Question for you network guys - how to tell if modem/router is bad?

[BadMouth]

I have been using a Motorola SBG 6580 modem/router combo for around 5 or 6 years without any issues.
EDIT: after looking up when I bought it, it's only been 3.5 years.
One Ethernet port stopped working a while back.  Not a big deal.

Just in the last few weeks the wifi has been a PITA.
I'll be using my laptop or some other wifi device like a Nexus Player or FireTV stick and the internet connection will be lost.
The laptop says I have a good wifi signal and am connected, but there's no internet connection.
After a few minutes it starts working again.

At the same time this happens I'm streaming video and using the internet on hard wired devices without any issues, so the modem isn't losing connection to comcast.
I fiddled around with the very few settings I understood.  Switching channels or frequency didn't make a difference.
Haven't tried a factory reset yet.

So is this what happens when a router is on it's way out, or do they usually just crap out completely when they go bad?
(in other words, should I just go ahead and buy a new router instead of spending time trying to fix this one?)

[Slippyblade]

Honestly, if you've gotten 5 years out of a wireless router, you are beating the curve.  Sounds like it's time to pony up and buy a new one though.

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah a spent a decent amount on my last one (used as a repeater) and it's acting up after a mere year.  What this one is doing, and what they usually do is.... they'll work for a few hours and then they start acting goofy.... you cycle the power and they'll work for another few hours ect....

[ark_ader]

Read this:

http://design-justice.com/2014/01/so-your-motorola-surfboard-gateway-sbg6580-is-a-pain-in-the/

Hope it helps you. 

[johnrt]

Kill it with fire and buy a new one!

[pbj]

Buy a new one, if it fixes the problem then keep it.  If not, then return it and roll again.

[Slippyblade]

Kill it with fire and buy a new one!

I approve of this message. +1

[yotsuya]

Yeah, I've gotten about 3-4 years out of every wireless router I've ever owned. Linksys x2, D-Link x2, now on to ASUS. Time to break out the wallet.

[vwalbridge]

Love 'em or hate 'em...Apple makes an awesome router. Got the AirPort Extreme and never looked back.

[leapinlew]

Love 'em or hate 'em...Apple makes an awesome router. Got the AirPort Extreme and never looked back.

Yup, and it's not priced out of line with other routers.

It is limited as far as it's interface. I had some issues with DynDNS, since it's not supported.

[lowlytech]

Also if you have an extra power supply wall wart with the same ratings try that.  I have seen those supplies get weak and cause random reboots and such, otherwise a new device is in your future.

[knave]

I probably agree that it is time to replace it, but...

You can try changing your wifi channel and or looking for sources of interference...I was having a similar issue and was going to replace my router when I discovered the issue was the baby monitor. Whenever it was on and near me while using the Wifi, I would randomly loose connection.

Also if you are not completely fed up a factory reset and fresh network details couldn't hurt...or better yet see if you can put DDWRT on it. I get much better reliability with the full featured 3rd party firmware.

But really...

...Buy a new one. 

[BadMouth]

Did a factory reset last night and screwed around on the internet for about an hour with no issues.
Wrote a post to say it was working and when I hit the post button, I was no longer connected. 

Upon looking up when the router was purchased, it's only 3.5 years old.
I could have sworn that I've had it longer.

Guess it's time to buy a new one.

[Slippyblade]

I tend to get about 2-3 years out of a wifi router.

[Admiral688]

Usually ports are controlled in groups of 8 by the same logic. If you have a physical issue with a port, I am not surprised that you would have problems elsewhere with the same device, as there is one single silicone for everything.

Time to upgrade!

[Howard_Casto]

Ok so we've clearly all identified a problem in regards to routers.  Now is the time for someone to do something about it!  Somebody make a open-source Arduino based router stat.

[BadMouth]

Update if anyone is interested: 

Bought an ASUS RT-N66U router.  Disabled wifi on the old Motorola SBG6850 in hopes of still using it as a modem and not having to deal with the cable company to activate a new modem.

The new router kicks butt, but I'm still losing the connection to the internet.  Various things I've observed point to various possible problems without confirming anything in particular.  Loss of internet (but not wifi signal) has corresponded with the furnace kicking on two times.  Maybe the streaming devices are just buffered enough to play through the drops. etc. etc.  I'm pulling my hair out.

I'd been watching a modem best buy had on clearance. 
Today it dropped to $50 so I snatched it up.  I only pay for 10Mbs service, so I don't need a high end one.

Hate having to throw money at the problem just to diagnose it, but I think it's the most direct route in this case.

[Xiaou2]

Todays electronics are more sensitive than ever.

 First,  Heat is a major issue with a lot of these devices.   They try to make then too small.. to increase visual appeal..  but it often causes poor air circulation.    As metal and other materials heat.. they expand.   Expansion on older large trace equipment is one thing... but incredibly small traces, are often effected far more seriously.

 - Try putting the modem / routers  right next to a small fan.

 - Next... Electricity spikes can also be very detrimental to modern electronics.    Get a very good surge protector.   Not just a power-bar,  and not a super cheap surge either... especially if you know that drops and spikes are happening often.   

 A battery backup / surge  may be an even better option actually.   Just note,  that after a few years time... the batteries will fail.  Id guess anywhere from 3 to 5 years... depending on the type.   The batteries can be replaced... but often its almost as expensive as buying a new unit.

 Also note, I believe that even some of the better surge protectors, lose their ability to filter after some years time.

 - Check the voltages in your house wall sockets.   See if its abnormally low.   You might have an issue that needs some attention.

 - Too many things on a single circuitbreaker line?   

