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Post by GTCGreg on Oct 3, 2024 12:53:10 GMT
was going to say, first reboot the router. charter does have a bit of a reputation for random headaches, as far as I'm concerned. bu if it's a wifi connection that's dropping out, there's a good chance it's the router. I second shutting down the router for 5 minutes before powering back up. See if that clears things up. IF you still have trouble, then you may need to contact tech support. You may want to consider shifting things around a bit for what connects to the 2.4Ghz and the 5.2GHz. 2.4GHZ is slower, but has wider area coverage and the signal is generally more reliable. Use 2.4 GHz for everything that doesn't need high data speeds. Things like e-readers, TV streaming, cellphones, & tablets. 5GHz is faster, but has much less coverage area and is more sensitive to wifi network drops. Limit that to things that really need full speed connection like computers & laptops. If it doesn't need super high speed, move it to the 2.4Ghz network. It will be more reliable in general. and then there’s always good old CAT-6 for the stuff that doesn’t keep moving around. |
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Post by ironhold on Oct 3, 2024 14:46:32 GMT
The main thing is that when we got the all-in-one package, the installer put the wire into a corner of the house by a wood-burning fireplace, leaving us not a lot of room to get over there to where the router is. It's happened before to where we tried to reset things but none of us could get to the button.
Hate to say it, but we might have to have tech support remotely reset it for us if that's the cause.
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 3, 2024 16:36:47 GMT
If you router is by a wood stove, that is gonna absorb a good chunk of the wifi signal. Consider getting yourself a extension cable made with good, high quality coax so you can move it to a place with better reception.
Also, there should be a reset button on the back of y our modem/router. Try pressing that.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 3, 2024 17:21:15 GMT
It's also been brought to my attention that we're having unusual solar activity, and that the Pacific in particular is getting hit.
Could this be affecting things as well?
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 3, 2024 19:40:20 GMT
For a solar flare to affect you wifi, there would be MASSIVE system outages across the world. Things like cell phones or stailite communications would not be working at all. SO, no a solar flare would not be causing your wifi to act up.
Maybe the way to look at it is if it were something like a solar storm, then you would not be the only one with messed up wifi. Since you are not seeing reports from across the globe, then you can easily tell that the solar flare is not what's causing your wifi trouble.
From what I am seeing this ones is on par with the one that hit the earth early in the summer. So strong, but nothing that we haven't seen before and not going to really impact things other than maybe some good norther lights.
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Post by the light works on Oct 3, 2024 20:45:39 GMT
For a solar flare to affect you wifi, there would be MASSIVE system outages across the world. Things like cell phones or stailite communications would not be working at all. SO, no a solar flare would not be causing your wifi to act up. Maybe the way to look at it is if it were something like a solar storm, then you would not be the only one with messed up wifi. Since you are not seeing reports from across the globe, then you can easily tell that the solar flare is not what's causing your wifi trouble. From what I am seeing this ones is on par with the one that hit the earth early in the summer. So strong, but nothing that we haven't seen before and not going to really impact things other than maybe some good norther lights. yep. my wifi is doing just fine. but I concur - if the router is where you can't get to it, it needs to be moved to where you can. |
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Post by ironhold on Oct 4, 2024 15:07:23 GMT
OK. Last night I came home from work, went to check some messages on my phone, and noted that it had auto-connected to the 2G instead of the 5G. I tried to manually connect it to the 5G, only to have to re-enter the password. Even with this, my phone couldn't connect. I wake up this morning and the 5G is active.
I go to fire up the computer just now, and before I have a chance to do anything I get the first ever blue screen of death in the time I've had the system. It manually restarts itself after sending off the error report. Once it restarts, I'm on the 2G.
Seems that the issue is *specifically* something to do with the 5G from Spectrum. Mom did see what looked like a work truck doing something with one of the lines a few days ago, and now we have this happening. It's possible, then, that this is Spectrum's problem and that they did something to inadvertently hinder our 5G service.
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 4, 2024 18:19:40 GMT
I doubt the two are related. Work on outside lines would not affect your modem's ability to use either wifi network.
The signal coming into your house from from the outside cables is just a data signal modulated over the coax. It is your modem/ROuter that takes the incoming signal and broadcasts it on both a 2.4Ghz and a 5G carrier wave. If you outdoor signal is messed up, that would affect all internet traffic into the house, 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, and wired.
Some possibilities.
1. The 5 Ghz wifi part of your modem is not working properly. Try a full reset of the router, including any reset button on the back of the unit. It is possible that part of your modem has failed.
2. Your 5 Ghz could be overloaded with too many devices connected at once. Move devices that don't need super high speed internet to 2.4 Ghz. They will get better wifi coverage anyway if you do this.
3. Your 5 GHz is getting interference from another 5 GHz router in your area. Look at your settings and see if you can move to different channels.
4. Something is putting out radio noise in the 5GHz band. This can be a real challenge to find if you don't have the right tools.
In the end, it will likely be easier to just call up Spectrum and get their tech support. I am assuming you are renting the modem from them. Part of that rent is tech support. So go ahead and use what you are paying for.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 5, 2024 0:41:56 GMT
OK.
Actual, real problem, other than the 5G.
Dad just tried to get on the computer a little earlier. Not sure what happened, but mom had to come get me because of something or other with the connectivity. Somehow the wi-fi on his user account had been turned off, and I had to help him get it re-connected.
