Sorry for the wall 'o text but this is the layout: DSL modem bridged into Archer C7 router with basic security. both 2.4 and 5G frequencies active with multiple hardwired desktops, gaming systems, other devices. A hardwired western Digital router at the far end of the house set as a switch and used as a range extender and more gaming systems and desktops. Both 2.4G and 5g on separate names and also the guest mode on for a limited time of day on the WD. My DHCP list shows 25+ devices plus I know the printers and BD are static addressed outside the DHCP range. I have two sons in school for networking and the set-up has their acceptance but not blessing. It works all but .017% of the time. (speed is an issue though.)
Several times a week I have an issue, mostly on my Kindle Fire for quite some time but now recently on my Leonovo (Win10) laptop. It will lose connection to the internet. It retains connection to the router as both say the wi-fi is up. Changing to a different source or frequency will reconnect. If I don’t change or reboot, I will never get an internet connection on that device yet the router stays connected. This typically has happened when I get tired of an autoload ad video stalling out or usually I just stop them by leaving the page. After that my connection is down and I need to change to a different channel. The rest of my system and even that wifi frequency stays active as I’ve been streaming at the same time. I can go back to that network channel after I’ve done a reboot. No other devices are affected and it has never happened on my hardwired devices. It doesn’t matter which wifi source I am on. I think it is in the router but I cannot see what would disable the web without telling me. There are no settings or parental controls enabled to do this. BTW my wife’s Kindle Fire has not been affected AFAIK nor have my children mentioned it. And time of day doesn’t seem to matter nor does other devices in use.
BTW, I live far enough from others that another wifi can not interfere.
Now I’ve learned that if I wait long enough, hours, it sometimes returns.
Ive seen this happen too, same as you describe, no idea why.
in android, forget the connection, then recreate it
in windows go to network and sharing center, click manage wireless networks, remove the offending network, then reconnect to it again.
Seems to cure it for a while.
Most likely a bug in either the router or the device firmware. Network stacks are complicated. Not sure any can get more specific than that, since both are probably closed-source. The thing you’re describing shouldn’t happen, but it does. So…
My C7 router’s firmware had a bug where it sometimes wouldn’t port-forward to certain hosts. No idea why. I went back and forth with support (they were responsive, but not very helpful). They tried to duplicate my setup and reported that it worked for them. I gave up and installed OpenWRT on the router and it has worked since then.
I’m not suggesting you change the firmware on your router though, since it’s a pain and if you do it wrong then you might have an even-less-functional router.
Modem/router/switch/wireless AP/DHCP server/file server is really too much to cram in one device with one tiny cpu, buggy firmware, bargain components and no software support.
Try to spread those tasks. Use a modem/router, switches and access points. The solution with dedicated hardware is cheaper to upgrade, cheaper to maintain and much, much more stable.
A similar thing happens to me. I have Verizon FIOS with the standard FIOS wireless router.
On random occasions, I will be using my Windows 10 Acer laptop, and all of a sudden, I will have no internet access. If I click the wireless connections icon at the bottom right of my screen, and open my FIOS connection, it will say that I am connected, but with no internet. Even if I reconnect to my wireless, it won’t have internet access.
Usually, three to ten minutes or so later, the situation will clear, and I will be able to use the internet just fine.
While this is happening, my wife will be watching an internet video on her iPad with no interruption. These are the only two devices we are using, so it isn’t an overload situation.
It is a small, but sometimes maddening problem, but if you have any insight, it would be helpful.
Does your wifes Ipad roll over to 4G if the local wifi drops?
No, it’s a pure WiFi iPad. No 4G.