Question Can routers go bad over time?

[z1ggy]

Over the past week or so, my pings have spiked up a lot while gaming, I'm lagging like crazy and most of my videos are buffering. I can barely watch anything in 1080p without constant buffering during the video. I've reset my modem and router at least 10x and checked my connection speeds, which vary from 13-25mbps.

If the ISP says nothing looks unusual on their end, I'd suspect maybe my router is going bad? It's about 4-5 years old now and does get pretty hot to the touch while in use. Could it be anything else? I haven't changed anything with my games or hardware.

 

[mxnerd]

Call Optimum and give them the mac address of your new modem.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, might have to call. Self-provisioning via a Hotspot / mifi won't work, you have to be ON the cable modem, and it needs to be minimally synced (single-channel DOCSIS 3.0 mode, as a failsafe connection) to do so.

The first time you connect a new cable modem, it may take 30 minutes for it to finish downloading firmware and sync up enough to connect to their self-registration page. I would let it sit there. If it takes longer than 2 hours to sync up and give you a solid green for down and up stream, then call them.

Edit: You did double-check with the Optimum allowed devices list? Most cable providers have a list of allowed user-purchased equipment.\

 

[z1ggy]

Well, have it hooked up now for over 3hr... still not working. Called....Get to have a called back in "at least 45 minutes or more" for support. Gooooooood timessss.

 

[VirtualLarry]

When you say it has been hooked up for 3 hours now and not working... did the downstream and upstream lights ever stop blinking? Did they both turn a solid green? Or even better, a solid blue? If not, you might have a defective modem, or you might have to call them and give them the MAC, because the head-end isn't recognizing it at all for some reason, not even provisionally to do the self-registration bit.

Did you verify that modem is on Optimum's supported-device list?

 

[z1ggy]

They are a solid green, but not blue.

I mean... the website says the "best" ones are some Arris *insert old model* DOCSIS 3.0, so I figured this newer model should be fine. Maybe the board is defective? They still haven't called back to activate.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If both DS and US are solid green, that means that it has downloaded firmware, and initialized (with a preliminary config file) on a single DOCSIS 3.0 channel. It should be able to access their self-activation page? Can you not access it? Do you have a 3rd-party software firewall on the PC? Might have to disable it.

Also note, in your "fiddling" with the new modem, if you change up the device attached to the internet port on the modem, then you must re-start the modem (power off, power on, re-train). The reason, is that cable modems are a transparent ethernet bridge device (to the cable head-end), and "lock onto" the MAC address of the customer equipment plugged into them.

You may have to plug your modem directly into your PC (wired), and power-up the modem that way, to activate it on their self-activation page.

Although calling should always work, if it's a supported device.

Edit: Once they properly activate that new modem on your acct., it should re-boot, and then re-train channels, first green, and then blue, for multiple DOCSIS 3.0 channels.

You can also go to 192.168.100.1 , usually, which is the IPv4 LAN address of Arris cable-modems, and allow you to view the locked channels, and the config file name (sometimes).

 

[aigomorla]

Depending on how hard your house hammers the internet your router will die.
I've had several die on me, back when i used to torrent a lot, they wouldn't last 6 months.

I have since then moved to a pfsense box, which is custom built under most situations, which also means, you can add custom cooling, and have never looked back.
The last PfSense box i replaced was not because it broke, but because they decided to not update units which did not have AES, and was forced to get an AES cpu.

 

[z1ggy]

If both DS and US are solid green, that means that it has downloaded firmware, and initialized (with a preliminary config file) on a single DOCSIS 3.0 channel. It should be able to access their self-activation page? Can you not access it? Do you have a 3rd-party software firewall on the PC? Might have to disable it.

Also note, in your "fiddling" with the new modem, if you change up the device attached to the internet port on the modem, then you must re-start the modem (power off, power on, re-train). The reason, is that cable modems are a transparent ethernet bridge device (to the cable head-end), and "lock onto" the MAC address of the customer equipment plugged into them.

You may have to plug your modem directly into your PC (wired), and power-up the modem that way, to activate it on their self-activation page.

Although calling should always work, if it's a supported device.

