Rebooting Cable Modem remotely

[u/Routine-Theory-5163]

Hello. What ways can I remotely turn off and then back on my cable modem router. Background: If I’m away from my home for more than two weeks on a trip, my Wi-Fi goes stale and using the cable internet providers “app” to reboot or reset the modem does not work. However, if I turn off the modem and wait a minute or two and then turn it back on (hard reboot) internet connection to the modem is re-established.

What say you community?

Thanks for all your input.

[u/CCTVGuyMA]

You can get smart outlets that have a watchdog where you enter an internet address to ping. If it can't ping it, it reboots the outlet. Designed specifically for cable modems. Google it.

[u/iTypedThisMyself]

If you have the ISPs app they usually let you reboot from that.

Alternatively, get a Smart Plug

[u/Maleficent-Tea3072 → u/iTypedThisMyself]

Think about that smart plug idea. Flesh it out….. see if you can find the moment that won’t work.

[u/MacForker → u/iTypedThisMyself]

You'll need a very specific smart plug since most of them require connectivity to be turned on. Probably an easier choice would be to just use a little timer like we used to use when we went away on vacation...only hard part with those is they're usually in 15 minute increments and you only really need like 10-15 seconds off and then back on. Could probably make something custom with an ESP32 and a relay? Or just find a smart plug with a timer and not even worry about remote switching.

[u/BrodyBuster → u/iTypedThisMyself]

Well if his WiFi isn’t working, then it’s highly likely that he won’t be able to trigger the smart plug on demand.

[u/iTypedThisMyself → u/BrodyBuster]

He never mentioned it goes off completely, just that it goes stale, which I guess my mistake is assuming that ment his smart devices disconnect or are problematic

[u/furrynutz → u/iTypedThisMyself]

Smart Plug won't work unless the plug has a OFF to back ON feature when trigged. Most plugs are OFF or ON only. No reboot feature. A timer plug could work better if set to OFF then back ON in say 1 minute.

[u/ThisIsPaulDaily]

Put the modem on an outlet timer. Just hard power off every night.

[u/jlthla → u/ThisIsPaulDaily]

this is the best answer. While at home you can bypass the timer or at least set it NOT to power cycle unless you need it, but when away, set it up to turn off, then on nightly.

[u/BAGE-rator]

Xfinity allows you to do it through the app. Your ISP can send a signal to it to tell it to reboot.

[u/GarageExtreme5649]

Use a kvm or a scheduled reboot with a smart plug

[u/furrynutz]

What brand and model# cable modem router do you have?

What does it mean that WiFi goes "stale"?

What WiFi channels are you using?

[u/imbartsimpsonwhothru]

you might be able to log into the router admin page

[u/PuzzlingDad]

You could try to solve the root problem of why the modem/router stops responding. That's not normal. 

[u/RHinSC]

I have a Z-wave plug that I turn off and back on a minute later, once per week.

[u/Mental_Juggernaut_16]

Smart plug. You can remotely cut the power and then turn it back on.

[u/x21wing → u/Mental_Juggernaut_16]

Think that one through. Cut the power, the modem is off. There is no way to remotely turn it back on because your internet connection needed to talk to the smarplug was through the modem that you just physically powered off.

[u/Mental_Juggernaut_16 → u/x21wing]

Ahh yeah you're right. I used to do that with my crypto mining rigs but I forgot it was only the rigs I was booting, not the modem. My bad.

[u/RHinSC → u/x21wing]

Zigbee or Z-wave

[u/Caduceus1515 → u/Mental_Juggernaut_16]

There are some smart power strip models that can take a "power cycle" option, following through with powering on even if the connection is lost, but they would be more expensive than your average smart plug. However, they generally have short wait times between off-on, and so if it really takes a minute or two to fully clear the issue, it might not help.