Force router reset while away

SCVJeff wrote:
One could argue the statement that power cycling reduces life ....

You could argue it. You would be wrong. Switching operations are an integral component of predicting lifespan of "switchgear." Switchgear refers to products like circuit breakers, switches and switch fuse units.

http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/how-to-predict-life-span-of-the-switchgear

Is the impact to lifespan significant? It depends on the device. Most likely, with something like a WiFi router, the device's technology will be out-of-date before switching operations kill it. Regardless, the timer/on-off cycle is a kluge in an attempt to fix a more significant underlying issue - an obviously junk router.

Sam Spade wrote:

thestoloffs wrote:
Here's my question:

Most routers I know for home usage have a 192.168.x.x address for their user interface web page. That's a locally assigned IP address, findable within your local LAN -- but NOT visible (i.e., DNS-identifiable) to the WAN side (i.e., the Internet).

Any suggestions?

That is not the address you would use to remotely access the unit.

The network side has a "real" address and that is the one that you would need.

And it would have to be capable of doing remote network access. And to be reliable, you would have to subscribe to a fixed address for the network side of the router.

Actually you don't. My AC1900 is fully accessed through the iPhone from the WAN. Never bothered to look but I'm sure Lynksys runs a DNS server somewhere these talk to. I have several remotely accessed devices on the LAN and the only ones you have to do a path update for manually are the Foscams.

So, 2oldman, this is interesting.

You're in little old Ephrata, with fiber access.

I'm down here in TriCities, what, 15 times the size. No fiber connections here for me! DSL still. Who uses DSL? Lots of us! Maybe I'll move!

thestoloffs wrote:
Here's my question:

Most routers I know for home usage have a 192.168.x.x address for their user interface web page. That's a locally assigned IP address, findable within your local LAN -- but NOT visible (i.e., DNS-identifiable) to the WAN side (i.e., the Internet).

Any suggestions?

That is not the address you would use to remotely access the unit.

The network side has a "real" address and that is the one that you would need.

And it would have to be capable of doing remote network access. And to be reliable, you would have to subscribe to a fixed address for the network side of the router.

One could argue the statement that power cycling reduces life and I doubt there is any data to back that up. We start our cars daily that are now very sofiscated and I can count the number of CPU failures I've ever heard on one finger. Additionally the IT world commonly uses IP aware plugs trips that can power cycle any or all outlets of the strip to do exactly what the OP wanted to do. In any case he's likely now on the road and hopefully talking to the house from wherever they are.

Disclaimer: I'm in the security business.

braindead0 wrote:
As long as you don't mind anyone being able to remote control it from anywhere.

If you have good security on the router and utilize good personal security protocols this won't be a problem.

To the OP: Will the timer work? Sure ... unless the (apparently unreliable) router doesn't recover from the hard reboot. Furthermore, every electric/electronic device has a life cycle - largely tied to the number of power cycles it goes through (although, there are other factors). Cycling the power on your router - a device intended to be turned on and left on - will shorten its life cycle.

Instead of using a kluge, get yourself a good, reliable dual-band router. You care enough to have a security system in your home. Why create a weak link with a junk router?

I highly recommend the TP-LINK Archer C9 AC1900. It's about $120 on Amazon. For another $20, you can get the high power version which will give you more range. We often see cameras and other WiFi devices dropping due to router range issues.

thestoloffs wrote:
Here's my question:

Most routers I know for home usage have a 192.168.x.x address for their user interface web page. That's a locally assigned IP address, findable within your local LAN -- but NOT visible (i.e., DNS-identifiable) to the WAN side (i.e., the Internet).

Any suggestions?

You can use a service like Dtdns. They will allow you to get a unique name on one of their domains. There is a 1 time $5 charge to set up for personal usage (limited number of accesses up to 5 unique names). I have used it for occasional access while away from home to an IP camera that I don't normally show outside my local network.

If your local internet service is like mine & you get a different ip address multiple times per day, then you will need a way to update their records of your ip everytime it changes.

thestoloffs wrote:
Here's my question:

Most routers I know for home usage have a 192.168.x.x address for their user interface web page. That's a locally assigned IP address, findable within your local LAN -- but NOT visible (i.e., DNS-identifiable) to the WAN side (i.e., the Internet).

Any suggestions?

I think you need to know your IP AND port to remotely access your router, IF you have set up your router for remote access. Probably works great it set up ahead of time but if not, forget it.

Here's my question:

Most routers I know for home usage have a 192.168.x.x address for their user interface web page. That's a locally assigned IP address, findable within your local LAN -- but NOT visible (i.e., DNS-identifiable) to the WAN side (i.e., the Internet).

Any suggestions?

It is possible to program many devices with static IP.. I do not know about your modem, but mine works that way ...

Now, There are two ways to do what you want.. In some cases it is indeed possible to connect to a modem and reset it, but if it's not talking to the internet,,, That's not going to work

If you have a time of day when you can always get by without it (Say 2 am or 4 am) you can put a 24 hour timer, Shut it down for 15 mintues... (analog timers) or 1 minute (digital timers) and when it powers back up it's reset. Of course you must make sure this happens AFTER the nightly ISP screw up.

Another thing... A 3-5 Minute timer on power frail, keep it off for several minutes incase the power fail also affects the ISP side of things.