Wi-Fi Kerps Dropping several times a day

[elastics]

Over the last week it keeps happening everyday, very annoying. Equipment is fine and signal is good when it’s running, nothing has been changed. It’s getting to the point it’s useless and unusable so I may have to switch to another service as I need reliable wi-fi to do my work.

I see there’s a few posts about this on these forums. Will there be a fix?

[RobertWy]

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@elastics wrote:
Over the last week it keeps happening everyday, very annoying. Equipment is fine and signal is good when it’s running, nothing has been changed. It’s getting to the point it’s useless and unusable so I may have to switch to another service as I need reliable wi-fi to do my work.

I see there’s a few posts about this on these forums. Will there be a fix?

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What is the make/model of your Comcast modem?

[elastics]

Motorola SURFboard SB5100 #500887 used with a Lynksys E3000 wireless router.

Its only started dropping this past week but its fairly consistent, drops about every hour. I have the latest firmware on my Linksys.

[EG]

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@elastics wrote:
Over the last week it keeps happening everyday, very annoying. Equipment is fine and signal is good when it’s running, nothing has been changed. It’s getting to the point it’s useless and unusable so I may have to switch to another service as I need reliable wi-fi to do my work.

I see there’s a few posts about this on these forums. Will there be a fix?

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For a test, does a computer hardwired directly to the router / gateway device with an ethernet cable have the same problem ?

[elastics]

@EG  If I hardwire my laptop directly to the router it still drops many times a day same as the wi-fi devices. Everything has bluetooth turned off to avoid any conflicts and everything is running the latest firmware and updates. If I reboot the modem and router it gets back up fine for a little while until it drops again.

[EG]

What do the modem's signal stats look like ? Try getting them here; http://192.168.100.1

Please post the *Downstream Power Level*, the *Upstream Power Level*, and the *SNR* (Signal to Noise Ratio) numbers.

Are you sure that the model number of the modem is SB5100 ? If not, what is the make and model ?

[elastics]

@EG

Downstream Power Level = -3 dBmV

Upstream Power Level =  41dBmV

SNR =  39dB

Model number is definately SB5100

btw, I really appreciate the help.

Thank you

[EG · Accepted solution]

I can't believe that that old dinosaur of a DOCSIS 2.0 / single channel modem is still compatible / operating !!! Time to think about upgrading it to a DOCSIS 3.0 (or 3.1 for gigabit speed service) before they cut it off altogether !!

[elastics]

@EG 

Just noticed in the logs that these three critical errors were logged on the same day and repeated 30 times between 02:25 and 02:30. It was about two weeks ago that this issue started so this could be related, or maybe just a coincedence. I'm in Florida so we do have lightening storms fwiw.

2019-09-26 02:29:28

3-Critical

D003.0

DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response

2019-09-26 02:25:32	3-Critical	T002.0	SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire FEC framing
2019-09-26 02:25:32	3-Critical	T001.0	SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Failed to acquire QAM/QPSK symbol timing

Only other logs since then are for occasional warnings like so:

2019-10-01 17:40:49

5-Warning

B605.10

Map Reject - Downstream Traffic Flow Not Mapped to BPI+ SAID (EC=8)

[EG]

The signal stats are o/k. It only has 1 single channel. It may be dropping due to traffic congestion. Ditch it !!

[elastics]

@EG  lol, that's funny. Its been working like a deam for years and i have three phones,  a laptop and a Netflix streeming smart tv virtually on all the time at the house all the time, mostly steeming live or YouTube.

However I will upgrade on your recomendation. Do you have a suggestion for me please?

Also, are you sure that the modem is causing all the issues im having or may I also need a router?

Thanks again

[EG]

Try this. For a test, does a computer hardwired directly to the SB5100 have the same problem ?

Which speed tier are you subscribed to ?

[elastics]

@EG  thank you for all your help.

Just to close this issue I did as you suggested and purschsed a Netgear Model CM500 modem  (DOCSIS 3.0 16x4 680Mbps). Its working fine and I think it is now taking full advantage of the "Blast! Internet" 150Mbps service I am paying for at Xfinity.

However it seems like I have now lost my wi-fi completely and will also need a new router. The Linksys E3000 wont hook-up to the new modem and the blue power led just keeps flashing. Its a firmware issue according to Cisco's website, Ive gone through their troubleshooting but nothing works anymore.  Oh well!

[EG]

Hmmm.... Sorry to hear.... That's a strange coincidence ! Have you tried power cycling the CM500 first, let it fully come back up, and then power cycle the E3000 ?

[elastics]

Yes sir I already did. I also worked through the complete install process using both the LynksysConnect software and manually as Cisco lists on their website. Finally I went through their process for re-installing the firmware for routers that cannot connect to their web insterface or issue ip addresses using tftp. I really thought that would work but I couldnt get past setting a static ip address on my computer.

Im good at following instructions but if something goes wrong while following them, and they dont tell you what to do in that case, Im pretty much stuck. I think the router is still good, just needs the firmware reinstalled as its corrupt. Cisco says the router power blinks blue if the firware is corupt and blinks red if the hardware is toast. Mine just blinks blue.

[EG]

Perhaps it's a hardware malfunction. There are much better routers with more horsepower out there anyway !!

[wtaustin]

Comcast admits they’re an internet provider, not Wi-Fi experts. I bought a high end router (ax technology such as Netgear ax12 line is upgradeable and handles lots of devices at once). Connect router by Ethernet then call Comcast and have them put their modem in bridge mode. Don’t use their Wi-Fi!! Also, turn off the xfinity free broadcast junk so no neighbors piggy back your bandwidth.

[CCAndrew]

7 month old dead thread closed