Aarrgghhh!
I hate computer problems. I
especially hate computer problems when I don't know what's going on.
I'm working on the computer, and suddenly realize I've lost Internet connectivity. Okay, shit happens.
Reset the wireless router. Still offline.
Reset the cable modem. Okay, back online.
Not okay. I can get to everything
except my router. Trying to reach it times out.
SO's laptop can't even see our network via wifi. Connect it through a cat5 cable to the router and she can get out if I'm not connected, but only one of us can get out at a time.
Call and old friend who is a telecom and network tech, and describe the problems. He tells me it sounds like my router is failing, as he's seen that symptom at customer sites. That was my suspicion, too.
As it happens, I have a spare router. Take the old one out of the loop, plug in the spare, connect everything up. I can get out again, but I can't connect to the spare router, either.
It's as though the router is simply providing a physical circuit to the cable modem, but not functioning as a router.
I refuse to believe
both routers failed. The spare worked fine when last connected, and hasn't been used in months.
I can think of nothing my ISP could have done that could cause these symptoms. They should not even be aware their modem is connected to a router.
I can't think of any changes made locally that should cause this.
I suspect this will be a "pound my head on the desk when I figure out what's going on" incident, but that will be
good, because it will likely mean I don't have unfortunate hardware failures, but meanwhile, I am
very confused.
______
Dennis