Netcomm NB6Plus4Wn Dropping Connection

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gedc

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#189595 5-Jan-2016 17:44

4 years old next week. Been running almost flawlessly until around 4 months ago then noticed ADSL2 connection was dropping from time to time. The unit was feeding a PC and many wireless devices around the home.

Just finished a cat 6 home rewire and this router feeds 18 ports through a managed switch and patch panel. It's dropping at least once or twice every odd day.

Seems to come back online after a switch off and switch on and back to business as usual.

Also noticed it's getting hot on top so have flicked a desk fan to blow on it. That appears to have stopped the dropping out as long as the fan keeps the unit cool.

Obvious reasons for failure - swamping it with too many requests - torrenting, gaming, streaming and casual browsing most likely happening at similar times ?
Unit starting to fail after 4 years of life?
New Cat 6 wiring ( hope not ) ? Could this be an issue i.e have I wired something up incorrectly?
Overheating ?

or all of the above.?

Thoughts appreciated as to likely reason.

I'm loathed to replace as about to get fibre installed in next 4 to 5 weeks so am keen to mummy it along until we get the new kit.

Cheers

Ged

richms

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#1461829 5-Jan-2016 18:01

Try an alternate power adapter on it. I have cured a couple of iffy routers of friends with a new wall wart from my pile of ones from old ext HDDs and similar.

Richard rich.ms

robjg63

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#1461830 5-Jan-2016 18:02

I had the same model without the WiFi a few years back and it started doing the same thing - so I would think it's on its way to the big computer scrap heap in the sky.
Your best bet would be to pop the top off it and drill a few holes in the case to increase the ventilation. They don't seem to like having much in the way of airflow in the average router for some reason. Maybe they think they all live in a nice air conditioned room.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

gedc

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#1462045 5-Jan-2016 23:38

Thanks for that. Another symptom is difficulty logging into the router using the 192.168.1.1 addy. I often get a red screen with Error 404..Often when I then hit refresh it takes me into the setup pages.

Other times it just sits there doing nothing. Is that a sign of overheating or just the router being swamped ?

robjg63

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#1462087 6-Jan-2016 07:45

gedc: Thanks for that. Another symptom is difficulty logging into the router using the 192.168.1.1 addy. I often get a red screen with Error 404..Often when I then hit refresh it takes me into the setup pages.

Other times it just sits there doing nothing. Is that a sign of overheating or just the router being swamped ?

Don't know about being swamped with requests, I guess only you can try and cut back the activity and see if that has any effect. I guess more requests = busier/hotter processor. They do start going a bit crazy when they get too hot though - keep it as cool as possible for the next few weeks.

Are you getting an ISP supplied router with ufb ie you aren't buying one?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

gedc

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#1462104 6-Jan-2016 08:19

Yep. Getting new ISP supplied router hence keen to keep this dragging along. While it's done it previously in the last few months I've noticed it doing it a lot more since I plugged it into the new network which made me think I had a problem with the patch panel or wiring.

Previously the unit was supplying wireless to the house and ethernet to my desktop. Now it's supplying wireless to the house, ethernet to my desktop and ethernet to 17 other ports ( albeit via a switch ). A lot of those ports are flashing away on the switch so there is activity on them. I'm just assuming the extra load is placing too much on the already dying router. Turn up the fan I guess :)

This actually reminds me of very similar behaviour 4 years ago when the predecessor to this was starting the descent to the bottom.

robjg63

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#1462135 6-Jan-2016 09:21

I guess each new model of router needs to have faster processors to cope with the upswing in traffic and devices that people have these days. Even a home connection can have a few mobile phones, tablets, PCs, smart TVs etc etc - All adds up.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler