If you have had difficulty maintaining a steady internet connection, despite your network being up and running, then you are likely experiencing an issue stemming from your router.
For those utilizing a Spectrum product, this can be a difficult and expensive problem – especially for those using the monthly payment method for a router that doesn’t currently work.
If you are having issues connecting to your network through your Spectrum router then you are in luck – we are going to go over every possible reason for this in as much detail as you need to smoothly surf the internet once again.
To keep consumers better equipped to deal with minor to major issues that may stem from their Spectrum device, we are going to take a look at why the lights blink, what it means, and how to conclusively fix the issue.
What Do the Router Lights Mean?
These often annoying lights offer invaluable information about what is going on with your router. By recognizing each individual color and flashing pattern we can alleviate most issues that our Spectrum router will have over its life cycle.
Static Blue Light – This is what you are looking for. If the router is emitting a solid, unchanging blue light then you have a solid working internet connection. Below when we offer fixes, this is how you know whether or not they have correctly worked.
Blinking Blue Light – Sound familiar? The blinking blue light informs the owner that the router is attempting to access the internet. Sadly for the folks reading this article, it offers little in the way of solutions to this pesky issue. This is usually a temporary state, though if it fails to form a stable connection it can remain blinking indefinitely.
Blue/Red Light – This alternating pair of colors are there to inform you that the Spectrum router is currently updating its firmware. While this process is taking place you should be careful not to interrupt it, or risk lasting damage to your product.
Red Light – All technophiles are uncomfortably familiar with the feeling of panic that trickles down your spine whenever an unfamiliar red light appears on a device. That instinctual terror is not unfounded – the router has a serious problem that needs fixing by a professional.
Blinking Red Light – If the red light is blinking then your router has an issue that is preventing it from connecting to the internet. A number of solutions below can actually alleviate this issue, though if other lights are lit up it could be a sign that your ISP is experiencing some technical issues or even an outage.
Solutions for Your Spectrum Router
The goal of articles like this is to get your product running in as little time as possible while also being thorough to ensure that you get every solution to the most minor of reasons for your blinking blue light.
Because of this, I will be going through the list with the simplest and most wide-reaching solutions and then work my way down to more niche, unique fixes.
And remember that a blinking blue light isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
If your router is in the process of starting up or connecting, the blinking blue light will soon turn into a solid blue light. And this indicates that the device is running properly!
On the other hand, if your Spectrum router continues to blink blue without ever turning to a solid blue, there is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Powercycle the Router
A hundred years from now I imagine the famous power cycle fix will still be alive and well. To make a simple solution even simpler, the easiest fix is often the most obvious and sometimes all a router needs is a fresh reboot.
To be thorough, switch the router off and make sure all cables are removed to get a truly fresh reboot. Give it about a minute before powering on, then go ahead and reattach the wires and power the router back on.
You will know this fix worked if the blinking blue light has changed to a solid blue light. If not, we are going to move to the next solution and reset the network.
Reset The Network
This is a time-consuming process compared to the other solutions. But to be straightforward – this is likely the solution that will fix your blinking light problem above anything else.
It will take a few minutes of patience but the steps themselves are very simple.
- Take out the power cables from the modem and router, then unplug any connecting wires.
- If your modem comes included with a battery or mobile power source, take it out. If not, continue to step 3.
- Allow 3 minutes to pass by.
- Reconnect your modem to an electrical outlet or power source.
- Allow another 3 minutes to pass by.
- You can now reconnect your router as well.
- For the final time – I promise – allow 3 minutes to pass.
- If this was the issue with your router, it will now shine an unchanging blue.
For the majority of folks, this is likely the fly in your technological ointment. If it isn’t, then we have a few more fixes we can take a look at to get your Spectrum Router back to working order.
Check The Integrity of Connecting Wires
While this is usually not the solution for most folks experiencing the blinking blue light issue, it is likely more common than most of us realize.
The cables, wires, and various interconnecting pieces of technology are typically more flimsy than anyone would care to think about. This can result in gradual degradation over time and use with cables failing to form solid connections with the outlets they are supposed to.
The usual suspects are going to be your Ethernet and coaxial cable.
For Ethernet cables, the satisfying snap sound you hear when inserting it may start to sound less and less convincing. The issue with this is that the “snap pin” of your ethernet plug is becoming more malleable, making it difficult to keep a connection secure and stable. To make sure both are working, check that each plug is snug on either end (The Ethernet port and the WAN port).
Finally, let’s take a look at your coaxial cable. The coaxial cable is that thicker cable with a cylinder-shaped metal end that you tighten by rotating. The biggest issue you will encounter with the coaxial cable is the internal pin found inside the metal shield at the end. If it isn’t straight then you are going to have issues maintaining a strong connection. Equally important is making sure there isn’t any observable disfigurement to the wire.
Depending on how far gone the wire is, it may be more appropriate to simply purchase a replacement ethernet or coaxial cable. If this problem is already happening, it will likely persist for the lifespan of the damaged cable.
As usual, check for a solid blue light to ensure that the problem is resolved.
Turn off Your Antivirus
Antivirus software is obviously very important — no one wants to fall victim to the next BonziBuddy, and malware plagues most corners of the internet.
Regrettably, when you employ a digital bodyguard sometimes, the antivirus software can get a bit overzealous and keep a pretty limited list of things it allows. One of these might even be your router and its ability to connect to the internet.
To find out if this issue hits home for you, pull up your Antivirus software and temporarily disable it. During this time, I strongly recommend avoiding any popups that promise a cash reward (and really, just avoid the internet altogether).
As with most of these solutions, this is the time where I tell you to take a few minutes to allow the router to form a connection.
Give it about five minutes and if you don’t see a change in the blinking blue light, you can comfortably eliminate your Antivirus from the list of culprits.
Check for Local Outages
Before you start throwing four-letter words at your router due to its inability to perform its job to your satisfaction – check your internet service provider’s website to see if there are any outages in your area. There are a number of third-party websites that can accomplish this as well if you employ an ISP with a rudimentary website.
If you find that several people are suffering a local internet outage then you may have to wait for your internet service provider to resolve the issue themselves. It can also be beneficial to inform them of the outage as it’s possible that they are completely unaware.
The biggest problem with this issue is that the solution is entirely out of your hands and you will have to wait for your ISP to restore working internet to your area. But the advantage is that you won’t spend hours troubleshooting an issue that can’t possibly be solved by you.
Reach out to Your Internet Service Provider
What’s better than calling your internet service provider to discuss problems you are having with your router? Almost everything, but unfortunately at this point we are out of all practical solutions to your issue.
If you have tried every previous solution and still are experiencing that dreaded blinking blue light then it is time to get an expert to come out and take a look or request a replacement.
This is especially important if you are paying a monthly fee for your router. The product should absolutely work for you to justify your monthly payments. Let them know the issue you are having, and the solutions you have tried then see what they have to say.
This is never the desired outcome, but sometimes we have to bite the bullet and reach out to the ISP.
Final Thoughts
Technology has been made with the convenience of use for each product in mind. Unfortunately, this does not always mean that these products are as simple as advertisements would lead you to believe.
As far as routers are concerned, sometimes they can be unbelievably reliable for years and other times they can be the constant cause of stress headaches.
With the information provided in this article, you can stop the dull ache in your temples and get your internet back to working order.
