This topic

Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

El-Gringo — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 10:08:30 GMT

I converted to BT full fibre (150 mb/s) around 9 months ago, approx. & 3 months after we moved house. Our router connection seems to be getting increasingly problematic with the hub resetting rather more often than I think it should & then, around once every 7-10 days, a reset results in completely losing our laptop computer’s internet connection, our (several) Smart TV connections &, more often than not, our Ring security system goes off-line. I’ve noticed this usually happens overnight & doesn’t seem to affect our mobile phone connections. I never experienced this problem on our part fibre connection in Norfolk or our initial 3-month copper connection her in Essex.

The hub lights always show it’s reconnected automatically but running the trouble shooter on my disconnected laptop displays “no valid IP address”. Resetting the hub does not cure the problem & I then have to re-start our computers & go around the house resetting/re-logging all our internet devices back onto the hub; this is very inconvenient & surely not normal, any ideas please?

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Les-Gibson — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:44:12 GMT

That doesn't sound like normal behaviour, I would ring 0800 800 150 and report it as faulty

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:00:02 GMT

When you say you reset the Hub, was that a full reset with a paper clip or just a power cycle? If the latter try the former.

If you have fully reset it then it sounds like an issue with the DHCP server, & I agree with seeking a replacement.

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:56:06 GMT

I think you may find that the home hub`s DHCP table entries never expire, so you can end up with no available allocations. This is made worse if you have any Apple devices with private addressing enabled, as that results in a different MAC address/IP address being allocated each time. You will see lots of "unknown device" entries.

The only way to clear out the DHCP table, is by doing a full factory reset of the home hub whenever the problem re-occurs.

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Les-Gibson — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:40:41 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

Just for info, Android devices also use private MAC addressing now by default, the only difference being that they call it "Privacy" (Use randomised MAC).

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:51:37 GMT

Just for info, Android devices also use private MAC addressing now by default, the only difference being that they call it "Privacy" (Use randomised MAC).

Yes, I noticed that on the latest Android releases. Its going to cause a lot of issues, and also make parental controls useless on the home hubs and many other routers that do not have the option to create MAC "whitelists", so that only the connecting device true MAC device can connect, which means turning MAC randomisation off.

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Les-Gibson — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 14:56:17 GMT

I tried turning it off on my own phone but it just seems to restore itself. We also have other Android devices in the house and consequently I have to keep going through the network manager on my hub deleting all the "Unknown" devices 😠

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

El-Gringo — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:00:59 GMT

I recently had to do full reset (related to the same problem) in order to get everything to reconnect to the hub, this is covered on an earlier thread.

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

El-Gringo — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:05:52 GMT

Done full reset previously on same problem as I couldn't get anything to work properly but why does the problem keep occurring every 7 to 10 days or so?

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:14:12 GMT

That is probably the time it takes for the home hub DHCP to run out of connections.

How many devices do you have, which have the Private Address option enabled? You would be better to turn that feature off, and just let the device MAC address present itself, as that would stay the same every time it connects, and the device will also be given the same IP address each time.

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

Les-Gibson — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 17:38:11 GMT

You could check the lease time here Just click on the IPv4 Configuration tab. The default is 1 day, anything higher is unnecessary and could be the cause of the problem

Re: Internet devices won't reconnect automatically

El-Gringo — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 19:10:08 GMT

Devices I have are:

BT Internet TV hub which never seems to have a problem with a main hub reset

2x Samsung mobile phones, which also never seem to have a problem a main hub reset

1 x ipad which often but not always requires resetting

Ring security system (5 cameras & doorbell) which often require reconnecting every 10 to 14 days. This is usually for only 50% of devices & I suspect it may be down to the 2 x WiFi boosters I have in the property but after resetting those, sometimes the Ring stuff will reconnect on their own.

4 x Smart TV's which always require resetting; TBH, this is biggest pain of all as the log on process on a Smart TV is mind numbingly tedious & slow!

2 laptops which always require a reboot; also still a PITA as I generally loose all my open tabs!

Surely, a "Full Fibre" internet life should not be like this. I could even link my washing machine & tumble dryer, but I can't imagine why I would want to as I suspect this could create an even bigger hub "auto reset" nightmare!