way to describe a sudden event.

Grammar Points

ha estado + adjetivo

La conexión ha estado inestable.

lah koh-nek-see-OWN ah es-TAH-doh ee-nes-TAH-bleh.

The connection has been unstable.

Spanish forms the present perfect with haber + estado. Here, ha estado means “has been.”

aunque + oración

Aunque la conexión ha estado inestable, la reunión empieza.

OWN-keh lah koh-nek-see-OWN ah es-TAH-doh ee-nes-TAH-bleh, lah reh-oo-NYOWN em-PYEH-sah.

Although the connection has been unstable, the meeting starts.

Aunque introduces a contrast: the second situation happens despite the first.

Spanish Vocabulary

ahora mismo phrase

ah-OH-rah MEES-moh right now

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

ancho de banda phrase

AHN-choh deh BAHN-dah bandwidth

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

comprobar verb

kohm-proh-BAHR to check comprueba

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

conexión noun

koh-nek-see-OWN connection

La conexión a internet ha estado inestable desde esta mañana.

descargar verb

des-kahr-GAHR to download descargando

La tableta está descargando actualizaciones, así que eso podría explicar por qué todo parece lento.

dispositivo noun

dees-poh-see-TEE-boh device

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

empezar verb

em-peh-SAHR to start empieza

Mi videollamada empieza pronto.

estar verb

es-TAHR to be ha estado

La conexión a internet ha estado inestable desde esta mañana.

inestable adj

ee-nes-TAH-bleh unstable

La conexión a internet ha estado inestable desde esta mañana.

tableta noun

tah-BLEH-tah tablet

La tableta está descargando actualizaciones, así que eso podría explicar por qué todo parece lento.

usar verb

oo-SAHR to use usando

Comprueba si otro dispositivo está usando demasiado ancho de banda ahora mismo.

videollamada noun

vee-deh-oh-yah-MAH-dah video call

Mi videollamada empieza pronto.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My video call starts soon.

Show Answer

Mi videollamada empieza pronto.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

video call

Show Answer

videollamada

unstable

Show Answer

inestable

device

Show Answer

dispositivo

to check

Show Answer

comprueba