Internet Light is Red/ Off or Blinking

We're heading down to the last light in your Modem. We're done with the Power Light, Ethernet Light and DSL Light, now we're moving forward to the Internet light. Internet is quite different from the first three lights in terms of Trouble Shooting. Troubleshooting the power, Ethernet and DSL involves hardware issues and it deals mostly with the physical connection. In other hands, internet, as the word suggest, deals with Software issues.
When the Internet light in your modem is Off/Red/ or blinking Green, these are the possible reasons:
◘ Modem Configuration Error
◘ Bad IP Address
◘ Browser Issues
◘ Firewall Settings

MODEM CONFIGURATION ERROR
This error mostly occurred in all newly installed modems and if the internet light is RED. There are two ways to install your Modem - it's either through the Installation Cd or installing it manually. As a part of this installation process, you will be required to establish your own user name and password for your modem's Graphical User Interface or GUI. In some cases, Installation cd failed to update your newly made personal information like the username and password in your Modem's GUI which causes the sudden lost of connection. As long as you know your username and password, there's nothing to worry about it, all you have to do is to access the modem's GUI by typing the Default Gateway (you can get this information by performing an IP Configuration) in your address bar, then it will take you automatically to the modem's interface. There should be a section or button in that web page that says "Login". After clicking the Login button, it will then take you to the Authentication page where it will require you to enter your username and password. If the username and password fill box are blank, simply enter the necessary information then hit "connect". If there's something written in both fill box and there's a "disconnect" button below, then hit the "disconnect" button, then it will now allow you to edit those information to your newly updated username and password, then hit connect. The internet light must turn from Red to a solid Green Light. ( i will discuss this in much detailed information soon)

BAD IP ADDRESS
If you got a bad IP address or simply a 169 IP Address, there's a big possibility that the problem is on your firewall settings or the computer is corrupted, affected by virus and other malicious softwares and more. This problem required a support from an expert and professional Techinician.

BROWSER ISSUE
There are websites that contains viruses that may harm your computer and the best way to troubleshoot this is to optimize your browser, clear the private date, clear cache, cookies and browsing history. Check if the browser is secured againts malicious software like "Rouge Software" which will really harm the entire system of your PC. ( i will disccuss this muchj further soon)

FIREWALL SETTINGS
There should only have one Antivirus and other related software installed in your PC. Multiple softwares will just give conflicts to each other which will cause a sudden lost of Internet connection.

OTHER CAUSES
Internet connection will be affeced by some radio signals especially from cellular phones. It would be better to place your modem 2 feet away from any other EMI or RFI devices. Burglar alarma may also cause an internet interuption.

The "Ethernet light" is not working

Last time, we discussed how to perform basic troubleshooting if the Power Light in Your Modem is OFF and not working properly, Now, we are going to proceed to another Light next to Power Light which is the ETHERNET LIGHT.
Before we proceed to some basic troubleshooting steps, Let us discuss first what is the meaning of Ethernet. What's the difference between Ethernet and Internet? And what is this Ethernet for?Ethernet Cable is also known as RJ45 cable, cat5 cable or in some layman's term, it is referred to us as " the Fat Cable" because it is fatter and bigger compare to other cables connected at the back of your modem. This Ethernet Cable may comes up with different colors and design but with one standard size. Ethernet cable is responsible for transmitting signal from your modem to your PC and vice versa. Or if you have a router, Ethernet cable is also used to connect your modem to your router to all the other PC connected into it.



Ethernet cable is classified as a Category 5 cable or Cat5 cable which both ends are connected into a standard 8P8C connector or often called as the RJ45 connector. So how can you identify which port in your modem and in your PC tower this Ethernet cable should be connected?
First, there should be a label at the back of your modem that says "Ethernet" or if there's no label indicating an Ethernet Port, simply look for this symbol.
This is the same symbol that you have at the back of your computer tower.



This is the how the Ethernet cable should be connected. Since the RJ45 connector have the same size, you can always switch both ends of the Ethernet cable.

Now going back to our main topic, How if
THE ETHERNET LIGHT IS OFF WHILE OTHERS ARE WORKING.

