why does cable modem need to be reset?

[raftman]

Just wondering if anyone knows why a cable modem needs to be reset periodically? About every week and a half my comp won't be able to access the web, but all i do is disconnect power from the modem, reconnect, then it's good to go. wondering if anyone knows why?

using a motorola surfboard cable modem

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Are you sure it's the cable modem? If you renew your IP address, does that also reconnect you? Are you using a broadband router, or a direct connect to the modem? Are you using USB or Ethernet to connect to the computer?

 

[JackMDS]

It might be time to talk to your ISP.

Some Modems start to do so before they go Bad.

 

[Nothinman]

I've never had a cable modem that's needed periodic power cycling.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
I've never had a cable modem that's needed periodic power cycling.

Mine did before RR came and put a New one.

 

[kursplat]

1st one i had from RR needed it every 3 - 4 weeks. new one every 3 - 4 months. they say it's my switch . the LAN never has trouble and to reset the switch i have to unplug it and wait 5 min so it loses it's memory . oh well

 

[Fiveohhh]

I need to reset my dsl modem maybe twice a year, sometimes it just gets a little messed up

 

[Nothinman]

Mine did before RR came and put a New one.

That was sort of my point, if you have one that needs reset a lot it should probably be replaced.

 

[raftman]

Originally posted by: gunrunnerjohn
Are you sure it's the cable modem? If you renew your IP address, does that also reconnect you? Are you using a broadband router, or a direct connect to the modem? Are you using USB or Ethernet to connect to the computer?

i'm using a usb wireless adapter to connect. cable modem goes into a belkin router (80211b). so i get my ip from the router via its dhcp server. my comp will say it has the wireless connection, yet web pages don't load and aim disconnects, etc. next time it happens i will try pinging the router and dns servers.

i tried resetting the router first and it didn't work, after resetting the modem it worked though. so seems something with the modem is happening. has happened twice in the first month.

thanks guys.

 

[RhythmAddict]

I haven't reset my RR modem for months...

 

[Karpl]

I always had problems with my Linksys router with Roadrunner and Windows Me. I would lose connection for no reason - then go thru the entire process of resetting everything. If I didn't do everything perfectly in order, it wouldn't work and I'd have to start over again. And forget about it if the power ever went off.

Since then, I've upgraded router drivers and to XP. It's real forgiving now. I almost can't make it screw up!

-KyleC

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have to agree, if it's really the cable modem, time for a replacement. I had an issue with an SMC router that it would lose the connection and I'd have to reset the router, and sometimes even the modem. New firmware came along that fixed the issue...

 

[raftman]

thanks for the help. if (and when) it happens again i'll try to more accurately figure out the root of the problem and take it up with my isp.

 

[vegetation]

Had this problem many years ago with RR . Periodic resetting of the modem, like every few weeks, or it just wouldn't get signal. Complained and they eventually upgraded some equipment in the neighborhood. Now I NEVER have to reset my modem (the same one for the past 5 years) for months. In fact, the only time I reset it last year was after a few bad thunderstorms.

 

[8ballcoupe]

I've had that same experience using a Motorola Surfboard cable modem connected to Comcast. By communicating closely with Comcast over a period of a few weeks their tech support and I finally figured that my modem was getting thrown for a loop just about every time I was issued a new IP addy. The local office made some type of change, and the modem stopped losing its connection. The IP address still gets changed occasionally, but the modem never loses the connection when this happens now.

Ernie

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I'm real curious as to why you get a new IP address without disconnecting, since that's very unusual! Actually, it's impossible, you'd have to be disconnected to get a new IP address! It's small wonder your modem gets confused...

I'm also on Comcast, and I've had the same IP address for months, the last time it changed was the big storm a few months back that knocked out service for over a day. That was a big change, I moved from 68.x.x.x to 69.x.x.x, and the local Comcast guys were surprised that was even part of their network!

 

[8ballcoupe]

Yeah, that's the point. I was getting disconnected, and so were other people on my node, on a regular basis. It used to happen at 06:45 on occasional Friday mornings. Now I never see it happen. I've moved to a different neighborhood (and a different node). But the IP address has changed, insofar as I am aware, only about twice in the past six months. We have had one or two power outages. Don't know whether the IP address changes coincided with those outages or not. Just something I noticed.

Ernie.