Question Ethernet connection randomly drops for about 5-10 seconds about once an hour or so

[ColFrogfoot]

Its really bothering me, I have gone through old support posts and still cannot find help. I am plugged directly into my router, it is provided by Rogers XB7-CM and the internet speed here is suppose to be really good, but I disconnect often. I thought it could be my ethernet cable so I recently bought a new ethernet cable from Walmart, but the problem persists. I have also had rogers run tests, reset the router and even had them change the router. Also during my disconnect time I believe that other devices can still use the wifi while I am experiencing problems connecting via direct ethernet connection.... please help 🙁

Usually I just disconnect for about 10 seconds, but sometimes it will never reconnect, unplugging the ethernet cord and replugging doesn't help and the only way to restore an internet connection is by restarting my computer.


My network adapter is "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller".. at least thats what I believe it is, there are a lot of WAN Miniport items in Network adapters in device manager as well. Windows 10.

There are 6 events that pop up into my event viewer during the 10 second disconnect. I will put them all below

Event ID: 4004 / Time: 5:01:38

Network State Change Fired

New Internet Connection Profile: true

Connection Cost Changed: true

Domain Connectivity Level Changed: false

Network Connectivity Level Changed: true

Host Name Changed: true

Wwan Registration State Changed: false

Tethering Operational State Changed: false

Tethering Client Count Changed: false


Event ID: 4002 / Time: 5:01:41

Transitioning to State: Identified Network Interface Guid: {31c3d45c-1cc1-475e-bf8a-3b290838bed4}


Event ID: 10000 / Time: 5:01:41

Network Connected

Name: Network 10

Desc: Network

Type: Unmanaged

State: Connected

Category: Public


Event ID: 20002 / Time: 5:01:41

NSI Set Category Result

Profile GUID: {7e1f3d55-f9f7-49ac-8753-44a2ee4c369a}

Interface GUID: {31c3d45c-1cc1-475e-bf8a-3b290838bed4}

Network Category: Public

IPv4 Error Code: 0

IPv6 Error Code: 0

Context: 4222


Event ID: 4004 / Time: 5:01:43

Network State Change Fired

New Internet Connection Profile: true

Connection Cost Changed: true

Domain Connectivity Level Changed: false

Network Connectivity Level Changed: true

Host Name Changed: true

Wwan Registration State Changed: false

Tethering Operational State Changed: false

Tethering Client Count Changed: false


Event ID: 4004 / Time: 5:01:49

Network State Change Fired

New Internet Connection Profile: false

Connection Cost Changed: false

Domain Connectivity Level Changed: false

Network Connectivity Level Changed: false

Host Name Changed: true

Wwan Registration State Changed: false

Tethering Operational State Changed: false

Tethering Client Count Changed: false


Let me know if there is any other information I can provide you to help.. and Ill try my best to do that. Also to note: the above events show up a lot, in my event viewer. The earliest event was 10/28/2023 and was different from the above, it was. Ever since that event I see the above event ids alot, and 10001 happening as well. (I can't remember if it was happening before October, but I am fairly certain it was)


Event ID:10001

Network Disconnected

Name: Network 10

Desc: Network

Type: Unmanaged

State: Disconnected

Category: Public


Other Info:

Edition Windows 10 Home

Version 22H2

Installed on ‎2020-‎12-‎05

OS build 19045.3803

Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19053.1000.0

Edit: Ipconfig /all below:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3803]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Natha>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-FBNN90I
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : phub.net.cable.rogers.com

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : phub.net.cable.rogers.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D8-CB-8A-75-81-AC
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0::3c9e(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : January 4, 2024 5:01:43 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : January 10, 2024 7:59:55 PM
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0:d695:b95a:4622:25fa(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0:2c21:78e4:8414:34aa(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::80b8:b913:9ffb:a88c%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.155(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : January 4, 2024 5:01:41 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : January 6, 2024 5:01:40 PM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::8e76:3fff:fe94:c996%8
10.0.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 81316746
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-24-4F-AB-F3-D8-CB-8A-75-81-AC
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5204
2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5198
64.71.255.204
64.71.255.198
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

At the Command Prompt run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) and post the results herein.

You should be able to copy and the results without needing to retype it all.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

At the Command Prompt run "ipconfig /all" (without quotes) and post the results herein.

You should be able to copy and the results without needing to retype it all.

Ok, thank you, I have done so.

 

[bill001g]

I would do the IPCONFIG /all when it breaks and see what if anything is different.

If the port actually goes disconnected that generally is a hardware issue. Almost always the cable but not as likely if you replaced it. Note if you bought a flat cable those have all kinds of issues because they do meet the wire size requirement to be a actual ethernet cable.

What you might also try is to disable IPv6 support in ethernet settings. This causes all kinds of strange issues.....but it does not cause physical disconnects it is more of a logically disconnect.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

I would do the IPCONFIG /all when it breaks and see what if anything is different.

If the port actually goes disconnected that generally is a hardware issue. Almost always the cable but not as likely if you replaced it. Note if you bought a flat cable those have all kinds of issues because they do meet the wire size requirement to be a actual ethernet cable.

What you might also try is to disable IPv6 support in ethernet settings. This causes all kinds of strange issues.....but it does not cause physical disconnects it is more of a logically disconnect.