Edit: Once they properly activate that new modem on your acct., it should re-boot, and then re-train channels, first green, and then blue, for multiple DOCSIS 3.0 channels.

You can also go to 192.168.100.1 , usually, which is the IPv4 LAN address of Arris cable-modems, and allow you to view the locked channels, and the config file name (sometimes).

Got to the Arris IP page


Have only connected this PC to the modem and I've already tried to hard connect it directly and restarted both devices. I'm not ttttthhhaaaat dumb

 

[VirtualLarry]

It shows that you are connected, with a single US and DS (green, both) channel.

SNR on the DS is fairly minimal, but usable. US power level is high. Maybe too many splitters, or old splitters.

Either way, you should be able to get to their activation page. Do you know the URL for it? You might have to go there manually, rather than a http auto-redirect.

Edit: Error log shows that the CM was trying to download something from the head-end; possibly the firmware file for the provider.

If the ISP doesn't have the file for that specific model modem on the head-end server, that can happen.

You're sure that modem is in the supported list?

 

[z1ggy]

It shows that you are connected, with a single US and DS (green, both) channel.

SNR on the DS is fairly minimal, but usable. US power level is high. Maybe too many splitters, or old splitters.

Either way, you should be able to get to their activation page. Do you know the URL for it? You might have to go there manually, rather than a http auto-redirect.

it's install.optimum.com

 

[aigomorla]

You can call the cable company and ask them to run a simple diagnostic on your modem.
CM usually means cable modem.

If i recall, SB6190 should work with like 90% of most cable providers below 100MBits... and a few will have it approved for higher as the higher streams are sometimes not compatible.

Larry if the modem was provisioned by customer and not ISP, it will fail firmware updates, as those need to be done manually on the user end for customer provisioned modems.

But the warning logs on the CM unable to register, maybe pointing to that the modem is not on the approved list, for most likely the higher signal bandwith.

Meaning if you have 16 streams on that modem, it will only be able to use like 4/16, if not "approved", which could mean why your having spotty internet.

 

[z1ggy]

And here's what comes up when I try to register the modem on their website:

 

[VirtualLarry]

Did you get to that page USING the modem in question? Try entering the MAC the "Traditional" way... hexidecimal digits, letters capitalized, with a colon : separating each group of two digits.

Optimum | FAQ

Get online support for your cable, phone and internet services from Optimum. Pay your bill, connect to WiFi, check your email and voicemail, see what's on TV and more!

www.optimum.net

- Optimum Store - SURFboard Store

shop.surfboard.com

If those are the only models of user-purchasable modems for Optimum, it seems that you're out of luck.

 

[z1ggy]

Did you get to that page USING the modem in question? Try entering the MAC the "Traditional" way... hexidecimal digits, letters capitalized, with a colon : separating each group of two digits.

Nope, only via wifi. If I go on the ethernet, I just get page unable to load messages.

MAC can only be 12 digits so no colons or spaces. We've been on hold with Optimum now since 12pm sooooo I don't think we will be talking to anybody, any time soon. Nobody is probably even working at this point.

 

[z1ggy]

Did you get to that page USING the modem in question? Try entering the MAC the "Traditional" way... hexidecimal digits, letters capitalized, with a colon : separating each group of two digits.

Optimum | FAQ

Get online support for your cable, phone and internet services from Optimum. Pay your bill, connect to WiFi, check your email and voicemail, see what's on TV and more!

www.optimum.net

- Optimum Store - SURFboard Store

shop.surfboard.com

If those are the only models of user-purchasable modems for Optimum, it seems that you're out of luck.

Makes no sense though if those are the only ones because my old motorola isn't an Arris model that's listed, yet that worked just fine. I figured they listed those Arris models because they link you to a website, and I assume they get a kick back if people buy from that link.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I wasn't able to find a detailed list of ALL models of modems (*ISP-supplied, as well as customer-supplied) for Optimum. Maybe you will have better luck finding a page like that.

 

[z1ggy]

I wasn't able to find a detailed list of ALL models of modems (*ISP-supplied, as well as customer-supplied) for Optimum. Maybe you will have better luck finding a page like that.

Well, I got my answer... optimum finally called back. They don't support 32 channel modems in my area because they are only compatible with service of 1gbps or more. My neighborhood only gets 400mbps or less. Tech support said that modem is no good and I need to return it and get a 24channel one or less.