It was at this point that we noticed something. The *desktop* icon for Google Chrome no longer displayed the actual Chrome image. This icon *also* no longer allows us to use it to directly connect to Chrome.
I pinned Chrome to my task bar and so I can still use it. But apparently dad never did, so for right now he can't use Chrome.
We tried to fiddle around with it, and found that somehow the file got modified earlier this morning. Now that I think about it, the time it was ostensibly modified syncs to about when I had that blue screen of death right after I started it up.
Where do we go from here? How do I get it so that dad can have access to Chrome again? Do I need to contact Chrome and/or Microsoft tech support?
Thanks.
edit -
Found Chrome's official help forums and posted a message. I'm supposed to get an e-mail in my GMail account if there are any responses.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 5, 2024 1:35:29 GMT
Got ahold of one of my brothers and he talked me through the uninstall and reinstall process. That seems to have fixed it.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 5, 2024 20:25:45 GMT
Also, before I forget again -
Once we got the internet back up, dad finally got around to checking his e-mail for the first time in a few days.
Cue an e-mail from Charter-Spectrum talking about how they've been working on the 5G and how they swear it'll be faster than before.
So yes, all of our issues with the 5G have been their tinkering with it and possibly making it worse somehow.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 8, 2024 16:00:59 GMT
Yeah, still having issues with the 5G a week out. Our devices are able to reasonably get along with the 5G, but then again we mainly use them in the living room where the modem is.
The desktop, however, is still lagging and dropping out on the 5G, so I put it back to 2G until my parents are willing to contact Spectrum. They think I'm "freaking out" over it which is why they're slow to consider calling, but the simple fact of the matter is that we're not getting the service we're paying for.
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Post by WhutScreenName on Oct 8, 2024 16:23:53 GMT
Yeah, still having issues with the 5G a week out. Our devices are able to reasonably get along with the 5G, but then again we mainly use them in the living room where the modem is. The desktop, however, is still lagging and dropping out on the 5G, so I put it back to 2G until my parents are willing to contact Spectrum. They think I'm "freaking out" over it which is why they're slow to consider calling, but the simple fact of the matter is that we're not getting the service we're paying for. If the desktop is the only one not connecting to 5G, and it's working well on 2G, then why worry about it? Doesn't it make sense to simply leave it on 2G and let everything else run off the 5G connection until it's fully fixed? |
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Post by GTCGreg on Oct 8, 2024 16:38:19 GMT
If everything except the laptop is working on 5G, then the modem is doing its 5G thing and the problem is probably a range coverage issue. Probably not something Spectrum is going to do anything about. There are reasons to use 2G and greater range is one of them.
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Post by the light works on Oct 8, 2024 17:39:56 GMT
If everything except the laptop is working on 5G, then the modem is doing its 5G thing and the problem is probably a range coverage issue. Probably not something Spectrum is going to do anything about. There are reasons to use 2G and greater range is one of them. and if things inside the house are working just fine on 5G connections, while other things are not; then the problem is inside the house, not outside. |
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Post by ironhold on Oct 8, 2024 18:24:41 GMT
...Except the 2G actually hiccup'd a bit earlier now, too.
I'm hoping that it's just a fluke, as this is the time of year that I seem to just keep getting hit with random nonsense.
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Post by ironhold on Oct 15, 2024 0:13:02 GMT
OK.
In all seriousness.
If I have to, how do I reactivate Windows Defender and make it my default anti-virus?
I set it up so that Kaspersky would auto-renew my subscription. When Kaspersky passed my user information to Ultra AV, that was passed along as well. Ultra AV tried to auto-renew using the provided debit card, but my credit union blocked the transaction. I've called my credit union and cleared the transaction, and I've contacted Ultra AV tech support to let them know that they can try again.
My subscription is valid until the 26th, so I have that long to figure out some sort of resolution. If my subscription doesn't go through, it's either reactivate Windows Defender or try my luck with another boxed AV program.
Thanks.
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 15, 2024 13:43:33 GMT
I am typing from my work computer. So this is how you do it on Win 10. Win 11 May be a little different, but I can't tell until I get home tonight and look at my personal computer.
Start -> Setting -> Update & Security -> Virus & Threat Protection
This is where most of the relevant setting are. You can enable Windows Defender from there. There are also section for malware protection and firewall.
You may also want to look in the default apps section. I vaguely remember something in there about default antivirus program, but I could be wrong on that.
Start -> Setting -> Apps -> Default Apps
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Post by ironhold on Oct 15, 2024 21:40:44 GMT
I am typing from my work computer. So this is how you do it on Win 10. Win 11 May be a little different, but I can't tell until I get home tonight and look at my personal computer. Start -> Setting -> Update & Security -> Virus & Threat Protection This is where most of the relevant setting are. You can enable Windows Defender from there. There are also section for malware protection and firewall. You may also want to look in the default apps section. I vaguely remember something in there about default antivirus program, but I could be wrong on that. Start -> Setting -> Apps -> Default Apps Found the e-mail that Ultra AV sent me letting me know that the payment attempt failed and asking me to confirm my payment information. I used the link they provided and tried to manually put the payment through since my credit union says it's now kosher. That was an hour ago as I type this, and I'm going to check my e-mail in a few minutes to see if it went through or not. edit - OK. They got back to me. Because the first attempt at payment was declined, they wanted me to manually confirm that it was indeed me. I explained to them that I wanted to pay for the renewal and apologized for the mix-up at the credit union. They've now sent my confirmation up to customer service to get that done. With any luck it'll be within the next day or two. |
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