how to know if "internet" router is dying?

[high_revs]

i got an orbi rbr50 that came with 2 satellites. i bought an extra satellite since one satellite closest to the garage is not that strong. initially i thought i had cabling issue from this thread. had more issues after replacing cables 2 nights ago and yesterday. i downgraded the firmware though i've been on that new firmware for probably 2-3 weeks.

was stable until a few hiccups again this morning. i run 2 pcs - my work and my own desktop. when my personal desktop started hiccuping (had to do a restart) my work machine was slow response. i use incognito mode to avoid cache/cookies.

it's making me wonder if my router is dying though only 3 years old? any tell-tale signs? it really made me wonder if old cables were my issue after all.

my desktop has the original ethernet and i moved my usb -> ethernet plug since it always got me gigabit speeds (recycled from my laptop).

[RickD427]

Look for a loss of RPM's under load.

But there may be an easy fix, I thought that my PC690 router was dying a while back, but a new pair of brushes bought it back to life.

[NaClAddict]

Don’t think his router is running brushes or turning rpm’s RickD.

[Robotron2k84]

Some thoughts...

Possibly new interference? Time of day is a good indicator that another hotspot in the area is being used.

Try a spectrum analyzer, some APs call it “WiFi Scan” to detect adjacent APs and they can either adjust the broadcast channel(s) automatically or show you the spectrum utilization.

You don’t mention if the PCs are plugged directly into the base station or the sats, or via their own WiFi adapters. That’s useful info. Sounds like at least one of the PCs may be directly connected to the base station?

In any case, especially after a firmware downgrade, I would do the equivalent of a 30-30-30 reset on the base station. This erases the configuration and resets everything to factory settings. 30-30-30 refers to holding the reset button for 30 seconds while the router is on, continue holding for 30 seconds after you disconnect power, and continue holding for another 30 seconds after you plug the power cord back in. This is all done without releasing the reset button at all.

What happens when you do a downgrade is that new NVRAM values that may have been introduced in the newer firmware, persist, and can interfere with the older firmware.

A reset is the first thing I’d do. You will need to re-enter all your settings by hand, so write them down, and take a backup of the base station config as well.

However...

Backing up and then restoring settings after a 30-30-30 wipe will re-introduce the problem as the issue is in NVRAM values that will be copied back into the system upon reloading the backup config. You should re-enter all your written down settings manually, in this case.

[RickD427]

Some of the newer routers use a brushless design, but if it's not turning RPM's then it's definitely dead.

[Ivan275]

Some of the newer routers use a brushless design, but if it's not turning RPM's then it's definitely dead.

Computer, internet router.

[RickD427]

Computer, internet router.

Ya, I know, I'm a dinosaur.

Where words have multiple usages, the unqualified use of the word should, IMHO, go to the original meaning, and the more recently adopted uses of the word should be prefaced with the appropriate qualification. A "Router" is a woodworking tool used to edge materials. What you, and the OP are describing is a "Computer Router" or an "Internet Router." But neither qualification was used by the OP (which is what prompted my post).

By the same token, when a person describes themself as a "Pilot", they are a person who navigates ships through restricted waters, as distinguished from a "Flying Machine Pilot."

[ibanezfoo]

i got an orbi rbr50 that came with 2 satellites. i bought an extra satellite since one satellite closest to the garage is not that strong. initially i thought i had cabling issue from this thread. had more issues after replacing cables 2 nights ago and yesterday. i downgraded the firmware though i've been on that new firmware for probably 2-3 weeks.

was stable until a few hiccups again this morning. i run 2 pcs - my work and my own desktop. when my personal desktop started hiccuping (had to do a restart) my work machine was slow response. i use incognito mode to avoid cache/cookies.

it's making me wonder if my router is dying though only 3 years old? any tell-tale signs? it really made me wonder if old cables were my issue after all.

my desktop has the original ethernet and i moved my usb -> ethernet plug since it always got me gigabit speeds (recycled from my laptop).

Grab an app called Wifi Analyzer for your phone. Run it and wander around and see what your signal strength is. You can also see if you have neighbors with wifi and if their equipment is on the same channel as yours. This will also help you tune your mesh a little bit. You don't want the pucks too close together, or too far apart. Get the mac addresses from each puck and you can watch the signal strength in real time as you wander around.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en_US&gl=US

For example, my office is on the wall attached to a fab facility. Down the hall is an AP for the office. We also have APs spread throughout the shop. My office sits right between two APs so my phone hops from one to the other or just drops entirely. It sucks working on wifi things in my office. I usually go to another room so I can get a consistent AP. One of these days I will sit down and tune them since our network guy seems to be unable to or refuses to.

It might be the router dying but I dunno... its kind of rare and they usually either work or don't. Well, with the exception of wifi. I have had routers have their RF stuff fail but the hardwire stuff works fine. Most recently a Cradlepoint cell device. You can also try disabling all the pucks and just try to connect with your core routers wifi. If it works fine add one puck at a time until you have issues.