 Different outlets go to different circuit breakers.   Sometimes too much power draw can cause issues, especially when something heavy in amps starts up.   For example,  a laser printer can draw like +10amps when it fires up.   It doesnt always cause the breaker to trip,  but still can cause an issue with some sensitive electronics.

 - Do you notice any lights dimming when the furnace comes on?   Thats a sign that there is a power straining issue.    My laser printer would cause the lights to dim..  so I had to place it on a different outlet.    I suggest trying that as well.   

 But ultimately, you may have need for an electrician to look things over.    There might be an issue, that could eventually become a large problem, in the future.

- Finally... Todays electronics use lead free soldier.   Often, it does not flow as well... and causes poor connections.   Over some time of heating and cooling...  it can eventually break connections,  and either be intermittent, or completely fail.   I know a guy who has made a side business out of re-flowing soldier on broken electronics.   I think he used to use a toaster oven...  but Ive never bothered to ask (or just dont remember).

[BadMouth]

    problem continues despite installing both a new modem and router.
I've spent $150 so far because my internet drops for 30 seconds maybe once every 90 minutes. 
It's a minor inconvenience.  I'm not sure why it drives me so nuts.   

The last stoppage correlated with the furnace blower kicking on again.
I moved the modem to the living room where it's plugged into an APC filtered supply.
It will probably be two days before I use the internet enough to know that it helped.

I wish I'd just ignored the problem until something died completely.

EDIT: just dropped again, no furnace kicking on   
Guess I'll give Comcast a call and see if they can test the line.
The signal levels and noise look ok when I'm looking at them, but I've never been looking at them when it drops.
Starting to wonder if one of my neighbors has some new powerful 2.4 or 5ghz device. 

[DudeRegular]

I may have missed it, but do you have these on battery backup?

[BadMouth]

I may have missed it, but do you have these on battery backup?

No.  I don't own any battery backups.
Just tried it on an APC filtered supply which I picked up because it was cheap on clearance.
Issue persists.

[Howard_Casto]

Well all a filtered supply does is prevent voltage spikes and dirty grounds.  It won't protect you against voltage drops.  A UPS should help with that as the device is actually running off batteries all the time. 

Honestly it just sounds like the house has flakey wiring..... try plugging it in various outlets to see if it will help. 

[DudeRegular]

Well all a filtered supply does is prevent voltage spikes and dirty grounds.  It won't protect you against voltage drops.  A UPS should help with that as the device is actually running off batteries all the time. 

Honestly it just sounds like the house has flakey wiring..... try plugging it in various outlets to see if it will help.

Ya i was thinking along the same lines when he mentioned the furnace kicking and the web going down.

At least you got a nice router man. I have that same one and really like it. My previous netgear was always having dns dropping problems. The asus has been solid. Rarely even needs a reboot. Good features too.

[Xiaou2]

When I had connection issues with my cable line, years ago...  It turned out that squirrels chewed a bunch of the shielding off of the wires.  Took a few visits before they came to that realization..  as they rarely check the lines, until its like a last resort.

[BadMouth]

The furnace kicking on thing could have just been a coincidence that happened a few times.

Used a wired PC last night for an hour or so and had no issues.  Will do that again, maybe trying to use both it and my laptop simultaneously to see if the laptop drops while the pc continues to work.  I thought I had pretty much done this testing, but now I'm starting to doubt myself.  Maybe the internet started working again in the time it took me to set down the laptop and walk over to the PC?     If the wired computer never drops, then the problem isn't comcast.

This is driving me crazy....and the fact that I'm letting a 30 second inconvenience every hour or so drive me crazy is driving me crazy.

I'm starting to think maybe it's my laptop.  I had ruled this out because the nexus player which also relies on wifi had reported it was connected to the network, but not the internet several times in one day.  Same as the laptop was doing.  The nexus player hasn't had any issues since though.  The firetv sticks haven't seemed to have any issues.
Maybe this points to interference.  Maybe the laptop is using 2.4Ghz while the firetv sticks are using 5Ghz.  The only other 2.4Ghz devices in the house are wireless keyboards and mice which I unplugged.  The router is less than 20ft from my laptop and the neighbors houses are at least 50ft away on two sides and several hundred feet away on the others.
Maybe it's aliens.....

Came across a used wifi card for my laptop on ebay for $4 shipped (from the US), so gonna give that a try for lack of other ideas.
I already have any power saving features that would disable wifi turned off btw.
Also moved the wifi channel to the emptiest spot (channel 9 with no neighbors on 8 or 10 either).

Not sure how to go about testing for interference, especially if it's in short bursts.
Maybe the software defined radio program I have goes that high and has a recording feature....

[BadMouth]

Could a network cable laying across the top of the main heat duct trunk pick up interference from the blower motor?
The wifi router used to be located on top the return duct with some network cables crossing the heat duct.
I installed the new wifi router in my home office, but the network cable connecting it to the modem is laying accross the heat duct.

Different cables have been used as I first had the modem mounted on a floor joist, then had to use a longer cable to move it to the living room.

[ChadTower]

Could a network cable laying across the top of the main heat duct trunk pick up interference from the blower motor?

IMO, only if you ran it through the furnace across the motor itself.  The metal furnace box would be shield enough.

[BadMouth]

I never did get the satisfaction of definitively nailing this down. 
Swapping out both the modem and router didn't fix the issue.

My laptop was the primary device that was dropping the internet connection (but not the wifi connection).
It was also the only device still limited to 2.4Ghz.
I installed a wifi card capable of 5ghz.
I think it was some type of interference at 2.4Ghz.

Haven't had any issues since, but haven't been using the laptop enough to be 100% sure since it was an issue that only popped up about once every hour or two.