Router issue?

Bit of an odd one this!

I always have RouterStats (lite version) running on my PC to keep an eye on things.
PC (Windows 10) wired connection to TP-Link TD-W8960N.

Usually pretty stable ADSL2+ connection (partial LLU Uno broadband). Around 11.8 mbps sync.

All of a sudden I've started to see RouterSats reporting what look like 5-10 minute disconnections (IE. Noise Margin and connection speed on the graphs drop to zero) several times a day. But strange thing is that I can still browse the internet etc. during these "outages"!!! When it comes back to life, the connection speed is identical (11,844kbps) so definitely not loosing sync, as you would think the speed would be slightly different (it always has been if it re-boots for say a power cut etc.).

So it looks like RouterStats has stopped communication with my router for some reason. Also if I try and go to the Routers home page during one of these apparent "outages" I can't connect and get it's home page up.

System has been fine for the last several months and nothing major has changed recently.

Tried re-booting PC. Still does it.
Re-booted Router and that "appeared" to fix it for a couple of days. But now it's back.
Tried a different port on the router. Still the same.
Installed latest copy of RouterStats lite and still the same.

Wondering if it's the Router showing the first stages of failing!

Very odd. Not sure if it's anything to worry about really?

Any suggestions / comments folks?

Can't help with the router, but...

IIRC, when routerstats shows a line dropping to zero, but puts it in a different colour, that means it failed to talk to the router. If the line stays the same colour, it has successfully talked to the router, which returned a zero as the result.

I always used to advise that if a router needed rebooting in order to keep a connection then it WAS the first signs of failure. You could, if possible swap it out and see if it still happens. People would rung up and say their router had started playing up after 3 years + of being "fine" - but that's a long time for a router to live in some cases.

Edited by deleted (Tue 13-Dec-16 11:48:16)

In reply to a post by WWWombat:

Can't help with the router, but...

IIRC, when routerstats shows a line dropping to zero, but puts it in a different colour, that means it failed to talk to the router. If the line stays the same colour, it has successfully talked to the router, which returned a zero as the result.

Thanks for the reply.

I did not know that about the colour change. I'll have a closer look when it next happens. My money is that for some reason RouterStats can't talk to the router.

In reply to a post by 23Prince:

I always used to advise that if a router needed rebooting in order to keep a connection then it WAS the first signs of failure. You could, if possible swap it out and see if it still happens. People would rung up and say their router had started playing up after 3 years + of being "fine" - but that's a long time for a router to live in some cases.

Thanks for the reply.

This is the weird thing... Though Routerstats seems to be showing the line is down, I can still browse the Internet. In fact I was watching "The Grand Tour" on Amazon Prime video during one of these "outages" and did not notice any interruption. And when you can finally interrogate the Router, it does not report that there's been a re-sync.

I have taken your advice though and ordered up another Router (Billion 8800NL r2) as the one I'm using now is really my spare router anyway. And it's a fair few years old.

TBC as they say.

If your router is busy routeing, as when streaming, it quite possibly ignores ping requests and just doesn't respond to them.

Edit - if you paused the stream you would probably see DSLStats looking fine.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 13-Dec-16 18:32:21)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If your router is busy routeing, as when streaming, it quite possibly ignores ping requests and just doesn't respond to them.

Edit - if you paused the stream you would probably see DSLStats looking fine.

Good thinking. But it's just done it now and all I'm doing is browsing the internet.

All the lines on the graphs have turned red and dropped to zero and while I can still carry on doing what ever I want, including a line speed test (and that runs just fine). But RouterStats still reporting zero noise margin / speed. Also can't access the router via it's home page, the request just times out. How weird is that.

It's just this second turned blue and gone back to reporting the connection info correctly. Looks like somethings FUBAR.

I'll see what happen when my new router comes tomorrow. TBC

How secure is your wifi?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

How secure is your wifi?

WPA2 with a very secure PW.

