Is your router still working?
Is your router still working?
Earlier this afternoon, my home network lost internet access. I attempted standard troubleshooting—restarting both the cable modem and the router (Asus RT-AC66U)—but nothing resolved the issue. I tried logging into the router as usual, which displayed an unusual error: IP settings changed, prompting a reconnect to the new address. Despite these attempts, no changes were made. A quick search for the problem yielded little useful information; some suggested it was a generic error message. I followed those recommendations without success. To regain connectivity quickly, I performed a factory reset on the ISP cable modem to revert it to router mode. However, the Wi-Fi performance was poor, and advanced router features were unavailable. Still, having any internet was preferable to none. After connecting the RT-AC66U via cable to a spare laptop (with nothing else connected), I managed to log in normally. It felt like something was still affecting the connection. Could overheating be the cause? Am I being targeted by an external hacker? Is another device on my network disrupting it significantly? I should note the BIOS is up to date. Now I’m reluctant to reinstall it just in case. It’s been about two and a half years since purchase—around 2015.
I’d record every custom adjustment (save the configuration if feasible or capture screenshots). Then I’d suggest resetting the router to its original defaults. Set it up manually with the previous settings, checking each one as you go to spot any outdated or incorrect options. After fine-tuning and confirming it works, create a fresh backup of the new settings and keep that as your master reset. This way, when you need to repeat the process, you can quickly restore full functionality with just a few clicks after a reset.
To address this further, I repositioned the router and it resumed functioning... but after some time it returned to the same issue, losing connectivity altogether. A reboot didn’t resolve the matter. Now I’m reverting to using the ISP’s router again. The cause remains unclear—could it be overheating? There’s no obvious heat or dust buildup, and the firmware is current. I’m leaning toward replacing it with a more reliable setup. I’m considering building a pfSense box myself, possibly using an old HPE microserver (gen8) as a compact solution.
The room temperature is just right—cool to moderate, around 20s.
Varies. On a bad day it climbs into the 20s. I didn’t try to link it with temperature, but it was still early when it would have gotten hot otherwise. Unless... what if a heavy load triggers an overheating? I can’t remember what I was doing before it failed those times.