This topic

Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 17:43:10 GMT

I can connect to the router but often without internet access. I need to multiple reboots of laptop/Office PC and router to get online. Setup of router seems to be OK. Anyone got a list of reliable router settings. Sometimes I get online but laptop displays "No Internet".

Should have stayed with Plusnet!

Any ideas?

Cheers

Gary

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 19:06:14 GMT

@Gary2024

It might be worth doing a factory reset on the home hub, but if you have any digital voice handsets paired to the hub, then backup the numbers first.

A common problem with all of the home hubs, is that they run out of internal connections if you have any devices that use a randomised MAC address, sometimes called private addressing.

Each new MAC address takes up another IP address, and soon you can run out of connections. You will see lots of "Unknown device" entries on the home hub network map.

A normal restart can help for a while, but only a full factory reset clears out all the old entries.

If you have any devices, both wireless and Ethernet, that have MAC randomisation turned on, then turn it off so that only the device MAC address is used. That will ensure only one IP address is allocated for that device.

Then do a factory reset, and see if the problem returns.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:16:10 GMT

Hi Keith,

Thanks for the info. I don't know much about the operation of home hubs so I'll hunt out some relevant tutorials.

All my hub network entries are listed as "Private IP Address". All display a MAC address and sometimes, a device title. How can I find out what the devices are?

I have deleted all entries showing 0MB.

How can I fin d out the maximum connection I am allowed?

Kind Regards

Gary

Re: Internet keeps dropping

licquorice — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:28:51 GMT

There is no need for a tutorial, there is very little configuration changes you can make to the hub in any case. None of which will solve your problem.

Just factory reset the hub by pressing the recessed button for about 20 seconds until the lights flash.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:34:09 GMT

...then disable MAC randomisation for your home network on mobile devices & PCs. Otherwise you'll be back to square one shortly.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:33:13 GMT

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the info.

Before I do a reset, please can you tell me how to identify which devices these MAC addresses refer to?

This pair are easy, a kitchen machine and my PC.

If I delete an entry, ie, the Thermomix, will a connection be re-established the next time the Thermo is switched on?

Where is the 'MAC Randomisation' setting/switch?

Cheers

Gary

Re: Internet keeps dropping

licquorice — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:52:24 GMT

That is just a list of connected devices. All you can do with it is remove devices from the list that are not connected it doesn't disconnect devices nor prevent them from reconnecting.

Do a Google search on the MAC address to reveal the vendor. If they are randomised addresses, the search won't reveal anything.

Just factory reset the hub.

MAC randomisation is a function of your devices, not the hub.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:54:08 GMT

You can only take a best guess at MAC addresses based on the link already posted.

MAC randomisation only applies to mobile devices & computers & disabling will vary by device. Googling the devices you have is probably the quickest way.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 07:59:49 GMT

Hi Guys,

Reset the hub twice now. No difference. The main PC connects most times, showing "Network 5 Internet access" and, as I use NordVPN, "NordLynx Internet access". Sometimes, "Network 5 no Internet" and "NordLynx Internet access" and I still access the Internet!

Mobile phones, Firestick, etc, all access OK but the two laptops, no wireless access, showing "EE-xxxxx no Internet".

Never had this with Plusnet so I wonder what is different with the BT hardware/software. I moved the BT (Plusnets' sister company) to use the internet based phone.

Cheers

Gary

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:14:50 GMT

I used MAC Address Lookup (https://maclookup.app/search/result?mac=90:97:D5:DF:85:8B) and got these results.
The ? entries are those not assigned. Not very helpful.

A0:0B:BA:86:68:4B Samsung
B2:1F:28:99:AD:51 ?
B6:55:6A:B7:7A:42 ?
64:A3:CB:09:78:6D Apple
92:81:0C:62:C8:7A ?
40:A9:CF:16:90:6F Amazon
BA:F9:FA:03:65:C5 ?
FC:AA:14:6D:E1:9B Giga-Byte Technology
7E:EE:F9:66:DB:B6 ?
66:2F:C5:1E:9B:E0 ?
B6:55:6A:B7:7A:42 ?
BA:F9:FA:03:65:C5 ?
90:97:D5:DF:85:8B Espressif Inc

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:20:43 GMT

For my iPhone 6s, I found this:

iOS 14 introduces a new Wi-Fi privacy feature. When an iPhone connects to a Wi-Fi network, it identifies itself with a randomized MAC address. The MAC address randomization behavior only generates a new MAC address once for each WiFi network a device joins.

Also found this:

Disabling MAC Randomization
1. Open the Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, then tap Wi-Fi or WLAN.
2. Tap the information button next to your network.
3. Turn off Private Address.
4. Re-join the network.

I hope this helps others

Cheers

Gary

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:49:05 GMT

@Gary2024

Did you reset via the pinhole? A software reset won't clear the entries. You need to hold the reset until the LEDs flash, that may be 20-30s.

If you need to identify devices then the only sure way is to power them all off, reset the Hub & then reconnect them one at a time.

Have you ever set static IP addresses on the laptops? Although if you had on Plusnet, their Hubs are just rebadged BT Hubs, so shouldn't be an issue.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:24:47 GMT

Ahha! A secret pinhole. I'll dig out a magnifying glass and look for it.

No, I haven't set static IP's for my laptops. Is that advisable?

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:06:04 GMT

Static IP addresses aren't generally needed except maybe when sharing drives across the network. But as I said, the Plusnet setup would have been nigh identical assuming you were using their Hub.

Se how you get on with the full reset & we'll go from there.

Re: Internet keeps dropping

licquorice — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:24:10 GMT

@Gary2024 Full reset described in message 4

Re: Internet keeps dropping

Gary2024 — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:04:50 GMT

Hi Guys,

I found my NordVPN service was causing the problem. Why now after years of service I don't know.
The trick is to start NordVPN manually after the PC has established the BB connection. They seem to compete if left to automatically startup.

Thanks for all your help.
Regards
Gary