Symptoms of failing modem?

[Passepartout]

My home network is acting up. For a while, my laptop would connect automatically, yet DW's laptop would need to cycle airplane mode on and off, or restart her computer before it would connect. It will recognize the network, but have limited connection. Sometimes it connects normally. Then a couple days ago my laptop would connect to some websites, but not others. When that happened, my tablet would connect normally to every site I had tabs open on. When I had limited connections, my Echo couldn't connect either.

Both my computers connect to outside Wi-Fi or my phone's 'internet sharing without hesitation.

I hate to just go and spend $150 or so on a modem without knowing that that is the solution to the problem.

The network seems dependable 95% of the time, but I wonder if the outages described above are harbingers of upcoming failure. Or should I just wait until whatever component is weak fails entirely? So far the outages are just nuisance and we have workarounds. No critical stuff is dependent on internet connection.

Jim

 

[Kal]

Try a "hard reset" and a "power reset" of the modem

 

[John Cummings]

That has happened to me a few times. I just power the modem off for 30 seconds and then turn it back on. Has worked every time.

 

[PigsDad]

That sounds like issues w/ the wifi router, not the modem. If you have a combo unit -- get a separate router. The combos are notoriously bad performers.

Wifi routers can start going bad, and as there are more and more wifi routers around you, the bands start getting crowded. I would suggest getting a dual-band router (they even have tri-band routers, but they will be much more expensive). A newer dual-band router will automatically select an appropriate band / channel per device that is less crowded and you will get better performance, less drops, etc.

Kurt

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do have separate modem and router and have done hard resets to both. Multiple times. I will try a new router, as I will be setting up a new network in a second home in a couple of months.

Jim

 

[SMHarman]

Depending on your comfort with tech I would also recommend the ubiquity WAP.

You need to run a cable to it but you place it more centrally in the space. As WiFi is radio you can even hide it in a closet.
Turn the WiFi off on the current router and use the WiFi on the WAP instead.

 

[tompalm]

I agree a router issue. Some routers only last a year. Last time I had issues like this, I went down to the Apple Store and bought a new router just to see if my problems improved. The new router works great and I have not had any problems for over a year. One thing about Apple is you can try out the router and return it within 30 days if you don't like it. Costco has a great return policy also, but not sure which routers they carry.

 

[pedro47]

I agree a router issue. Some routers only last a year. Last time I had issues like this, I went down to the Apple Store and bought a new router just to see if my problems improved. The new router works great and I have not had any problems for over a year. One thing about Apple is you can try out the router and return it within 30 days if you don't like it. Costco has a great return policy also, but not sure which routers they carry.

Ditto and ditto we try two different routers from Costco and returned both will no problems. The third one worked like a charm.

 

[taterhed]

To make this easier....
What router do you have?
What modem do you have?

What internet do you have?

thanks.