Modem experiences occasional problems?
Modem experiences occasional problems?
I was close to choosing AT&T fiber since our cable provider was slow in delivering it. I contacted AT&T to request an installer instead of a salesperson, so we could talk about the best installation spot. I understand they like a hands-off approach and planned to drill through my garage wall, leaving little flexibility for alternative solutions to set up my home network.
I have a pipe from the service side of the house down into the basement, which is where most of my wiring is. The other choice would be to go around the driveway and enter the crawlspace near the back corner. They mention run lengths and extra fees right away. The only way they intended to send an installer was after I had already signed up, which I declined. I attempted several ways to explain that their preferred method wouldn’t suit me, and I knew it was best not to sign up beforehand.
The cable modem faces issues with inadequate cabling, similar to other devices. I would begin by examining each cable crimp carefully. Confirm that the center conductor extends about 1 cm beyond the threaded section of the coax fitting. Ensure there are no stray shield wires interfering with connections. Verify the crimp is securely tight. A weak ground connection is just as problematic as a faulty center conductor.
Most cable modems display status pages indicating signal strength and noise levels. If feasible, temporarily install a fresh coaxial cable in an open area to test signal quality. Connect the modem directly to the cable company splitter. Reassess the signal and noise metrics. This might reveal issues with the splitter or internal cabling.
I must have had a reliable installer. I planned to place their box in the garage, but they refused due to heat concerns. I clarified that this was a temporary situation and proposed extending the fiber to an interior wall location. When I mentioned having conduit with a pull string that reached two stories up into the attic and back down as needed, he agreed to run the fiber according to my plan using his conduit.
After two days of intermittent or complete internet outages, I powered down the modem and router and left them off overnight. When I restarted them the next morning, everything worked smoothly. I canceled the service call with the technician to avoid charges since connectivity was restored. There are two possibilities here: either the reset resolved a problem on their end or they identified an issue in the area and fixed it. Either way, Spectrum frustrates me because of frequent problems and lack of concern for customer satisfaction. If this becomes a recurring problem at my home, I’m open to having Lumos install fiber.