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Question

Modem takes 30 minutes to reboot

Aug 24, 2018 9:28PM PDT

I've got a three year old (about) TPLink N600. We've been having issues with intermittant drop out of the internet for several months (or longer) and I'm just trying to get it fixed! Have done a bunch of tweaks to settings in the past without result.

Finally got our ISP to check the line and send a technician who cleaned some lines and optimised performance - yay double the speed (vdsl) when its working. He said that if it continues to be an issue he doesn't consider it likely to be a line issue from his view. No neighbours have the same issue.

But, it still drops out! I think it's my modem. When it drops or if we turn off/on again it takes thirty minutes to bring the internet back up.

Before I got to the expense of getting a new modem/router - does this sound likely to any guru's out there?

Thanks in advance!

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Only a few things to check.
Aug 25, 2018 8:19AM PDT

1. See if the unit has newer firmware.
2. I can't offer much because the N600 is a series not a model. This means I can't google about this issue and what model so I'm left with item 1 and of course, testing with another router and if there's a modem, another modem.

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Thanks
Aug 26, 2018 2:34PM PDT

Thanks R Proffitt, sorry I should have realised that about the model number - its TD-W9980 (New Zealand supplied). About 3 years old.

I had updated the firmware (latest available was 2016 from memory) with no improvement. I have an older modem/router but if memory serves i stopped using it because of issues so I'm not confident that it would reliably perform in any instance... Hmmm. May need to see if I can borrow or bite the bullet and buy a new one.

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There are many noteable posts about that model.
Aug 26, 2018 3:04PM PDT
https://forum.tp-link.com/showthread.php?79372-TD-W9980-crashing-TP-Link-need-to-fix-this-issue-ASAP! noted they helped avoid the bin by cooling the machine.

https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/td-w9980 notes oddities in the devices. Takeaway was to not use the wired ports or 5GHz.

More out there at https://www.google.com/search?q=TD-"w9980"+long+boot+time

Since this is DSL there can be issues at the ISP gear. Or you have phones without a filter in line. I'd try this again but with all devices unplugged from the phone line next time.
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More thanks
Aug 26, 2018 3:51PM PDT

Your google skill are superior to mine (promise I tried first!) but then I wasn't using the correct terms which helps. Will try a few of those and see how well she performs, it is quite warm and located in a media cupboard so will start with cooling options. The technician tested the lines without any phones in etc and also checked status of filters and said they all look OK as far as he was concerned.

appreciate your time!