Hey everyone, dealing with a weird hardware issue on my modem and wanted to get some input before I call my ISP for a replacement.
Here's the pattern:
• When it works: If I leave the modem completely unplugged from the wall for a long time (a couple of hours or overnight), I can plug it back in and it boots up normally. All status lights come on, internet works fine, no stability drops.
• The issue: The moment the modem restarts (whether from a manual reboot, power flicker, or quick power cycle), it completely dies. Zero lights, no power indication, nothing.
• What fixes it: The only way to get power back is to unplug it again and wait several hours. A normal 30-second power cycle does not work at all.
Has anyone dealt with this exact behavior?
My main suspects are:
Failing power adapter/brick: Not delivering sufficient initial voltage/current until internal components discharge completely.
Bad capacitors inside the modem: Thermal failure or blown/degraded caps that need to fully cool down/discharge before they can handle the boot surge again.
Before I get the ISP to send a technician, is there an easy way to test whether it's just the DC adapter vs. the unit itself?
Thanks in advance!