No Broadband, but Wifi Still Works

VanguardLH wrote:
John McGaw wrote:

On 12/23/2018 11:05 PM, M.L. wrote:
The broadband light on the Arris NVG510 is blinking red on an
Ethernet-connected Win10 desktop computer. Restarting the router
didn't help, and it continues blinking red even when the Ethernet
cable is disconnected. However, all smartphones on the network have
WiFi working and connected to the expected SSID. Why doesn't the
broadband issue affect the wireless connections?

You seem to be certain that the red light means that communication are
absolutely and totally lost but what happens is it merely means that the
connection is intermittent or sub-optimal? What if the "red light flashy
circuit" is reacting badly?

Manuals don't always say what they mean -- sometimes the manual writer
really has no clue of what is actually going on beyond some vague notions
and notes from the designers (and designers don't always pay much attention
to correcting the drafts of the manuals even if they are actually included
in the loop). If you are sure that you have connection and can perform
tests to prove it then you _have_ connection no matter what the light is
telling you. Think of it as a defective "check engine" light -- put some
black tape over it. When the communications are truly lost then you will
have _no_ question about it and you can gaze at the LED then.

That said, I'd certainly be badgering my ISP for an immediate (free)
replacement of the old one and the flashing LED is as good an excuse as any.

I had originally understood the OP as saying there was Internet
connectivity via wi-fi to the modem but not when using Ethernet (wired)
to the modem. However, all the OP actually said is there is Internet
connectivity via wi-fi but never mentioned if there is Internet
connectivity via wired.

Regardless of the LEDs on the modem:
- OP said wi-fi gets to Internet okay.
- No mention of whether or not wired Ethernet gets to the Internet.
- Flashing red LED doesn't match wi-fi connectivity to Internet.

From reading articles about that modem, it has a history of poor
reliability. Some users noted the modem would lose the Internet
connection and have to renegotiate several times per day. With DSL, as
I recall, there is a keep-alive ping that can be adjusted. If a reset
(not a reboot) doesn't work and if the modem is leased, exchange it.

On my equipment here, I've actually had a flashing LED
on the panel of the hardware, due to "torrent-like connection
exhaustion" on the router section. In one case, it appeared
the box had crashed, and I couldn't "web" into it and check
anything. In another case, the red LED was flashing and
just the ability to make new connections was lost. I could
select "reboot" from the web interface, without getting out
of my chair and toggling the power on the network stack power
strip.

And that was at very low connection levels (caused by the
greedy behavior of Windows Update in Windows 10). Having 20
connections open, and closing some and opening others,
seemed to tip it over. AFAIK, to be a "good corporate citizen",
the router table should have room for at least a thousand
entries (which age out at some point, when not used).

By no stretch of the imagination, would my hardware ever
tolerate Torrent usage. It would likely tip over in
about 5 seconds or so. That's how bad it is :-/

I'd spend more money on spiffy network hardware, but
there's little visible benefit (except a lack of
flashing red lights maybe). As it is, to keep my
VOIP phone running wastes 17W of electricity total, and that
really ****es me off. Adding yet another 10W box-o-tricks
to the stack isn't going to improve that. You know, one
of those boxes with the "microwave array" on top :-)

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....Y300_QL70_.jpg

You put your bag of microwave popcorn in the center.

https://assets.hardwarezone.com/img/...-rt-ac5300.png

Paul