I try to do that the next time it happens. The Walmart cable is flat :/ the previous cable I was using was not, but same problem with both cables. I went into my ethernet settings, Im not sure how to disable IPv6 as I couldnt find that setting anywhere, other than editing the IP assignment, but Im not sure how to do that. I will reply with an ipconfig if I can get it in time the next time I notice it disconnect. Thanks

 

[bill001g]

Microsoft may have changed things...again. I would think it is in the same area you see that you can change the IP address. It it under the properties window for the ethernet adapter. There should be a check box that lets you disable it

 

[Ralston18]

And no flat cable! It does not meet the required Ethernet cable specs.

Swap in another known working (no problems of any sort) Ethernet cable.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

I have the not flat cable, but its still being an issue constantly. I would love to know if the hardware is faulty so I can just replace the hardware to have it work agian. But I really dont know the issue, and it seems almost impossible to find out

 

[bill001g]

The problem with a very short failure is by the time you notice it and try to issue some commands to test it comes back up. 🙁

It all depends on if the port actually disconnects or if you for example just lose the IP address. The first tends to be a hardware issue.

I guess you could just blindly try a new ethernet nic card. They are fairly cheap and you only need a open 1x pcie slot to run them.
You could also use a USB ethernet card if you do not have internal slots. You will need USB 3 to get the full 1gbit.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

I ran an ipconfig /all during a time of disconnection... here is the result:

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : DESKTOP-FBNN90I
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : phub.net.cable.rogers.com

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : phub.net.cable.rogers.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : D8-CB-8A-75-81-AC
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0::3c9e(Preferred)
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : January 14, 2024 10:17:09 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : January 19, 2024 1:47:08 PM
IPv6 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0:d695:b95a:4622:25fa(Preferred)
Temporary IPv6 Address. . . . . . : 2607:fea8:419f:8db0:4dbb:850e:84c2:e306(Preferred)
Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::80b8:b913:9ffb:a88c%8(Preferred)
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.155(Preferred)
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : January 14, 2024 10:17:08 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : January 16, 2024 10:17:07 AM
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : fe80::8e76:3fff:fe94:c996%8
10.0.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.0.0.1
DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 81316746
DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-24-4F-AB-F3-D8-CB-8A-75-81-AC
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5204
2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5198
64.71.255.204
64.71.255.198
2607:fea8:419f:8db0:8e76:3fff:fe94:c996
2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5204
2607:f798:18:10:0:640:7125:5198
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Enabled

So to me it doesnt look like anything is different than the original ipconfig result..

 

[bill001g]

The dhcp lease obtain time is very new. The port could have dropped and come backup very quickly or there is some issue with the IP addresses.

What I would do is go into the setting on the ethernet. Disable the IPv6 first and see if that fixes it. Then manually set a IPv4 address. In your case I would use 10.0.0.250 with a mask of 255.255.255.0. You also want to set the dns. I would use 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1.

I don't think it is dns issue but I suspect you are using your ISP dns and google and/or cloudflare tend to be much more stable.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

https://imgur.com/AUhl4IJ

View: https://i.imgur.com/AUhl4IJ.jpg


So like this? where would I put the "mask"?

 

[bill001g]

I see microsoft added another stupid menu that lets you configure things rather than use the one that has been used for years.

I would see if it takes the mask in the subnet length. It is strange to see that since network people understand how subnet length and mask are related but this is far beyond you general users. In any case if that doesn't for put in 24

You also need to put in 10.0.0.1 in the gateway I guess I forgot to mention that.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

Ok yea it didnt let me put in 255.255.255.0 so I put in 24 and it allowed. I will operate with that setup and see how it fares and report back.

Thank you so much for helping me out here

 

[ColFrogfoot]

I see microsoft added another stupid menu that lets you configure things rather than use the one that has been used for years.

I would see if it takes the mask in the subnet length. It is strange to see that since network people understand how subnet length and mask are related but this is far beyond you general users. In any case if that doesn't for put in 24

You also need to put in 10.0.0.1 in the gateway I guess I forgot to mention that.

So I thought it was working but I noticed a disconnect just now, I checked my event logs and theyre full of disconnects every couple of hours. Looks like it pretty consistently is disconnecting now shortly after I wake my computer from sleep. Dont know what that would have to do anything. Maybe I should look into an ethernet usb cable at this point.

 

[bill001g]

If possible I would use a internal PCIE card just because it tends to be simpler. When you use USB it has all the USB stuff between the PCIE buss and the ethernet nic. It will likely work fine if that is your preferred option.

 

[frnkmachine]

I also had this issue start around last summer, Countless hours with isp and 3 cable guys and 2 modems. Several calls with Tplink. Then Netgear when I got new router. Switched cables. Google dns. No luck. Then I ended up using ping plotter. I traced issue down to the a thunderbolt dock after about 20 days of testing. I have a new laptop without Ethernet port which is why I got the dock. I then purchased an Ethernet dongle to test and then it seemed to work perfectly for about a month. Until today I had a few disconnects, hopefully it doesn't start back up.

Saw this post and I just wanted to say I feel your pain. I even registered so I can say that. I work remotely and use remote desktop. So I'll get kicked out. And I need a stable connection as I talk and meet with clients. Ping plotter shows the hop to the router is fine it's the next hop that drops the entire connection for a few seconds. So looks like something trips out the modem and or ISP hops. I have a Netgear nighthawk wifi 6. New Lenovo laptop with 13gen i7. With thunderbolt 4 dock and 500Mpbs. Shouldn't be having those issues.

 

[ColFrogfoot]

I ended up building a new computer and the issue is no longer. So I guess something might have went wrong in my old desktop, not sure what it was. But my new computer has never dropped connection.