Power cycling is an important way to ‘clean out’ many electronic devices, from e-readers and smartphones to computers and … cable modems! Here’s the simple recipe:
• Remove any backup battery.
• Unplug the modem for about 30 seconds (if it’s an eMTA, you can insert a pin or paperclip in the back of the eMTA where it says “reset”). Wait for the lights on the front of the modem to “sync” back up after you plug it back in(typically a few solid and one flashing).
• Then unplug the router for about 30 seconds and wait for it to sync back up.
• Check for connectivity. If there is still no connectivity reboot the PC by clicking the start menu then selecting “restart.” (or whatever works on your computer) Once the PC boots back up, check for connectivity again.
If that doesn’t work: contact Comcast!
You might wonder, why does power cycling work? Why does it work on so many devices? We posed the question “What is a good way to explain to someone without an electronics background why ‘power cycling’ improves performance of cell phones, computers, e-readers, modems, etc?” on the website Quora, and got some helpful answers. Check out the answers. One person compares power cycling to giving your car an oil change; another compares it to how you might replace an old, cluttered address book with a new one.
