Ethernet slow to connect after sleep or reboot

A theory advanced on the Xfininty forums is that the DHCP Server is Releasing the IP Address before its lease period has expired, and more specifically whenever the computer goes to sleep, hibernates, or is powered down.

My computer is showing a 3-day lease period. (Windows Command > IPConfig /all)

In other words, my computer, via the router (XB6 Gateway) is assigned a dynamic IP Address from the DHCP Server for temporary use -- at least for 3 days. If I put my computer to sleep to go out for a few hours, then when I return and wake the computer from sleep, it should be using the same IP Address as before.

But what appears to be happening is that the DHCP Server (or XB6) thinks that my lease has expired, and that my computer needs a new dynamic IP Address. And that process of assigning a new IP Address is taking about 30 seconds to do.

It's as if the XB6 is ignoring renewal requests, misunderstanding the lease status, or resetting something...

So this evening I reverted from the XB6 Gateway to the older Hitron CGNM-2250 Gateway

This RESOLVED the Ethernet Connection Delay from Sleep mode. My computer now connects instantly to the internet upon wakeup (just as it did before)

Other than exchanging the Gateway, there were no other changes made at my end. Same cables, same Windows software, same Network Adapter settings..

FYI, I have 300 internet service.

I am not recommending this to everyone, as there were other tradeoffs

Download speeds stayed the same before and after the exchange: 300 Mbps
Ping time increased slightly, from 7 ms to 8 ms
Upload speed dropped dramatically from 107 Mbps down to only 16 Mbps.

I will consider going back to the XB6 (or newer XB7 when available) once the firmware issue has been resolved.

Thank you, 7thirty7! I'm going to link this thread to the Xfinity website in hopes of adding to the conversation and a resolution.

Hi Greg H.

Thank you. You are correct. I am unable to access the XFinity forums to comment and to highlight the similarities in the problem experienced by their subscribers in the US, and our Shaw Cable system in Western Canada.

In my case, I had been provided an Technicolor XB6 Gateway, model CGM4141.

As I understand, the Arris Gateways are produced by CommScope based in North Carolina, and the Technicolor Gateways by Technicolor, which is a multi-national company based in Paris.

This Technicolor unit (despite its high heat and loud fan) was working fine for me up until mid-December. Then I started to see the delayed internet connection upon startup.

By all accounts, it seems to relate to a firmware upgrade pushed by the cable operators on or about the same time.

I was able to resolve my problem, (at least temporarily) by swapping the XB6 Gateway (Modem + WiFi Router) for an another / older one.

It's frustrating to read the thread on the XFinity forums, because I see that you're only getting weak responses or time wasting exercises from so-called 'Independent Advisors' (another name for contracted-out support) , such as: try rebooting it; check the cables; please send us more information, etc. All you really want to know is whether they acknowledge that a firmware upgrade likely caused the problem.

It's funny how none of the 'Advanced Techs & Engineers' bother to check in and update you on what is being done about it.

I feel for you. The only reason that I post is to help others avoid my own frustrations.

I wonder if this is a coordinated effort by the cable operators to address growing signal congestion, or, in their terms, 'Optimizing' home networks by taking some of the control away and managing WiFi settings for their users 'automatically' ?

Thanks, 7thirty7.

Yeah, who knows why they're doing what they're doing. And yes, it is very frustrating to not get confirmation that this has been forwarded to their Advance Repair Team. Like one poster said, acknowledging that there's an issue, and actually advancing the cause, are two separate things. They have all but abandoned our thread.

Just as frustrating is they locked our thread (meaning, no one could post on it) on two separate occasions. Clearly they couldn't take the heat they were getting. Luckily, there's a poster who has "Expert" status (not a Comcast employee) who was able to unlock the thread both times. None of us other posters have that ability. A couple of us private messaged each other and agreed that we should tone-down the criticisms before they lock it down for good.

Anyway, feel free to monitor our thread - since you can't join it. If we eventually get a resolution, I'll try to remember to post on this thread so you'll know.

Thanks for your help.

Every desktop and device has a function for getting into automatic sleep mode, and sometime it will create slow Ethernet connectivity, the reason for the same can be:
"Power Management" utility setting must be on in your device.
You have to off this setting in the "Power Management" utility.

