Black Friday is brilliant for new gadgets… until half of them pack in the moment you try setting them up. If you're sat there with a dead Ring doorbell, Alexa refusing to connect, or a shiny new TV acting like it's from 1998, you're definitely not the only one.
Manchester homes—especially the older Victorian terraces and places running on oversubscribed Virgin Media hubs—can be proper temperamental this time of year.
Here's a quick, no-nonsense guide to the three biggest smart-home emergencies people are Googling today, plus what you can safely try yourself before calling in a pro. And if it's still not playing ball… you can get same-day help.
Ring Doorbell Won't Charge
A nightmare, especially when you're expecting Black Friday deliveries.
Quick DIY Fix
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Check the charging cable & port – USB cables split internally more often than you'd think. Try another cable/plug.
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Warm the device up – Manchester's cold snaps can stop lithium batteries charging. Bring it indoors for an hour and retry.
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Clean the contacts – A bit of damp or grime on the back plate can interrupt charging. Dry cloth only—no sprays.
When You Need a Pro
- If the Ring still doesn't charge after swapping cables
- If the backplate is damaged or the wiring looks sketchy
- If it keeps dying every 24–48 hours (usually faulty transformer or poor WiFi)
A professional can test the supply voltage, check the transformer, and diagnose signal issues properly. Your Home Tech Guy is one of the local tech specialists who can pop over and get it sorted same day.
Why It's So Common in Manchester
Victorian houses often have thick brick and stone that kills WiFi range and puts extra strain on battery-powered doorbells. Add in Manchester's lovely damp weather and it's the perfect recipe for charging failures.
Alexa Not Connecting to WiFi
This one ramps up every Black Friday because new routers, mesh kits, and floods of devices all fight for bandwidth.
Quick DIY Fix
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Restart Alexa *and* the router – Proper off/on, not standby.
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Check your SSID – If you've renamed your WiFi recently, Alexa won't know the new name.
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Separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz – Echo devices often prefer 2.4GHz, especially in older houses.
When You Need a Pro
- You've tried the setup app repeatedly and Alexa still refuses
- Your WiFi is strong near your phone but dead where Alexa sits
- You run Virgin Media Hub 3 or 4 and keep getting dropouts (very common)
A tech can reconfigure your WiFi properly, optimise channels, or install a mini mesh system so Alexa actually has something to connect to. Your Home Tech Guy can do that without ripping the place apart.
Why It Happens in Manchester
Virgin Media hubs in busy areas sometimes get overloaded, causing random drops. Thick interior walls + lots of terrace houses packed tightly together = WiFi congestion nightmare.
New TV Apps Won't Load
Disney+, Netflix, YouTube… all refusing to play when you've just unboxed your new Black Friday telly.
Quick DIY Fix
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Run a network test on the TV – Most smart TVs show if it's WiFi or app updates.
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Update the apps manually – Some TVs won't load apps until they've updated themselves first.
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Try wired Ethernet – Even temporarily. Eliminates WiFi as the culprit immediately.
When You Need a Pro
- Apps constantly buffer or crash
- The TV shows "connected without internet" repeatedly
- You're trying to run a 4K TV on a weak WiFi spot
A professional can hard-wire the TV, boost the WiFi signal, or tidy up your network so all the apps actually behave. If you need help today, Your Home Tech Guy can usually get a site visit in quickly.
Why Manchester Houses Struggle
Older properties weren't built with TV corners in mind. Routers end up on the opposite side of the house, behind staircases or fireplaces. WiFi hates that.
Still Not Working? Need It Fixed NOW?
If you've tried the quick fixes and nothing's changed, don't sit there getting wound up. These are all problems that can usually be fixed fast once someone sees the setup in person.
Manchester has a few solid tech specialists who handle this stuff daily—including Your Home Tech Guy—so you don't have to rip your hair out the rest of Black Friday weekend.Related Articles
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