Basically, if the Ethernet light is not working, DSL, INTERNET, and ACTIVITY lights should not be working as well. Remember as i've mentioned before (Check "Modem Sync") You can never established DSL and the rest of the lights unless you established a steady light in your ETHERNET
If the Ethernet Light is Off, the first thing that you have to do is to check the physical line. As long as you have a solid green light on you Power, you can go and check the Ethernet cable directly.
Check if the cable is securely plugged in each port. If it's still not working, then try to switch both ends of the cable (meaning to say, the one which is connected to your modem should be the one that you're going to connect to your PC and vice versa).
If you're done checking the lights and still, the Ethernet Light is not working, then check the IP Address by doing an IP Configuration. This will determine if there is a solid connection between your modem and your PC or not.
By doing an IP Configuration, all you have to do is to click the "START" button on the lower left corner of your screen(if you're using a Windows XP) or click the round Window "Orb" if you're using a Windows Vista. Safari is quite complicated so i will discuss it in a separate post soon.
(WINDOWS XP) So after you click the "Start" button, the Start menu will appear. Just Click "Run" and then a separate textbox will appear. Just type "cmd" or "Command." A black window or the "command prompt" will appear. Now right where the cursor is blinking, just type, "ipconfig" then press "enter" (WINDOWS VISTA) For Windows Vista, simply type the word "command" or "Cmd" right at the bottom part where there is a text box"
Now, there are 5 possible response here as you press the enter key.
►Limited or No Connectivity
►Network Cable is Unplugged
►169 IP Adress (169.254.x.x)
►The correct ip address like 192.168.1.254 (etc)
►o.o.o.o IP Address

I will discuss 2 of these reponse which are the "Limited or No Connectivity" and the "Network Cable is Unplugged"
►NETWORK CABLE IS UNPLUGGED
◘ Check the ethernet cable if it is plugged in correctly to the appropriate port
◘ Switch both ends of the cable
◘ If it's still not working, and if you have an extra cable with you. Bypass the old Ethernet cable and replace it with the new one
◘ If it's still not working, then the problem might be on the port (either the modem port or the PC)
◘ If you have a router, bypass your modem then try to plug the router directly to the pc. Check the Ip Address by doing an ip configuration, and if you get the IP address of your router, then it only means that the problem is with the modem. The port is either busted or not functioning properly. In this case, Replacement is much advisable.


►LIMITED OR NO CONNECTIVITY
◘ If you received a Limited or No connectivity error, then the problem must be on the driver.
◘ Checking the driver is quite complicated to discuss so i will discuss this topic in a separate post.
◘ For the mean time, let's give focus first on the modem lights.

THE ETHERNET LIGHT IS BLINKING
In this scenario, there are 2 possible reason why you're Ethernet light is blinking. First, if you do not have a solid connection between your modem and your PC (troubleshooting is required) and Second, the modem is communicating with your PC and the reason why it's blinking is because there's an activity going on.

The next post is all about the most important light of them all~ The DSL Light
Once again, thanks for dropping by and have a great day!

The "Power Light" in my modem is not working!

If the power light in your modem is not working well then, it's pretty obvious that the problem comes from the power outler. However there are different scenario of why was the power light is OFF.
POWER LIGHT IS OFF SO AS THE OTHER LIGHTS

This is the most common scenario. If the power light is OFF means there's no power source flowing to your modem. The best way to troubleshoot this issue is to check the power outlet.

• Check if the Power Adapter is securely plugged in into the power outlet.
• Check if the power outlet if it is active or not.
• Check the cable if there's no any damage
• If you have an extra Power Adapter with you, it is advisable to bypass the Power adapter and replace it with the new one. If this procedure solved the problem, the old power cable is either defective or not functioning properly. If not, then there's a big tendency that the problem occurs with your power line or the power outlet itself. In this case, you must try to look for another power outlet and plugged your modem in (only the modem) to test if its really the power outlet that causes the problem. After doing this step and still, the modem is not working and if you see that all the other appliances in your house are working properly then the Modem is either defective or not functioning properly. The modem needs a replacement, you may contact your ISP if their service includes a replacement for defective modem.

THE POWER LIGHT IS OFF WHILE OTHERS ARE WORKING
If the power light is off while others are working and if there's no problem in your internet connection, then there's a possibility that only the power led is not functioning properly. But if the power light is Off or blinking while others are not, and if you're losing your internet connection intermittently, then the modem is either defective or not functioning properly.

How if the Ethernet light is not working? This is what are we going to discuss in my next post!
Have a great day and happy blogging!