But that's really only paranoia. As I live in the middle of nowhere. Nearest other property is literally miles away. Even the cows have been moved out of the fields and put into the barns for the winter. Though I did notice some of those pesky sheep have appeared in the field / hill behind us. No chance they are nicking my bandwidth is there?

Please excuse my sense of humour. It's been a very odd sort of day.

PS. I do appreciate your help though.

I was just mind-connecting the possibility of someone streaming on it that you weren't aware of .

It needed ruling out.

I'll be interested to see how the Billion 8800 goes when it arrives. Hopefully tomorrow.

I would appear to have a decent noise margin. So there might even be a chance to tweak the sync up a bit.

You're not the Robert S that answered one of the questions on Amazon about the Billion 8800NL are you by any chance?

No, but that's where I bought mine (8800NL R2) also arriving tomorrow LOL.

I didn't read the Q & As. Just the spec. There have been billions of recommendations of their kit on here.

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 13-Dec-16 22:34:21)

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

If your router is busy routeing, as when streaming, it quite possibly ignores ping requests and just doesn't respond to them.

Routerstats isn't pinging the router to get the stats, it is logging in to the web interface and opening specific pages to get connection stats. As the OP also cannot open the web interface at the time it sounds like the web server on the router is hanging but is continuing to run all the other router operations which is why there is no actual downtime. I used to do a similar thing years ago on a Netgear DG834G and from time to time the web interface would refuse a request and so I wouldn't get a response.

Oops, I was of course thinking of the thinkbroadband BQM, and routers responding to ping on the net generally.

Stoopid me .

Installed the Billion 8800NL this evening and all now appears fine. Long may it last.

Considering that it sync'd during the evening, it's not bad at 11,192 kbps. Should be able to squeeze a bit more out of it if I re-sync during the day.

It also seems to use a bit more of the "available download rate" than the TP-Link.

And interestingly, the Billion doesn't seem to be effected like the TP-Link was when I put the Plasma TV on (IE. Noise Margin used to take a nose dive when it was on).

Noise margin seems a bit better and more stable as well (6db). So might even have a go at some point and see if I can squeeze even more out of it with a few tweaks.

Just need to check that the firmware is the latest and if not, whether it's worth updating it.

So far a happy man.

Thanks for the info. / help folks.

PS. Looks like it's already running the latest firmware (IE. 2.50a.d13).

Edited by MrBeeline (Wed 14-Dec-16 21:33:17)

In reply to a post by MrBeeline:

Installed the Billion 8800NL this evening and all now appears fine. Long may it last.

Mine is installed as well but currently running in Bridge mode. I have to wait until a network hub arrives before I can move it to its final resting place nearer the wall socket.

I have instructions on how to flip it back to DSL mode but I'm a little leary of upsetting DLM :-/

In reply to a post by MrBeeline:

I'll be interested to see how the Billion 8800 goes when it arrives. Hopefully tomorrow.

I would appear to have a decent noise margin. So there might even be a chance to tweak the sync up a bit.

You're not the Robert S that answered one of the questions on Amazon about the Billion 8800NL are you by any chance?

I believe that was me.

In reply to a post by MrBeeline:

Installed the Billion 8800NL this evening and all now appears fine. Long may it last.

Considering that it sync'd during the evening, it's not bad at 11,192 kbps. Should be able to squeeze a bit more out of it if I re-sync during the day.

It also seems to use a bit more of the "available download rate" than the TP-Link.

And interestingly, the Billion doesn't seem to be effected like the TP-Link was when I put the Plasma TV on (IE. Noise Margin used to take a nose dive when it was on).

Noise margin seems a bit better and more stable as well (6db). So might even have a go at some point and see if I can squeeze even more out of it with a few tweaks.

Just need to check that the firmware is the latest and if not, whether it's worth updating it.

So far a happy man.

Thanks for the info. / help folks.

PS. Looks like it's already running the latest firmware (IE. 2.50a.d13).

Glad to hear it. I have used a 8800NL for about a year and half now - again after reading the reviews on Amazon. I find it to be a most dependable piece of kit and a steal (at the time) at £66!