Understanding and Addressing Persistent Internet Intermittency Issues: A Comprehensive Overview
In today’s digitally connected world, a stable internet connection is vital for both professional and personal activities. However, some users face persistent connectivity challenges that remain unresolved despite multiple troubleshooting efforts. This article explores the case of a user experiencing ongoing intermittent internet drops, analyzes potential causes, and suggests avenues for further investigation.
Case Overview
The user has been experiencing sporadic internet outages over several months, with symptoms that include:
- Random disconnections occurring throughout the day, with increased frequency between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.
- Drop durations ranging from a few seconds to several minutes.
- Multiple consecutive drops within short timeframes (several within a few minutes).
- Approximately 15 or more drops per day.
- During drops, internet connectivity doesn’t abruptly vanish; instead, it degrades gradually.
- Specific symptom: During a Discord call, the other participant can no longer hear the user, while the user can still hear them and see their stream at reduced quality. Prolonged drops eventually result in being disconnected altogether.
- The occurrence of drops persists even when connected directly to the modem, yet technicians report no issues detected at the modem level.
- Notably, the modem logs and status indicators do not show any recorded drops or errors concurrent with the outages.
Troubleshooting Measures Undertaken
The user has already implemented an extensive array of troubleshooting steps:
- Replaced the router multiple times.
- Replaced the modem multiple times.
- Switched among five different Ethernet cables.
- Tested connection with a battery backup (UPS) and an external AC adapter connected via a coaxial device.
- Bypassed internal cabling by routing the coaxial directly outside through a wall hole.
- Replaced external cables and checked underground wiring.
- Disconnected all wired devices, confirming the issue persists with just the modem connected.
- A technician inspected the node serving the premises; no problems were found.
Analysis and Potential Avenues for Further Investigation
Despite the comprehensive measures, the problem persists, suggesting that the root cause may lie beyond straightforward hardware replacements. Here are some considerations and potential next steps:
- Line Quality and Signal Integrity:
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Even if the technician reports no issues, subtle impairments like noise or intermittently degraded signals, especially on the coaxial line, could cause problems. Consider requesting a detailed signal level and quality report from the ISP.
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Ingress Interference:
- External
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