My internet has been randomly dropping out the last few days. Anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more, then suddenly reappears. Both wi-fi and ethernet. My provider says he has no reports of outages. How can I tell if the router is the problem, other than buying and setting up a new one???
Internet/router help
- Thread starter srfdude
- Start date
If you remember your login and password. The router manual or the box it came in should have instructions for getting into the router. I'd do that then have it check for an update. If not do a hard reset and reinstall everything from the beginning. If it's a dual-band (most are) some wifi settings on the computer could be setup to look for other bands 2.4 vs 5ghz.
The internet provider should be able to connect to their system and diagnose the connection between their network and the router remotely. Has this been done?
On your end, you could run a traceroute and see where the connection dies, although some network devices block ICMP so it might not be too helpful.
This is a normal traceroute. You can use 8.8.8.8 to test - that's Google's public DNS servers. Post one when your internet is not working.
On your end, you could run a traceroute and see where the connection dies, although some network devices block ICMP so it might not be too helpful.
This is a normal traceroute. You can use 8.8.8.8 to test - that's Google's public DNS servers. Post one when your internet is not working.
Since your internet provider tells you it isn't them the first place I would start is your closest neighbor that has the same service.
We had dropoff problems and it was the modem AND the feed from the street.
Call your ISP and tell them that they need to check your specific house.
Call your ISP and tell them that they need to check your specific house.
Modem/WiFi combos are notorious for pooping the bed. Odds are it is having an internal hardware issue. What brand is it?
have you updated the firmware on the router?
are you sure there's good airflow around the router that allows it to cool off and also not ingest any dust that may accumulate?
also we should chastise people who post these questions and don't bother to mention stuff like the router model
are you sure there's good airflow around the router that allows it to cool off and also not ingest any dust that may accumulate?
also we should chastise people who post these questions and don't bother to mention stuff like the router model
Ok so it's just a router but yes just like an electronic device once it hits the thermal/software limit and starts to have issues. Sometimes that is the number devices connected or maybe the throughput or bad heatsink/resistor.
Yup my bad. redidit, worked similar to yours (my internet currently on line)
Incidentally I've had Nord VPN on line for the last year or so. When this happened I ended up uninstalling Nord, just to see, but the problem continued.
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Restart your router and internet modem and see if that improves. If your internet drops out again, wire directly into your internet modem during the outage and see if you regain connection. If that fixes it I bet it's the cables or the TP link router. If the issue persists while your computer is hardwired into your modem, I'm 99.9% it's your ISP's issue.
At this point its 50/50.
if you want to directly plug your computer into the modem make sure you power cycle the modem. then plug in the computer.
ISP always say its not their problem even when it is.
How old is your modem? is it ISP supplied?
if you want to directly plug your computer into the modem make sure you power cycle the modem. then plug in the computer.
ISP always say its not their problem even when it is.
How old is your modem? is it ISP supplied?
Generally speaking, if your internet drops out, including over ethernet, and then comes back without having to reboot your router (because it had locked up) then the problem is before the router, most typically a poor signal getting to the modem.
Many aftermarket modems have an admin page where you can see the signal strength, or at least see whether it's maintaining connections. Either way you can try to use a browser to get to the modem admin page and if you can, then try again when not getting internet access. The modem may take longer to respond while hunting for a signal but if the page loads, probably not the modem itself. If the page does not load then power cycle the modem and try again.
Otherwise, do as someone already mentioned, tracert google.com or some other domain name to see where the trace stops.
Many aftermarket modems have an admin page where you can see the signal strength, or at least see whether it's maintaining connections. Either way you can try to use a browser to get to the modem admin page and if you can, then try again when not getting internet access. The modem may take longer to respond while hunting for a signal but if the page loads, probably not the modem itself. If the page does not load then power cycle the modem and try again.
Otherwise, do as someone already mentioned, tracert google.com or some other domain name to see where the trace stops.
