Wired Ethernet freezing up - will a wired switch solve it?

[y_p_w]

This is my parents’ setup. Currently Sonic fiber internet to a Netgear R6700AX. Wi-Fi has been solid, but the built in wired internet switch seems to just lock up periodically. The only wired connections are to a smart TV and to a VoIP box. Could also be to another device that can do wired or wireless. With the wired connection being wonky I unplugged from the smart TV and it works fine using wireless. But the VoIP box only connects via a wired connection.

I suppose it might be possible to try a new box, but I’m thinking of maybe getting them a wired Ethernet switch just to connect directly to the fiber modem and then to the VoIP box plus the Wi-Fi router. Or perhaps a Wi-Fi to wired adapter.

It does clear up by unplugging and restoring the power from the Netgear box, but that’s actually too much for my parents to handle. I showed my mom how to do it, and she wasn’t confident that she could.

 

[Pew]

A switch won't help if the ports or something else on the netgear isn't working properly; sounds like you'll need to update the firmware or maybe get a new router.

 

[CleanSump]

It's get a new router or put a switch between your modem and Netgear wireless router. Then, don't run ethernet off the Netgear wireless router. Not ideal, but if the problem is in the Netgear wireless router's wired switch, you won't be using it.
That's really just a cluge to get around the Netgear not working. You shouldn't have to add another switch.
Also, you can check the Netgear setup through the browser link and see if you've got priority, filter, or security settings that could be causing the problems.

 

[mk378]

ISP modems with one Ethernet port typically aren't routers. You cannot connect multiple devices to it using only a switch, because the ISP only issues one IP address per customer, so only one of the connected devices will get an IP address and be usable on the Internet.

The port is intended to connect to a router, which is supplied by the company or the customer. I would replace the R6700 as it is starting to fail. Working around one of its problems is going to be moot when it develops another problem.

 

[ka9mnx]

Factory reset on the router?

 

[Rob_Roy]

I would see if there are any firmware updates available.

 

[Marcozi]

This is my parents’ setup. Currently Sonic fiber internet to a Netgear R6700AX. Wi-Fi has been solid, but the built in wired internet switch seems to just lock up periodically. The only wired connections are to a smart TV and to a VoIP box. Could also be to another device that can do wired or wireless. With the wired connection being wonky I unplugged from the smart TV and it works fine using wireless. But the VoIP box only connects via a wired connection.

I suppose it might be possible to try a new box, but I’m thinking of maybe getting them a wired Ethernet switch just to connect directly to the fiber modem and then to the VoIP box plus the Wi-Fi router. Or perhaps a Wi-Fi to wired adapter.

It does clear up by unplugging and restoring the power from the Netgear box, but that’s actually too much for my parents to handle. I showed my mom how to do it, and she wasn’t confident that she could.

Restart the Netgear and see what happens. Also, check Netgear to see if there's an update to the firmware.

 

[redhat]

If the fiber modem/ONT is connected directly to a switch, you most likely won’t have any device doing any NAT.

I’d probably seek out a replacement wireless router.

 

[TijY_]

Set up the Netgear to restart every week (sunday night for example).
I have stopped looking for a 100% stable router. I just set this up from the start.
Worth a try before you shop for a new router.

 

[y_p_w]

Restart the Netgear and see what happens. Also, check Netgear to see if there's an update to the firmware.

Oh - I know how to restart it. But it's not at my home and I'm not there most of the time. I've checked for new firmware and haven't seen any updates recently. Not sure about the warranty, although it might not have been registered.

Restarting does seem to resolve the wired ethernet issues. Takes at least a minute before the lights are all back up. But again, I showed my mom where it was - over a fireplace (to increase the height) and held on with some mounting putty. I pulled out the barrel connector, waited a few seconds, and plugged it back in. But my mom looked at it like she was being asked to do something really difficult.

I've seen it freeze up and checked with the smart TV and my old Mac which still has an ethernet port. When it's locked up, both indicate that it's connected to ethernet, but not to the intenet. Not sure why.

But the only reason why this is important to them is their home phone using VoIP with an old VoIP box. I suppose one thing that they might be able to do is request a new VoIP box. Theirs is an old Linksys model that doesn't have Wi-Fi. I'm looking now and they have a newer home phone box that was custom made for them. Looked more into it, and it seems that it's still wired only.

 

[danielmid]

If the fiber modem has routing built in then yes you can insert a switch between the modem and your wireless router. If the modem is an ONT and doing no routing then a switch should not be placed between as your devices will be bypassing your router and be unprotected.

 

[dogememe]

As far as I know, Sonic offers a home router/wifi solution free of charge, so you don't need the Netgear router at all. I believe they don't even charge a rental fee for it unlike Comcast. If your unit is old call them up and ask them to replace it for you.

