Connectivity problems may stem from temperature factors.
Connectivity problems may stem from temperature factors.
In recent weeks we've experienced some unusual weather patterns—alternating between chilly and relatively mild conditions. A few weeks back we faced the first major snowstorm of the season, which coincided with difficulties in maintaining an internet connection. When temperatures drop below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, my connection becomes inconsistent, sometimes completely lost. Today, for example, I’m using a mobile data connection on my phone, but it’s unreliable. I’ve reset both my router and modem, and my friends (using the same ISP, Spectrum) are having a smooth connection. I can access the internet through my router, see it lose the WAN link briefly, then reconnect quickly. Once the router shows a stable WAN connection, no device—whether Ethernet, 2.4G, or 5G—can load any webpage or stream audio/video. The only service I can use is Discord, though it’s very slow and voice calls aren’t possible. During warmer periods, my connection works perfectly. I suspect our cable runs underground, which makes it sensitive to snow accumulation; my friends likely have similar setups. While I’m using my own equipment, I assume theirs are ISP-provided rentals. I haven’t contacted my ISP yet, hoping the issue was temporary and linked to the cold weather. However, with a forecasted low of 15 degrees today and barely above freezing tomorrow, I doubt we’ll have internet for much longer. I’m considering reaching out to my ISP, possibly checking if the problem is on my end (modem to devices).
I acquired the equipment just before changing providers, which meant I missed their rental options.
It works with DSL too. Even if your cable is buried underground, it connects to the NID on the side of your home. When temperatures drop a lot, the copper can contract enough to break the solid link to the grounding point. If you have cable or fiber it doesn’t depend on the cold weather.
I possess cable, so another factor is likely involved. It seems our wiring pattern is unusual—cable runs up the side of the house into a box, then into the wall and up to the room with the router and modem. There might be something inside that box, or the cable installer may have arranged it in an odd way to skip laying new cable when we changed ISPs. We had cable TV before, switched to Hulu after, and now are on a different plan.
The only thing that comes to mind is water entering the NID. It doesn’t require much expansion to loosen a connection. Just open the box (you can do that) and look for water or ice, verify the splitter if it exists. Everything else is handled by tech. They just inspect each connection point to ensure everything is secure.
The cable passes close to a flood-prone zone during rainy seasons. If installed as described, it appears to be routed through the side of the house, then secured to the siding at the entry point. There might be connections or splits inside that box where the copper could be damaged by water or freezing. I’m concerned about flooding and freezing conditions, which would be very troublesome. Edit: I checked the box from the inside and will go outside soon. 15°F with strong wind chill is quite uncomfortable.
I checked outside and noticed some exposed wiring near the box. It seems to be black now, though it used to be orange with our previous ISP. Opening the box revealed an orange cable going into a splitter, while a black cable exited that area. I think the black cable might be secured against the siding and entering the house. The cables appear to be placed in the splitter, but I’m planning to remove them and reinsert them. Since it rained last night before the cold set in, there’s a chance freezing could be the issue. I’ll also look inside to see if condensation from a water pipe is causing problems.