IP address changes might lead to internet loss.
IP address changes might lead to internet loss.
Hello Friends, My home connection drops regularly. I changed all devices and cables, yet the issue continues. The ISP replaced the ONT and claims everything up to the new unit works fine. I’ve been hearing about IP address changes causing interruptions. I’m unfamiliar with the subject and might not be explaining correctly. Could there be a simple way to check if this is the cause? Should I involve the ISP or try setting things up myself? As for Eero, everything is managed through their app. There are a few network settings I can adjust that might help. Maybe someone can walk me through the steps?
1) WAN Type – I have three options: DHCP (no internet), Static IP (requires entering fields), or PPPoE (current setup). I haven’t chosen DHCP because I’m unsure if it’s the right fit.
2) DHCP & NAT – Again three choices: Automatic, Manual IP, or Reservation. Manual IP needs picking an IP range and lease details.
3) Reservation & Port forwarding – Not sure if this applies here.
4) IPv6 – Enabled but uncertain relevance.
If your iSP relies on PPPoE, stick with that unless your provider also offers DHCP for WAN IPs—a scenario unlikely with PPPoE setups. For static IP assignments, you typically won’t find one unless you pay additional fees; even then, they’d assign a fixed address and still require your PPPoE credentials for network access. Generally, dynamically assigned WAN IPs remain stable unless the device becomes offline or the lease expires, at which point the IP gets released back into the pool. Most devices attempt to retain their current IP even after a restart. You can verify your public IP via services like https://whatismyipaddress.com/ and see if it updates after a connection loss, though this doesn’t always indicate an actual IP change—it might reflect a request for a new address when reconnecting. You usually don’t need to adjust NAT configurations. With DHCP, there’s a chance network devices are trying to reuse the router’s IP, which can lead to conflicts. Consider checking what your ISP actually does during outages—do they reset the router? Is it a single device dropping? Is it WiFi that disconnects? It might be helpful to contact your provider for line testing, as they often face challenges in diagnosing such issues and may not always acknowledge network faults.
You might be aware of my setup from my earlier update. My configuration includes: ONT Box → Main Router → Unmanaged Network Switch → Other Routers. The other routers shut down unpredictably, never the same ones. The main router stays online. I’m considering that a potential conflict could be the issue. Perhaps starting with manual IP settings and adjusting DHCP/NAT parameters would help. I’m unsure what values to use or if prefixes matter. I just hope something resolves my network problem quickly.
It seems the issue lies with the additional routers you mentioned. Consumer or ISP models often disable routing features and lack advanced AP capabilities. If your primary router isn’t disabling itself, the problem likely stems from another source. Avoid using multiple routers in a single network. For testing purposes, switch off the other devices and keep only the main one active to observe if connectivity improves. This suggests the conflicting devices are interfering with IP or DHCP assignments.
It seems we're getting closer to resolving the issue. We have a blend of eero routers—x6 Eero Pro 6, x9 Eero 6, and x3 Eero 6 extenders, making a total of 18 devices. We utilized wireless extenders where possible, with all others connected via wired links. The main router consistently performed without drops. The only consistent solution was restarting the devices. I understood the process, but now it appears to reset addresses and clear any conflicts causing the problem. There was a recent disconnection, after which all routers received fresh IP addresses except the primary one. Your observations match our experience. The article also discusses how IP conflicts can arise in similar setups. …I’m still unsure what steps to take next… Do you think using bridge mode could help? The guide suggests that if both a wireless router and an ISP modem/router are active, they might assign duplicate IPs. But we don’t have an ISP router—only the ONT or modem. Bridge mode doesn’t seem applicable here. Could reservations and port forwarding offer a workaround? The app notes that “IP reservations let you keep the same IP for a device.”
Bridge mode applies when you need it solely as a modem, not for general use. What type of router are you using? Are you connected to another Eero model? I’m not sure about the Eero devices unless you’re comfortable with them. If your main router isn’t an Eero unit, then the Eero system might be trying to assign IPs via DHCP or using a static address you set, but it’s already been allocated by your primary router, causing a conflict. You can try a few steps: check if you can log in to manage your Eero devices and adjust settings to switch them into Bridge mode. If Eero refers to bridge mode, ensure your main router isn’t an Eero model and follow the instructions accordingly.