Modem needs reset every time I switch device

OldFool1951 · Jul 9, 2015

This just arose about two weeks ago. I have a PS, a PS3, and a PS4 that I connect singly to my modem as needed.....I don't have a router, never needed one. The PS4 is new, but for two and a half years with the PC and PS3 I have switched connection freely, plugging whichever device into the modem, and connected immediately, every time, never a problem. Now about the time I got the PS4, every time I unplug one system from the modem and connect another, I have no internet until I reset the modem, every time.

I really don't remember if the problem started the first time I used the PS4, but if not, it started very soon after. My impression is that it started when Time Warner applied a promotion to my Roadrunner cutting my bill by about 25%. I called Time Warner and they sent a guy, he replaced my modem which didn't help. Once I demonstrated the problem, he called his boss and explained and the boss told him that what I was experiencing was normal. Well maybe, but as already stated, my method worked fine for two and a half years.

Some requested info:
ASUS CM5571 Desktop
Motorola SB5101 Cable Modem
1 PS
PS3
PS4
No NAS, no WiFi, Integrated Ethernet

This may not sound like the end of the world but it makes for a lot of extra jumping up and down for one old man. If need be I can get a router, but any suggestion as to what caused the change would be appreciated.

Reyaz123 · Jul 9, 2015

It sounds as if the modem has trouble reassigning IP addresses from the dhcp server. You aren't using a static IP on those consoles right? If you are I would remove them through the console settings and set it to automatically assign an IP address

OldFool1951 · Jul 9, 2015

Reyaz123 :

If I switch from PC to a PlayStation, or from one PlayStation to the other, WITHOUT resetting the modem then go to setup on the console, the automatic option fails. If I copy all the IP, DNS, etc info from the PC and enter in into the console, fail again. As for the static IP question, sorry, a bit over my head.

Whichever system I connect, after resetting the modem, all the IP/DNS info will be the same.

Kewlx25 · Jul 9, 2015

You need a router to do NAT. You only get one IP address which gets assigned to the one device and cannot be unset without resetting your modem.

king3pj · Jul 9, 2015

Get a cheap router and things will be much easier for you. You won't have to constantly plug and unplug your ethernet cable and your computer will be better protected. If you don't need WiFi you can get something cheap like this. It's $30 for an 8 port wired router and it has decent reviews on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-R860-Advanced-8-Port-Router/dp/B003CFATSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436494487&sr=8-1&keywords=wired+router

If you want WiFi too there are plenty of options for $100 or less. I do highly recommend picking up a router though. Like I said, it will make your life easier and your PC safer.

OldFool1951 · Jul 10, 2015

Thanks for the responses, I guess I'll have to go the router route.

Would just like some clue why just swapping the cable worked fine for 2 1/2 years then BAM! The discount code applied by Time Warner couldn't have caused it somehow? I was in online chat with them when the discount was applied and the network icon in the tray showed some activity i.e. spinning blue circle. The next few days I had a few connection drops, brief ones, and this modem reset thing started very soon after.

Anyway thanks again. I do have a wireless router I wasn't too sure about, not much guidance came with it relative to security settings, so I didn't use it.

bill001g · Jul 10, 2015

You can turn off the wireless if it bothers you and then use the router just like you did the modem.....or you could leave 4 things or whatever plugged in all the time.

Generally the way most cable modems work is they take the first mac address they see after the device is booted and that one is assigned a IP by the ISP. Even though the modem will take more mac addresses the ISP will not give them a IP until it sees the modem drop the connection to the ISP. Now there really is nothing that stops the modem from running different mac and ip addresses at the same time the ISP just chooses to not work that way. Many will let you have multiple ip if you pay for it.

I suspect they had your account misconfigured and found their error and corrected it when you upgraded your service.

Although I don't think you can do it on game consoles you can set the mac address on pc. So if you could set the mac address the same on all your devices you could swap them around at will with just a cable modem. Then again that is a really painful thing to keep working so a router will be much simpler. Just disable the wireless if it concerns you.

OldFool1951 · Jul 10, 2015

bill001g :

You can turn off the wireless if it bothers you and then use the router just like you did the modem.....or you could leave 4 things or whatever plugged in all the time.

Generally the way most cable modems work is they take the first mac address they see after the device is booted and that one is assigned a IP by the ISP. Even though the modem will take more mac addresses the ISP will not give them a IP until it sees the modem drop the connection to the ISP. Now there really is nothing that stops the modem from running different mac and ip addresses at the same time the ISP just chooses to not work that way. Many will let you have multiple ip if you pay for it.

I suspect they had your account misconfigured and found their error and corrected it when you upgraded your service.

Although I don't think you can do it on game consoles you can set the mac address on pc. So if you could set the mac address the same on all your devices you could swap them around at will with just a cable modem. Then again that is a really painful thing to keep working so a router will be much simpler. Just disable the wireless if it concerns you.

Sheez I'da sworn when I first tried that wireless router four years ago, it only allowed one wired connection.

So all set up, painlessly, all three devices connected and life is good! Thanks to all responders.

king3pj · Jul 10, 2015

OldFool1951 :

bill001g :

Sheez I'da sworn when I first tried that wireless router four years ago, it only allowed one wired connection.

So all set up, painlessly, all three devices connected and life is good! Thanks to all responders.

Make sure you either add a password to the WiFi or completely disable it. If you don't your neighbors will be able to freeload off your connection and depending on what they are doing it could slow down your internet.

OldFool1951 · Jul 10, 2015

I was going to ask about that. I had to reinstall the router and I never saw an option to turn wireless on or off but near as I can tell it's off. I turned on the PS4 and went to set up wireless connection and it didn't detect anything.

king3pj · Jul 10, 2015

OldFool1951 :

Odd... Usually a wireless router would have the WiFi turned on by default. Do you know what model router you have?

OldFool1951 · Jul 10, 2015

king3pj :

Yeah it's a Belkin F7D5301 v1. When I started the computer up later it was trying to go wireless, I've been struggling with it ever since. Finally was able to log in to the router page and turn off wireless, going to restart now and see if it still works.

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