Router is still on it's way... well, Walmart hasn't told me to go pick it up yet which I'm a bit pissed off about since they said it was in stock and would be good for pick up today.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, I got my answer... optimum finally called back. They don't support 32 channel modems in my area because they are only compatible with service of 1gbps or more. My neighborhood only gets 400mbps or less. Tech support said that modem is no good and I need to return it and get a 24channel one or less.

Honestly, that sounds like a really BS answer to me. The 32x8 modems, can sync to only 24 DS channels, no problem. (Comcast sometimes reduces the number of available channels, when they are doing serious node work, or re-jiggering the channel / freq. layout of a node. It has happened before.)

It sounds like they have limited engineering resources, and don't want to support the SB6190, for some odd reason. (It is the Puma6 chipset, not the greatest.)

 

[z1ggy]

Honestly, that sounds like a really BS answer to me. The 32x8 modems, can sync to only 24 DS channels, no problem. (Comcast sometimes reduces the number of available channels, when they are doing serious node work, or re-jiggering the channel / freq. layout of a node. It has happened before.)

It sounds like they have limited engineering resources, and don't want to support the SB6190, for some odd reason. (It is the Puma6 chipset, not the greatest.)

Well I asked if they could run it at less channels or tell me if there was a way for me to disable 8 of the channels and he said he wasn't sure. Could be it's just not supported and it's as simple as that.

Either way, it's not going to be supported right now so I'm returning it. Probably just going to get a 16x4 Arris TM model since it's the very first one they show as approved, and it's capable of support more than enough speed for us right now.
Edit: Since I gotta go back to bestbuy anyway, gonna pick up a SB6183 and call back to see if that will work. If not... whatever, not much lost.

 

[aigomorla]

Honestly, that sounds like a really BS answer to me.

Yeah i get what your saying, but its the ISP's end.
I had the same issues as the OP with spectrum.
I would buy the top of the top modem line, only to find out, most of the streams were not supported and it would be cap'd way below the promised bandwidth.

That is why i usually now get the ISP's modem, as you typically get what is promised, and if it doesn't work, you can always bring it in for a replacement.

 

[z1ggy]

Yeah i get what your saying, but its the ISP's end.
I had the same issues as the OP with spectrum.
I would buy the top of the top modem line, only to find out, most of the streams were not supported and it would be cap'd way below the promised bandwidth.

That is why i usually now get the ISP's modem, as you typically get what is promised, and if it doesn't work, you can always bring it in for a replacement.

Yep... well, I just listened to the guy and got a 16x4 SB6183 and it was recognized by the self install right away. Got an AX1500 at Walmart and I'm setting up the security settings as we speak.

Having my wife call to cancel service effectively for the 22nd unless they'll offer us the same rate as a new customer (I'm sure they can't/won't) and then I'll resume our service on the 22nd on whatever offer they are running right now, which I think is something like... 400mbps for $40 for 1yr. Probably goes up quite a bit after that I assume.

 

[Ready4Droid]

What should I do if internet speed is slow when the device is connected to the router’s wireless network | TP-Link

What should I do if internet speed is slow when the device is connected to the router’s wireless network

www.tp-link.com

use Nirsoft WifiInfoView to see which channel has least WiFi routers on it in your neighborhood and then config your router to use that channel.

Scans wireless networks in your area

Tool for Windows that scans wireless networks in your area and displays extensive information, including: SSID, MAC Address, PHY Type (802.11g or 802.11n), RSSI, Signal Quality, Frequency, Channel Number, and more...

www.nirsoft.net

This was what I was thinking. Have you scanned networks and see that your not competing? Are you on 2.4 or 5ghz? Also, I noticed Amazon does a stupid thing with their remote where it connects to the fire stick on the same channel as your WiFi, creating its own interference. Double check if you are possibly getting some interference from there, it caused me headaches in the past where I had an RPi that was having connection issues that was as near (slightly further than) my TV with an Amazon fire stick. Scanned networks and realized all my fire sticks broadcast on the same channel as my wifi. Looked it up online, sure enough that's exactly what it does to communicate to the remote.