When I lose internet connection, why do router LEDs remain on?


  1. Posts : 373
    Windows 10 Home 21H2
       #1

    When I lose internet connection, why do router LEDs remain on?


    I have TP Link VR600 router.

    When I lose the internet, the normal 4 LEDs remain on - including the internet LED.

    Question: Is that a fault in the router?

    Further info:

    When I say "lose the internet", I mean that the following 2 things happen:

    - I lose Netflix on my Smart TV. The message number means lost internet.

    - In my Edge broswer, sites have no connection. If I then click my WiFi icon in sys tray to show list of providers, Poptelecom says no internet.

    BTW:

    - My router is connected to the Master Socket in the hall.

    - If I ever connect directly to the Test Point in the Master Socket for a couple of days (with cover and wires hanging out - supported by sellotape), I never drop a connection.

    - I lose internet several times per day.

    - My LEDs are, in sequence from L to R, Power, DNS, internet, WiFi, plus others such as LAN. When the internet is lost, the first 4 light all remain on - including WiFi. I'm not a techie, so I need to ask if it's possible for WiFi to be on when internet is lost? In fact, what is the point of router LEDs if they are always on - except after I reset the router by switching off power for 10 seconds.


    Any advice would be appreciated.


    Thanks.


    Added: My contract and router are only 1 month old.
    Last edited by OldGrantonian; 25 Oct 2021 at 04:58.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,421
    19044.1586 - 21H2 Pro x64
       #2

    OldGrantonian hello ,
    When my router loses internet connection with the internet provider, the Internet LED goes from green to red. In that case, my WiFi devices are still connected to the router, but they are unable to connect to the internet.

    There does seem to be a fault with the router internet LED in your case if it stays on and does not change color. Have you looked for a manual?
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  3. Posts : 5,299
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #3

    If there is no internet connection, all devices connected to router then it could be faulty line or faulty router it's good idea to contact your ISP for assistance.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 373
    Windows 10 Home 21H2
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for your response.

    steve108 said:
    In that case, my WiFi devices are still connected to the router, but they are unable to connect to the internet.
    So are you saying that (green WiFi LED + red internet LED) means that there's a usable connection from your WiFi devices to your router, but that usable connection is useless?

    steve108 said:
    Have you looked for a manual?
    I've looked several times, using the Google search term: TP Link VR600 AC Router, which is listed in the order confirmation.
    The problem (for a non-techie) is that any images on the hits show a 3-antenna router. I have only 2 antennas.

    Note: I added to my OP that contract and router are only one month old.

    Thanks.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thanks for your response.

    FreeBooter said:
    ...it's good idea to contact your ISP for assistance.
    I want to arm myself with as much info as possible before contacting ISP

    FreeBooter said:
    ...it could be faulty line
    So, if the line is faulty, all LEDs for power, DSL, internet, and WiFi will be green?


    Thanks
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #5

    Most routers have logs which may show the problem if it works from master socket it suggests there is a fault with your internal wiring often if wires get close to mains it can cause noise does drop happen when you turn something on
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,715
    Windows 10
       #6

    Assuming the Modem/Router (TP Link VR600) is working then the lights indicate a connection from the Modem to your ISP. That is all it indicates.

    It does not tell you the state of wireless/wired network connections from your Laptop/PC/TV set is working properly.

    The Router can produce a System Log which might be useful, though it looks like that will take some configuration, see the PDF manual.

    As it an ISP provided Modem/Router it may have differences in Firmware/hardware from the standard Router model.

    "When I lose the internet, the normal 4 LEDs remain on - including the internet LED. Question: Is that a fault in the router?"

    Unlikely as it is new. Much more likely is the connected devices.

    "So, if the line is faulty, all LEDs for power, DSL, internet, and WiFi will be green?"

    No, see the manual, Chapter 1. It does not say what colour they are only on/flashing/off.

    Better to get some facts before contacting the ISP with a confused picture.

    I would test by simplifying to 1 device, say Laptop with wired Ethernet connection to the Router. See how that goes.
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  7. Posts : 21,421
    19044.1586 - 21H2 Pro x64
       #7

    OldGrantonian said:
    Thanks for your response.

    So are you saying that (green WiFi LED + red internet LED) means that there's a usable connection from your WiFi devices to your router, but that usable connection is useless?

    ......

    Thanks
    Yes. If the WiFi devices are connected to the router, but the router isn't connected to the internet, then the WiFi devices won't have any internet service either. The LEDs on your router may work differently, but it's definitely useful on my router to see that green/red Internet status LED.

    According to the manual: https://static.tp-link.com/res/down/...R600_V1_UG.pdf

    On: The network is available with a successful Internet connection.
    Off: There is no successful Internet connection or the modem
    router is operating in Bridge mode. Please refer to Note 2 for
    troubleshooting.
    Last edited by steve108; 25 Oct 2021 at 10:57.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 373
    Windows 10 Home 21H2
    Thread Starter
       #8

    .
    steve108 said:
    According to the manual: https://static.tp-link.com/res/down/...R600_V1_UG.pdf

    On: The network is available with a successful Internet connection.

    Off: There is no successful Internet connection or the modem
    .
    But as I said in my OP, the internet LED is NEVER off - except during the few minutes when I'm forced to reboot the router by switching off the power for 10 seconds:
    .

    OldGrantonian said:
    When I lose the internet, the normal 4 LEDs remain on - including the internet LED.


    Question: Is that a fault in the router?


    Further info:


    When I say "lose the internet", I mean that both of the following 2 things happen:


    - I lose Netflix on my Smart TV. The error message number means lost internet.


    - In my Edge broswer, sites have no connection. If I then click my WiFi icon in sys tray to show list of providers, Poptelecom says no internet.
    .
    To repeat the key statements in my OP:

    - At no time is my Smart TV OK, but my browser has lost the internet.

    - At no time is my browser OK, but Smart TV has lost the internet.

    They're either both OK, or both not OK. And the internet LED is ALWAYS on - except during reboot.

    Thanks.

    ------------------------------------

    Added:

    Here is the network config for the router + 2 devices.


    The router is attached directly to the Master Socket in the hall, which comes from the outside of the house.


    My lounge is open plan. The smart TV is just through the wall from the router, and 3 feet away from the front window.


    My laptop is 3 feet away from the back window. So it's 25 feet away from the TV, and in line of sight of TV. The TV is alway on, so I can see immediately that it loses the internet at the same time as my laptop.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Samuria said:
    Most routers have logs which may show the problem
    .
    I've posted on other forums, asking for help in how to create a query to isolate only drops.
    .
    Samuria said:
    if it works from master socket it suggests there is a fault with your internal wiring
    often if wires get close to mains it can cause noise
    .
    My router is attached to the Master Socket in the hall.

    So, AFAIK, the only "internal wiring" is inside the Master Socket itself. That's the loom of wiring that you need to push in when you screw the cover plate back on to the Master Socket. That loom is only a few inches long.


    There's no other wiring apart from:
    - The power cable to the router in the hall
    - The power cable to my laptop in the lounge
    - The power cable to Smart TV in the lounge
    .
    Samuria said:
    does drop happen when you turn something on?
    .
    Many of the drops are when I'm alone in the house, either using my laptop or watching TV. These are "always on", from morning till bedtime - unless I go out.


    If by "turn something on" you mean for example an electric kettle or the cooker, I can say that I never leave the lounge with internet OK, then return to find the internet drop. In other words, doing something outside the lounge never causes an internet drop, AFAIK.


    Thanks
    Last edited by OldGrantonian; 25 Oct 2021 at 15:29.
      My Computer


 

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