Modem experiences occasional problems?
Modem experiences occasional problems?
I have been operating a Netgear CM1000 since around 2019. I'm connected to Spectrum internet, and everything has functioned smoothly since I moved into my new home in February. Yesterday morning I received a text from Spectrum indicating an outage that would be resolved by 11am. The issue was intermittent throughout the day, and around 2pm I contacted Spectrum to confirm it wasn't fixed. They have scheduled a technician for Friday.
Today I have restarted both my modem and router multiple times. Currently, the internet is active, though it tends to drop within 1 to 10 minutes. I monitor the modem lights and occasionally see the internet indicator flash (which should remain steady), while other lights stay off except for a single orange light. Spectrum assures me there are no outages in my area at the moment. This seems suspicious—could this be a coincidence, or is my modem finally failing after all these years of use? Or are they simply assigning blame to my equipment since I don’t use their devices?
Additionally, it usually needs a reboot to restore functionality, but for the past few hours it has been intermittent. The lights will flash a sequence when rebooting and then return to working briefly afterward. When I request a reboot, whether by unplugging power or using the back button, it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Spectrum’s tech support keeps stating they are experiencing timeouts on their side.
I can sense your annoyance...(probably should edit out the cuss word).
We experienced some inconsistent problems with our ISP recently, where I was also losing signal unexpectedly. It turned out the issue was with the modem itself. In general, when it comes to fixing network problems, I see updates indicating that repairs are done.
A friend who worked with PCs for the military recommended updating the firmware. It seems you can't update it on this modem. I've already reset it, and I don't expect it to work again. Maybe I should replace it with a new one. The CM1000 claims gig speed, but fiber companies now offer 2 gig or more. It feels like the modem is running a self-check.
At nearly $200 on Amazon.com that’s not inexpensive. Could there be a better option with Spectrum? It would simplify things when your ISP handles all the equipment. They can’t hold anyone responsible. If something fails, they’ll fix it without charge.
I’ve relied on the broadband routers from my different ISPs for years, with the latest being a fibre-to-the-premises setup. I turn off the WiFi and firewall in their router and connect my own router on the other side of a separate hardware firewall.
If there’s an issue with the ISP’s cable leading to your modem, that could be the cause. When I used cable or phone line broadband, water entering the inspection pits caused occasional problems during heavy rain.
I would try to access the modem. A typical IP address is 192.168.100.1.
Many modems include a log that lets you check for errors and signal strength. You can find the expected values there.
This helps the ISP monitor their service, as they should be able to view this data remotely.
Although you own the device, the ISP is the only one who can update its firmware.
The main reason people buy a modem was to cut costs and avoid monthly fees.
Nowadays, they often hide the modem’s expenses in the monthly plan and make it seem free.
We received the updated modem with improved WiFi features some time ago. Earlier, I owned an older model that allowed me to browse freely online. The new one feels like you're accessing it through a remote script, but in reality it stores your settings locally—though many of these are now accessible via an app you need to install on your phone. I chose the older version because the new one kept pushing for a "free upgrade." They had been pressuring me for over a year about this change, but after talking to friends using the same ISP, I learned about the update. Eventually, the ISP disabled my modem, so I had to replace it with the new unit, which was essentially free (though not entirely). As part of my plan, I can get updates for free every few years.
I mean "free" in this context doesn’t mean no cost—my ISP (Comcast/Xfinity) doesn’t offer anything at no charge. However, I won’t return to AT&T anytime soon. These are the only two reliable options nearby. AT&T is faster, especially for uploads, but I just can’t manage it.
I possess both spectrum and ATT, but this requirement is no longer necessary. ATT offers better value for higher bandwidth needs. ATT fiber typically experiences minimal downtime. Spectrum appears to face recurring system problems. I've experienced several extended power outages recently. Spectrum seems to rely only on battery power for roughly 30 minutes. ATT performed better than my UPS, which ran for 10 hours just powering the router.