Connection drops same time every day - DHCP client stopped.

[Luket92]

Hi,

Similar to other posts here, I'm experiencing internet disconnections across all devices at the same time every day.

Online chat/support has been a non-starter because their support script restricts them to asking me to turn my router off and on, and then performing a live test on the line, which shows no fault. A replacement router was sent out, but this also hasn't resolved the issue.

Router logs show the following, which is similar to others on this forum:

Date/Time Severity Module Message

25.03.2024 10:06:28	Info	DHCPC	The WAN DHCP client IP address XX.X.XXX.XX
25.03.2024 10:06:24	Info	DHCPC	WAN DHCP client (1) started
25.03.2024 10:06:21	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is up port 1
25.03.2024 10:05:52	Warning	DHCPC	WAN DHCP client (1) stopped
25.03.2024 10:05:52	Info	XDSL	VDSL connectivity is down port 1

Cheers,
Luke

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke,

I'm really sorry to hear that you've decided to leave, I hope all goes well with you new provider

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi,

I've decided to switch providers and will move to Sky broadband. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any insight into the cause of this issue and therefore there are no resolutions in sight. The regular video call dropouts are a significant impact on work and I'm not prepared to spend any longer waiting to stumble into a solution. Thanks all the same for the help you've given so far.

Based on conversations so far, it seems the line is clear and there is either an issue with the router (whether inherently or via interference) or with the operation of the line connection through talktalk protocols. The simplest resolution to both of these is to try a different provider. 

To others experiencing similar issues (I know a few were tracking this thread), apologies no resolution has been found. If I experience the same issue with another provider, I will update this post. If I don't post an update, assume that this was the solution!

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Yes could you give it a try please and let us know how you get on

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Chris,

This has been done in the past without fix - in particular when I swapped to a new router. Happy to try it again if you think it might make a difference.

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke,

Have you tried switching the router off for 30 minutes, if not then can you give this a try

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Chris,

No luck. The log screenshots posted below were from after Debbie turned off wifi optimisation (though tbf I've not noticed that secondary issue pop up since).

In addition, another from today:

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke

How has it been over the weekend, does switching wifi optimisation off seem to have helped?

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Debbie,

Yes, now should be fine. Internet is currently working though (drops are intermittent as in the logs below), so not sure what you'll find.

cheers,
Luke

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke

Can I run a line test now? (just checking as you mentioned work calls and I don't want to drop your connection)

[Luket92]

Hi Debbie. 

Yes, thanks for turning off Wifi optimisation. 

I don't have any wired devices connected, so I can't really comment.

Cheers,
Luke

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke

Can I just check, are wired devices also dropping connection?

Did you see my Private Message I sent yesterday?

[Luket92]

More dropouts. Getting kicked off of a work call just as its starts really isn't very good.

[Debbie-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke

I'm just sending you a Private Message.

Thanks

Debbie

[Luket92]

Can't say I'm afraid. As you can see by the timestamps, it's long enough to boot me off a call but by the time that presents itself I don't have time to get to the router to inspect it

Cheers,
Luke

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke,

Thanks for the information. Did you notice if the light changed on the router at the same time?

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Chris,

I had the following disconnects last night.

Date/Time Severity Module Message

22.04.2024 20:56:20	Info	WIFI	Device <78:11:DC:68:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:20	Info	WIFI	Device <8C:CE:4E:C0:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:20	Info	WIFI	Device <34:3E:A4:1C:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:19	Info	WIFI	WiFi security settings have been successfully saved
22.04.2024 20:56:15	Info	WIFI	A WiFi device <68:DB:F5:ED:x> has successfully connected to SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_VIDEO_5G])
22.04.2024 20:56:14	Info	WIFI	A WiFi device <78:11:DC:68:x> has successfully connected to SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:13	Info	WIFI	WiFi security settings have been successfully saved
22.04.2024 20:56:12	Info	WIFI	Device <AC:84:C6:59:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:12	Info	WIFI	Device <8E:FE:9D:86:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:12	Info	WIFI	Device <78:11:DC:68:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:12	Info	WIFI	Device <E8:D5:2B:0E:x> was disconnected on SSID (Device/WiFi/SSIDs/SSID[WL_PRIV])
22.04.2024 20:56:11	Info	WIFI	WiFi security settings have been successfully saved

Cheers,
Luke

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke,

Have you noticed any disconnections today, I can't see anything showing in the logs?

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Chris,

The short answer is I'm not sure. 

As per the router log in the main post , I was definitely getting full connection drops in the beginning. However, after a new router and after unplugging a few of my cheap smart bulbs (on the basis that they're cheap devices and therefore the most likely culprits for throwing out electrical interference or disruptions to the network), I'm now spotting a different error in my logs during the connection dropout times, as given in the previous reply. 

This more recent error type appears to be more of a wireless connection issue. It's possible I've been having two different errors and after solving the first, the second is now clearer.

I don't used wired connection for any devices because the router isn't in a convenient place in the house to do so, so it's hard to test that long term.


Cheers,
Luke

[Chris-TalkTalk]

Hi Luke,

So the Internet connection isn't dropping, it's just the wireless connection to your devices?

Chris

[Luket92]

Hi Chris,

I've left this going for a short while and have been watching the router logs like a hawk to try and figure out what's going on.

Best I can see, I'm getting a 'Wifi security settings have been successfully saved' log entry which in turn kicks several wifi devices off the router for a 5-10 second period, and they then reconnect.

After some further searching around this form, customers have seen positive results from having the 'WiFi optimisation' switched off by TalkTalk. I assume this is an auto channel switching service (not sure why that wouldn't be a user-facing setting though). 

Would be possible for you to turn my 'WiFi optimisation' off and I can continue to track the connection status and see if that improves things?

Many thanks in advance, 

Luke