Web issues, no connection, what a surprise!
Web issues, no connection, what a surprise!
!Initially, I'm sure you're in the right spot. Please let me know if needed, and I'll gladly assist. Thanks
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I want to start by saying thank you for explaining things clearly. This situation does have a purpose. I can address your questions if possible, though I might not have much background on my internet setup. Also, please note that my response time is slower, so it may take a while before I reply.
We've been using the same connection for about two years now. At first, everything worked fine. For reference, we're right next to where our internet service comes from. As they say, we share a common wall. Back then, with just one busy technician, they couldn't set us up properly. So they connected us directly to their network. It was essentially a single cord running from their building through a gap in the wall, into our garage, and finally into my room where the modem is kept. The entire length was around 60 to 80 feet. The original modem we had was a CISCO Linksys X2000 – it performed perfectly! No issues at all. My mom's computer used WiFi, while mine stayed wired.
About five to six months ago, they finally connected us properly. But then things started going wrong. We experienced frequent drops – sometimes every few seconds, other times for hours, even throughout the day or night without any signal. Even now, the internet has gone down nine times. The external box was inspected and found fine. Later, during a period of high C-19, we decided not to use the connection. They provided us with a new modem – a Zhone bridge/router 6381-A4-200 from Netgear "Nighthawk" R6230.
I installed it following their instructions: the garage cord goes into the bridge, the bridge into the Netgear, and then the Ethernet cable into my computer. The Netgear has WiFi, so my mom also gets internet. Despite these changes, the connection still faced problems. They confirmed the setup was correct – color-coded ports, labeled slots. This wasn't my first modem, and they suggested switching to fiber, but that would be too expensive for us.
I spent a lot of time researching fixes – firmware updates, driver changes, forums where others shared similar issues with Nighthawk modems dropping internet. It seemed endless. I even double-checked the settings, thinking maybe turning it off and on helped, but it didn't make a difference.
Thanks for sharing today's video about WiFi in Linus' home. It turned out my connection is 2.4GHz. I ran a speed test – download was 16.84 Mbps, upload 0.93 Mbps. It's unlimited, so no downgrading after reaching limits. What should I do to resolve this? Are there specific firmware or driver updates I need to apply? Is this my issue, or is it theirs?
I really tried to fix it myself as much as possible before deciding to complain again. Appreciate your time and support!
It seems the issue is limited to Wi-Fi or Ethernet when connected via a wired internet connection. If only Wi-Fi is affected, interference might be the cause—your modem’s router could constantly switch channels for optimal performance. You can resolve this by turning off automatic channel changes in the modem/router settings and keeping it fixed on one channel permanently. If both connections drop simultaneously, there’s likely nothing you can do; the provider handles that. You can’t update firmware manually as those updates are sent by your ISP over the network without your input. Also, confirm whether these speeds match your expectations—based on the modems you mentioned, ADSL connections rarely meet advertised rates. If you’re paying for speeds like 20–30Mbps download and 1–2Mbps upload, it makes sense.
This appears to be a router equipped with a built-in DSL modem. What stands out is the presence of an Ethernet WAN port, allowing connectivity beyond just DSL. It seems like a typical DSL modem. Based on your speeds, it’s likely you’re using ADSL or possibly ADSL2. ADSL connections are generally slow compared to modern standards. Given that major US phone companies like AT&T have discontinued ADSL services, it’s possible they only maintain it for existing customers. First, check if your connection works over Wi-Fi and Ethernet. If Ethernet is affected, the problem may lie with your Internet Service Provider. You could log into the modem to view line statistics, but interpreting them requires someone experienced with DSL data. If Wi-Fi is impacted, interference in your area might be the cause. Your Netgear router supports Wi-Fi 5, which means it can handle 5GHz signals. If your devices don’t recognize this band, they likely lack 5GHz support. While 5GHz can improve stability, if interference exists and isn’t an ISP issue, expect minimal performance gains from DSL.
This device acts as both a DSL modem and router, functioning as a wireless router. Simply place one router in front of another. This setup can lead to double-NAT issues and frequent DHCP pool changes, causing clients to disconnect often. A better approach is to switch the Netgear to AP/bridge mode and let DHCP handle connections. You can also assign a fixed LAN IP within the same subnet so it remains stable. WiFi settings can be managed through the Netgear interface.
I looked up the product. Im fairly sure this is just a DSL modem. It has RJ11 in and One Ethernet out. Doesnt mention WiFi at all.
The LAN setup is outlined in the manual. No mention of WiFi was made.
It's a poor entry point offering just one Ethernet connection and no wireless capability.
Both connections shut down simultaneously. I thought maybe there was something I could do, but I was counting on it. Regarding the second comment; unfortunately, these are my standard performance levels. They range from 12 downloads to 19 at peak, while uploads stay consistently below 1Mbps. You'd need a premium plan to access faster speeds, which is far beyond our budget. I didn’t recognize the exact name, but it’s definitely a more capable line than old dial-up.
I really want to access the system because they say nothing has ever been lost. I need evidence that it does more than just record timestamps on any given day. Their modems are locked with their own passwords, making it impossible for anyone to explore or alter them freely. Changing the Netgear back to a Cisco setup wouldn’t solve the problem—it would just repeat the same restrictions.