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liduck's avatar
liduck
Tutor
Jul 23, 2019
Solved

Ethernet ports not working after ISP outage R6400

Had bad storms pass through area yesterday and experienced ISP outage (internet/TV/phone).  Went to work and came home to find ISP service restored, wifi is up and working but all of the ethernet ports (3 of the 4 are used, desktop computer, TV and DVD player) were dark.  Reset the router several times, unplugged and replugged in the ethernet connectors and still no sign of any activity lights on the ports on the router.  IIRC, they should light up when I plug in an active device.  Only thing left to do is to a full factory reset, but was holding off until I hear from someone here for a better idea.  Was able to log into my router, firmware is up-to-date.  Any ideas?  Thanks in advance!

 

  • > [...] no mention of NO light lit, [...]

     

       No port-status light = no connection.

     

       If you had even one working port, then you could connect it to an
    external network switch, but if they're all fried, then you may be
    doomed.

     

    > [...] as it's past the 3 months, the only help I can get from Netgear
    > is to buy a contract? [...]

     

       I wouldn't bet that the warranty covers lightning, but there should
    be an option to return a defective gizmo without needing a support
    agreement.

     

          https://www.netgear.com/about/warranty/

6 Replies

  • > Had bad storms [...]

     

       That sounds more like a cause than "ISP outage" (which sounds like
    another effect).

     

    > [...] IIRC, they should light up when I plug in an active device.
    > [...]

     

       No need to recall.  Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your
    model number, and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.

     

       Connecting a known-good Ethernet cable between any two LAN ports
    should give you two good port-status indicators, too.

     

    > [...] Only thing left to do is to a full factory reset, [...]

     

       You can try that, but I'd guess that your hardware is fried, and a
    settings reset won't help that.

     

    > [...] Was able to log into my router, [...]


       How, wirelessly?

     

    > [...] firmware is up-to-date. [...]

     

       As always, an actual version number would be more useful than your
    opinion of what's "up-to-date" today.  But, in this case, it probably
    matters little.

    • liduck's avatar
      liduck
      Tutor

      antinode wrote:

      > Had bad storms [...]

       

         That sounds more like a cause than "ISP outage" (which sounds like
      another effect).

       

      I'm afraid of that too, but I have to try

       

      > [...] IIRC, they should light up when I plug in an active device.
      > [...]

       

         No need to recall.  Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your
      model number, and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.

       

         Connecting a known-good Ethernet cable between any two LAN ports
      should give you two good port-status indicators, too.

       

      Did that earlier but no mention of NO light lit, nor mention of this in the troubleshooting section for this router

       

      > [...] Only thing left to do is to a full factory reset, [...]

       

         You can try that, but I'd guess that your hardware is fried, and a
      settings reset won't help that.

       

      Indeed, no joy

       

      > [...] Was able to log into my router, [...]


         How, wirelessly? 

       

      Yes, it works flawlessly from the get-go wirelessly, just no luck with the ethernet connections, which I was hoping I could revive with some unpublished command, but it looks like out of luck.

       

      > [...] firmware is up-to-date. [...]

       

         As always, an actual version number would be more useful than your
      opinion of what's "up-to-date" today.  But, in this case, it probably
      matters little.


      V1.0.0.50 and it didn't matter.  Still no luck with the cables and as it's past the 3 months, the only help I can get from Netgear is to buy a contract?  And thanks for the responses Antinode and FURRYe38!

      • antinode's avatar
        antinode
        Guru

        > [...] no mention of NO light lit, [...]

         

           No port-status light = no connection.

         

           If you had even one working port, then you could connect it to an
        external network switch, but if they're all fried, then you may be
        doomed.

         

        > [...] as it's past the 3 months, the only help I can get from Netgear
        > is to buy a contract? [...]

         

           I wouldn't bet that the warranty covers lightning, but there should
        be an option to return a defective gizmo without needing a support
        agreement.

         

              https://www.netgear.com/about/warranty/

  • michaelkenward's avatar
    michaelkenward
    Guru - Experienced User

    liduck wrote:

    Had bad storms pass through area yesterday and experienced ISP outage (internet/TV/phone). 

     

    Storms are very good at killing electronic equipment. They can do serious damage when lightning hits overhead telephone wires. I once ended up with a fried motherboard with some artistic burn marks on the chips. Fortunately, it was covered by insurance.

     

    And those effects can be selective, taking out some bits of the system while leaving others untouched.

    • liduck's avatar
      liduck
      Tutor

      michaelkenward wrote:

      liduck wrote:

      Had bad storms pass through area yesterday and experienced ISP outage (internet/TV/phone). 

       

      Storms are very good at killing electronic equipment. 

       

      Agreed!  Been a ham radio operator for over 30 years now and seen this personally, both as a civilian and as one who once worked for Uncle.  I had my stuff isolated but there is no stopping surge entry via the AC or cable.  Been lucky the last few years since I've been up North (down South, this is a frequent occurrance) and this has been my first victim in over a decade.  So far, this is the only thing that was touched by the storms, so I'll knock on wood and head out to the store to get another...