Erratic Internet Connection, Router Problem (?)

[kennethnakasone]

The router that we use is a Netgear R6300, purchased about two and a half years ago, and recently we've been having inconsistent internet connectivity. I noticed two patterns in network activity when this happens. The transfer rate will either drop to zero at 1 minute intervals, or rapidly jump up and down at 1-2 second intervals. In both cases, this erratic activity ends with network activity completely halting, and then recovering after a few minutes. 

 

We had a technician come in, who replaced the modem, and said if the problem persists then it would be a router problem. Is there anything else to test/check, or is it definitely a router problem?

[TrifectaIII]

If it's not the modem, and this happens no matter the device, then I guess it must be the router. Alternatively, it could be a problem with the external aspects of your ISP that are totally out of your control, but that seems unlikely. Other than that I have no ideas for you, maybe somebody else will.

[Master Disaster]

I think I'd swap out any data cables for new ones before I chucked the router away but yes, it certainly does sound like a router issue.

Is there a firmware update available for your model?

[darthblade]

There are multiple things to rule out:

 

- Connect a device directly to the modem (I assume it's a modem-router), see if it works reailbly reliablyblybly If it doesn't- well, modem or ISP trouble > call tech

 

- Connect via cable to the router, log into the http admin panel. There should be a "diagnostic" option in system tools. Use it to ping the modem and an external dns server, multiple times

If there is packet loss and big ping (should be 1 ms or so) between the router and the modem, check for loose connection, clean the ports, check if there is no mains power cable running parallel to the ethernet cable, try using a different LAN port on the modem if it has one, try a different cable. If it all fails, router is most likely kaputt, Firmware upgrade might brick it, but since it's not working anyway, you can try it.

 

- Check Your router-> workstation connection using similar steps as in point 2, just use CMD or other app to test the router

 

- If both the modem and the router show similar results (bad), even after swapping cables- try using a different device, Your own network card might be the culprit

 

- Now, if all of this works... It's the WLAN connection that's awry.. and that's bad news since it's harder to diagnose. Increasing antenna power and changing the channel is a start.