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Question

Does my modem/router internet use data when it retries?

May 5, 2018 9:51AM PDT

We use a Verizon modem with a router (also supplied by Verizon) for our home internet because it is the only option we have. (Yes, it is expensive!) This month I have two issues. First, the internet has been very slow. Second, our data use is very high. For part of the month we were using a lot of data, but not in the past two weeks and the usage is still very high. Verizon denies that the issue could be outside my house.

How do I debug issues that may be arising with the modem or router? I have two bits of information that may be useful. First, on one of my several interactions with Verizon, they commented that when the green light on the Pantech modem was blinking, it meant that service was intermittent. The green light does blink off occasionally, and during one of the worst episodes it was blinking regularly (but not blinking fast, and usually irregularly). Today it is blinking on and of occasionally. I don't know if what they told me is correct, or if the blinking is normal. Second, it seems to me that when I click to load a web page, the status message at the lower right includes a lot more "handshaking" and "connecting" messages than it used to. I am used to seeing a million adserver messages, but had not notices so many of these.

Can someone step me how to diagnose whether I have an issue with my modem and/or router? Thank you!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
To the first question, yes.
May 5, 2018 9:56AM PDT
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PS. That setting can cause your internet to slow down.
May 5, 2018 10:10AM PDT

After your Windows 10 machines have installed this big update, you can turn it completely off. At least look for an option to only share on your network and not the world.

Post was last edited on May 6, 2018 8:58 AM PDT

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Thank you, and can anyone address the second part ofmy quest
May 6, 2018 8:39AM PDT

Thank you R. Profitt, I should have mentioned that I use Windows 7.

It seems to me that Windows 10 uses a lot more data to manage the OS than windows 7 does. I am hoping we have a more mainstream internet service before I have to upgrade.

Can anyone help with the second part of my question?

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The second part was asking how to debug.
May 6, 2018 9:01AM PDT

For that you use your skills and if need be go to seminars and classes. I'm sure if you research on the web you won't find a single page that will cover how to troubleshoot modems and routers. That is, unless you troubleshoot using what can be called A-B testing. That is you take a new router and see if replacing that part fixes it. If it does, you found it. If not the trouble is elsewhere.

Some call that shotgun troubleshooting but is widely accepted at how to test and repair many things today.

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Answer
Check for authentication log in modem settings
May 10, 2018 6:23PM PDT

Check for an authentication log in your modem. It should show any authentication attempts by your modem/router to Verizon. Also, ensure the cabling is solidly connecting your modem/router to all wired devices to it. This should help you determine whether or not the modem/router is the source of the intermittent connectivity.