Edit: I looked it up and apparently it's not free anymore and Sonic does charge a rental fee now Oh well. In that case, if you want something nice, buy this: https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/all-cloud-gateways/products/udr7 yeah it's WAY overkill but it's VERY nice. Otherwise, just get another cheap consumer grade router. Looks like Best Buy has a newer Netgear for $120 on sale. They have TP-Link, as well, and I've had GREAT luck with those, but many people are anti-TP-Link right now, for China reasons. I respect that, but that's a choice you'll have to make. Asus routers are OK but kinda pricey. Linksys is pure trash, it was trash under Cisco, trash under Belkin, and it's still trash under Foxconn.

 

[Arc]

Oh - I know how to restart it. But it's not at my home and I'm not there most of the time. I've checked for new firmware and haven't seen any updates recently. Not sure about the warranty, although it might not have been registered.

Restarting does seem to resolve the wired ethernet issues. Takes at least a minute before the lights are all back up. But again, I showed my mom where it was - over a fireplace (to increase the height) and held on with some mounting putty. I pulled out the barrel connector, waited a few seconds, and plugged it back in. But my mom looked at it like she was being asked to do something really difficult.

I've seen it freeze up and checked with the smart TV and my old Mac which still has an ethernet port. When it's locked up, both indicate that it's connected to ethernet, but not to the intenet. Not sure why.

But the only reason why this is important to them is their home phone using VoIP with an old VoIP box. I suppose one thing that they might be able to do is request a new VoIP box. Theirs is an old Linksys model that doesn't have Wi-Fi. I'm looking now and they have a newer home phone box that was custom made for them. Looked more into it, and it seems that it's still wired only.

Dont most providers offer internet calling from a regular cell phone? My wife has that on her IPhone and provider. My Samsung has the option but my cheap phone plan doesn't support it. So why the old VoIP?

 

[Rob_Roy]

Does the ISP offer a router? Even if it comes with a rental fee it might be a good idea - that way the ISP becomes tech. support rather than you.

 

[Rand]

Put it on a smart plug(power outlet) and set it to restart nightly at 3am? (or weekly?)

as mentioned you cant put an ethernet switch in front of the router doing NAT in this type of setup it does not work.
You get 1 IP from the ISP

 

[y_p_w]

Dont most providers offer internet calling from a regular cell phone? My wife has that on her IPhone and provider. My Samsung has the option but my cheap phone plan doesn't support it. So why the old VoIP?

Wi-Fi calling? I think I helped them set up for that. But they have VoIP for their phone number that they’ve had for 40+ years (including an area code split) and there are some calls that they only receive through that number. It’s a VoIP plan that includes free international calls, which isn’t the case with the prepaid cellular provider they use, where there aren't international calls except maybe Mexico and Canada. The plan also includes video service (won’t get into too much detail about it).

Does the ISP offer a router? Even if it comes with a rental fee it might be a good idea - that way the ISP becomes tech. support rather than you.

I think so. I don’t think they want to pay for it after $80 for this Netgear box though. But I was over there and showed my mom again. She thinks she can handle restarting it now. But there are a lot of things we might consider simple where they get frustrated.

 

[Pew]

I think so. I don’t think they want to pay for it after $80 for this Netgear box though. But I was over there and showed my mom again. She thinks she can handle restarting it now. But there are a lot of things we might consider simple where they get frustrated.

I work with end users, so I totally get that. The biggest issue I find is not the act of the reset, moreso having them realize they need to reset it before getting frustrated at the issue.

 

[TijY_]

Put it on a smart plug(power outlet) and set it to restart nightly at 3am? (or weekly?)

Asked myself why he would need to do that.
Turns out OPs Netgear does not have scheduled restart built in.

Get an Asus they have auto scheduled restart.

 

[y_p_w]

I work with end users, so I totally get that. The biggest issue I find is not the act of the reset, moreso having them realize they need to reset it before getting frustrated at the issue.

My parents aren't Luddites. They love their technology but struggle when it doesn’t work and aren’t good at troubleshooting it. If I can’t help, they have a friend about their age who comes over.

When they had Comcast internet, if it went out, they had no idea how to check for neighborhood outages. With their current internet, there are occasional outages that last maybe a minute. Not sure why. But I’ve been there when it happened and told them to wait for it to resolve, or else I’d restart all the equipment.

I gave them my older Samsung TV to replace an even older Sony TV. Bigger screen, more energy efficient, better picture. But it’s a smart TV that’s menu driven. I got them a ROKU box and when that’s turned on it automatically switches. But the specialty TV box she uses doesn't do that and shows up as “Unknown”. I had to go over several times how to hit “Source” on the remote and then the arrow keys on the remote and then the enter button in the center of all the arrows. But to her it’s a big set of inscrutable menu items including the smart TV features. Her old TV stayed on the previous setting, but this one reverts to live TV when powered on. It’s just one more thing to mess up.

 

[Rob_Roy]

I think so. I don’t think they want to pay for it after $80 for this Netgear box though. But I was over there and showed my mom again. She thinks she can handle restarting it now. But there are a lot of things we might consider simple where they get frustrated.

If power cycling the router weekly keeps it working, you could just add a smart outlet and program it to turn off once per week at the time you choose.