Thanks rashmitabaliyar.

That's been tried, along with many other things. It's definitely a Comcast modem issue, as swapping out the Comcast Xb6 for another model resolves the problem.

7thirty7: I broke down yesterday and went to the local Xfinity store and got an Arris Xb7. I'm having horrendous gateway speed problems since last week and I needed to find out if the Xb6 was the culprit. Of course, it wasn't. Still horrible speed. However, it did resolve the delayed ethernet connection issue between the PC and modem, as I figured it would.

Hi Greg:

I saw a significant drop in my upload times when I exchanged my XB6 Gateway back to the Hitron CGNM-2250.

I'm not too concerned about that at the moment, because I don't upload too often. But more importantly, the benefits of exchanging were:

• instant internet connection from sleep mode,
• the ability to choose channels for my Wi-Fi signal,
• less heat generated than the XB6 resulting in no more loud and constant-running fan.

I'm glad that the XB7 has resolved your delayed internet connection. Hopefully your ISP won't push a similar firmware upgrade to it as the XB6 in the near future.

Can you tell me, does the XB7 allow you to change Wi-Fi channels, or are you locked out that feature by the ISP?

To the TenForums: Sorry to spend time on this topic of routers, but the initial impression was that it was Windows-caused issue. At the same time, the thread is being locked on the Xfinity forums so that people can't discuss it fully to resolution.

Hi 7thirty7,

Fyi, someone started a new thread in the Xfinity Forums about the ethernet lag issue. It's active at the moment, but not sure how long it'll stay that way:

https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Your-H...U3xoSw#M340960

So far so good with the Arris Xb7 resolving the ethernet connection lag. Although another poster mentioned that he has the Xb7 and has the same lag issue as the Xb6. However, it appears that both Arris and Technicolor manufacture the Xb6 and Xb7 for Comcast. I believe the Xb7 poster with the lag problem has a Technicolor. Again, I have an Arris. It would appear that Technicolor (6 or 7) might be the culprit.

A Comcast tech is coming out tomorrow to hopefully resolve my horrible gateway speed issue, which has been going on for a week now! This was happening on the Xb6, too. It's a local issue and I'm done troubleshooting!

The Arris Xb7 (white box) is definitely quieter than the Technicolor Xb6. It does have a fan in it, but about the only time I hear it is when it's getting a heavy work out, and even then it's not bad. The Xb6 was noisy ALL the time.

I looked around in the xFi app regarding your channel question and couldn't find anything. Could be I'm not looking in the right place? However, it allows me to break out the 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz wifi signals so I can connect to the one I want...versus letting the gateway decide which signal my wifi device connects to. I separated the two signals on my gateway a few weeks ago.

Okay guy's I had the same issue, With the delay ethernet connection. And like others I am on Comcast with the XB6 Modem, And the Wi-Fi worked just fine.
I thought it was my computer or even Windows 10. So I reformatted twice, Then I ran across this post. And today we went and turned in the Comcast XB6 modem for a XB7 modem and now my computer connects right away.
Must be bad firmware on that modem.

I hope this helps.

Thanks, Amoco.

There are two threads regarding this issue on the Comcast Forums. The following thread was the first one I started in mid December. That thread has since been locked by Comcast so no one can post on it. But it had a lot of good info:
Re: Delayed Ethernet Connection - Xfinity Help and Support Forums - 3394865

After the above thread was locked, one of the users from the original thread started a new one, which is currently active. There is a lot of good info here, too:
https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Your-H...U3xoSw#M340960

Glad your XB7 resolved your issue. My Arris XB7 is still holding up, too. But it's worth noting that two users in the current thread have reported their Technicolor XB7 have the same delay issue. That's not good. It appears that both of these XB7 users got their XB7s BEFORE the problem popped up in early-mid December. Therefore, it's likely they are victims of whatever firmware push Comcast sent out in December that caused this problem. So it's not isolated to just XB6.

Anyway, you might want to follow/participate in the active Comcast thread if you start encountering the delay again with your XB7.

Continued good luck!