[ibanezfoo]

Ya, I know, I'm a dinosaur.

Where words have multiple usages, the unqualified use of the word should, IMHO, go to the original meaning, and the more recently adopted uses of the word should be prefaced with the appropriate qualification. A "Router" is a woodworking tool used to edge materials. What you, and the OP are describing is a "Computer Router" or an "Internet Router." But neither qualification was used by the OP (which is what prompted my post).

By the same token, when a person describes themself as a "Pilot", they are a person who navigates ships through restricted waters, as distinguished from a "Flying Machine Pilot."

I live in both worlds. My garage is a woodworking shop. I have at least 6 routers out there.

[vino68]

You listen for it to whimper.

[high_revs]

LOL with RickD427 ...

crap.. i dind't include that though i figure a router you describe would be in off topic.. maybe... i updated the title from original post.

ibanezfoo
i have wifi analyer on my mobile and i have pics of the mac address since i relabeled the satellites names to be more descriptive and i know which one is offline from the mesh network. i used to use that for signal though my issue is more happening and realized on ethernet cables and frequent disconnect necessitating a restart. sometimes, restart of the router and possibly also a restart of the modem.

it hasn't been that unstable for a very very long time hence the downgrade of firmware.


Robotron2k84,
all good points. it's unstable on ethernet since both machines are hardwired. i didn't really track how many ssids i have around (some i know just because i see when i connect wifi on the phone). wasn't sure if that interference (new ssids) or even channel overlap might be killing it but not sure. meaning, it is forcing too many switches of channels since i have it set to auto thus wearing it out more? it would be the first though this is my 3rd (wifi) router ever (from an asus wrt-56u and cisco wrt that i put ddwrt before, and did a bridge with a 2nd one that didn't work so well, speed wise)

hmm... not sure what else could be causing it. i have both desktop ethernet connected to a 4port wall plate, that comes from the switch. the router has a single ethernet that connects to same 4port wallplate but this connection goes to the switch on the other room. the reason for this is to connect other devices (ethernet mainly) thru drive mapping. (no NT network established; used the old and defunct home groups before).

yesterday, i direct connected the desktop to the router's ethernet (allowed to have 4ports ethernet). and i was getting the same result - cannot access the internet but i can connect to the router via 192.168.1.1. it was so bad i had to connect to free xfinity public wifi just to get going with work in the meantime until i can finagle it more.

so far after 24 hrs, no issues. i'm tempted to re-image the my personal tower in case i have a vampire type thing there though malware bytes, windows defender, spybot doesn't show any. i loaded the same apps as i've always had. i reimaged this machine from scratch (fresh windows install) 1 month ago.

[Dirtlaw]

I'm glad you changed the title. When I first saw the post I thought you were dealing with woodwork!

[Robotron2k84]

One other thing that isn’t talked about much is external interference, from both switching power sources and line condition, but also from licensed spectrum radios that overlap on ~ 5GHz.

Power issues can creep in when work is done at the substation or on the poles leading to your house. You can use a meter (set to line AC) to get an idea if you are under-voltage. Always a good idea to put computer equipment on a line-conditioning UPS.

However, if you are subject to PGE power outages, do not put a UPS on a generator-powered circuit if the geni uses a thyristor-controlled AVR. Harmonic distortion and capacitor backfeeding can and do overheat the AVR circuitry and cause fires. Special rating and attention are needed when connecting a UPS to a generator-supplied circuit.

As for licensed interference, there is something called the 802.11h regulatory domain. This is a set of protocols that operate against a 5GHz WiFi radio, such that it powers down when encountering radar and ISM signals so not to trample on the few fringe bands that do overlap with unlicensed WiFi. This would be solved by switching around 5GHz channels until the interference is gone.

.

[high_revs]

oddly i can browse the internet right now on my desktop tower (ethernet connected). xfinity and speedtest show <100mpbs.. i cannot connect to the router 192.168.1.1 i tried via wifi after disabling the ethernet device via change adapter options.. nada.. i'm using incognito mode for chrome and then later opera too.

so i decided to connect my old laptop, hardwire it with using my work laptop's ethernet cable (eliminate all possibilities) and same result. i hardwire directly to router; same.

[edit] i come back after 2 hrs later.. my test speed goes up. but still cannot connect to router.

i'll have to do the 30-30-30 reset and hope for the best and maybe just start a new configuration (i loaded the backup when i reset 2 days ago). hopefully they still have the same model i have. my research shows my satellites aren't compatible with wifi backhaul with models. i'll just have more satellites (i've not come across a negative on this).

[the86d]

how to know if "internet" router is dying?

The pr0nhubz stops verking,
and you can't Gargle the garglers...