Internet Connection Oddity
Thread Starter

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 55
From: Under a recently defunct flight path.
Internet Connection Oddity
We connect to the internet via broadband connection (TalkTalk in our case) with the usual domestic wi-fi set up. This morning our laptop, PC, iPhone & iPads all lost access to the internet (not exactly unknown) and I was about to reboot the router when I realised that my Roberts radio was still happily playing music - via Internet radio! (The devices that had lost internet access were all still connected to the router and yes, when I hit the reboot button on the router, the music stopped).
An anomaly that has me scratching my head...
An anomaly that has me scratching my head...

Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 38
From: Southport
Could be a number of things, DHCP error causing only the IP address for the radio to be valid not the others, DNS error but the radio uses a different DNS, all sorts. Or it had buffered enough to keep on playing for a while after the connection dropped (and then ran out of buffered sound after you rebooted the router).
WiFi can be weird sometimes
WiFi can be weird sometimes
Thread Starter

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 55
From: Under a recently defunct flight path.
Could be a number of things, DHCP error causing only the IP address for the radio to be valid not the others, DNS error but the radio uses a different DNS, all sorts.
Is it all connected by wifi, or do any of the things connect with ethernet cables?
Basically I don't see it as a problem between computers etc & the router, but something between router and TalkTalk. (We have their 37Mb/s fibre as far as the local distribution box about 150 - 200m away at the end of the road, then copper to the house).

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 11
From: UK
Similar problem with TalkTalk in November. Plenty of bars showing but unable to connect either by the ethernet cable or wirelessly.
They said it was my Router, which was an old version of theirs. They sent me a new Router straightaway - same problem though.
The OpenReach man came three days later and said it was an ‘Authentication Issue’ whatever that means. He fixed it and it works OK and they did have the good grace to credit me a tenner for the loss of service.
I know TalkTalk are usually the absolute pits when anything goes wrong but they didn’t do badly this time.
They said it was my Router, which was an old version of theirs. They sent me a new Router straightaway - same problem though.
The OpenReach man came three days later and said it was an ‘Authentication Issue’ whatever that means. He fixed it and it works OK and they did have the good grace to credit me a tenner for the loss of service.
I know TalkTalk are usually the absolute pits when anything goes wrong but they didn’t do badly this time.

Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,418
Likes: 38
From: Southport
Authentication means either DHCP or the WiFi encryption bit, either usually means faulty router.
I was once told by the Sky help desk that they expect home routers to last about 2 years on average before something starts to go wrong with them. The one I had at the time was 7 years old, and was only replaced when we went to fibre and they gave us a new one anyway.
I was once told by the Sky help desk that they expect home routers to last about 2 years on average before something starts to go wrong with them. The one I had at the time was 7 years old, and was only replaced when we went to fibre and they gave us a new one anyway.
Thread Starter

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 55
From: Under a recently defunct flight path.
Similar problem with TalkTalk in November. Plenty of bars showing but unable to connect either by the ethernet cable or wirelessly.
They said it was my Router, which was an old version of theirs. They sent me a new Router straightaway - same problem though.
The OpenReach man came three days later and said it was an ‘Authentication Issue’ whatever that means. He fixed it and it works OK and they did have the good grace to credit me a tenner for the loss of service.
I know TalkTalk are usually the absolute pits when anything goes wrong but they didn’t do badly this time.
They said it was my Router, which was an old version of theirs. They sent me a new Router straightaway - same problem though.
The OpenReach man came three days later and said it was an ‘Authentication Issue’ whatever that means. He fixed it and it works OK and they did have the good grace to credit me a tenner for the loss of service.
I know TalkTalk are usually the absolute pits when anything goes wrong but they didn’t do badly this time.

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 628
Likes: 11
From: UK
It was in the house in the room where the so called BT Box receives the connection from the telegraph pole- however I wasn’t at home and the guy spoke to my wife - so as dogsridewith opines - I’ve no idea what he did
Thread Starter

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 55
From: Under a recently defunct flight path.
Thanks NRU.
Quite a few minutes as I waited (hoping) that the connection would restore itself. Also, did not notice immediately when the internet connection dropped as I was busy with other things.
It is not the first time we have had the problem but rebooting the router has so far enabled a reconnection.
Radio can buffer for a while so could have been that still playing, not sure how long it went on for though?
It is not the first time we have had the problem but rebooting the router has so far enabled a reconnection.




