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The Weak Point In Your Internet Service - The Power

If you have a typical Internet service, your connection to your between your computer and the ISP in the ouside world can be done in 2 ways. Either:

  1. A combined router and modem that connects directly to the wire or fibre coming out of the wall.

    2. or

  2. A modem (dialup, cable, or DSL) connects directly to the wire or fibre coming out of the wall that is connected to a router by a cable.
Both the modem and router require low voltage power supplies.

This is something that has to be considered in the case of a mains electric power cut

Recently, I thought that my router was slightly faulty. Several times / week, I was losing Internet service, even though the diagnostic lights on my DSL modem, and the router, were normal. Restarting both the modem and router would restore my service, but only until the next time.

I bought a universal power supply, and swapped it for the power supply for the router for a while, but saw no improvement in the symptom. Service was going out too frequently - first a couple times per week, then daily, and finally multiple times daily. I put the vendor power supply for the router back in service, took the replacement universal power supply, and tried it on the modem, and the problem was solved.

In this situation, the "universal power supply" is a key item. Each different electronic device - modem, router, or what have you, will have differently designed power requirements. Plug size, polarity, and voltage will differ from device to device. In my case, my modem uses 6V DC +, and my router uses 12V DC +. Being able to try the same power supply on both units, by simply changing the switch on the wall wart, made it possible for me to solve my problem.

When you setup the power supply for your modem or router, read the instructions carefully.

Polarity and voltage are not obvious, but getting them right is essential. In most cases, the power supply adaptor will have clearly labeled requirements, with both polarity and voltage obviously described. Carefully following the instructions with the replacement power supply, you can swap units in a couple minutes.

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