I’m renting an apartment in Japan that comes with internet provided. I can turn it on or off by toggling a switch on the wall and there is a port for an ethernet cable.
However, no matter what device I’m using the internet will disconnect every hour without fail. It comes back on it’s own after a few minutes.
I’ve made calls and they’ve come out to change the router which is implanted in the wall and still the problem persists. I’ve been told that I’m the only one in the complex experiencing the issue and I will have to wait a long time for another technician to come out to attempt to fix the problem.
I’ve noticed when I’m on my laptop, the internet will cut out every hour at the exact same time. Nothing seems to fix the problem and it’s coming up to three months now of constant disconnects. It’s making work related meetings, gaming, or anything that requires internet a very frustrating experience.
Is there anything else you can suggest I do to try and get the issue fixed? Or are there any alternatives I can use to connect to the internet reliably at decent speeds?
11 comments
I have a Rakuten Pocket 2c Wifi as a backup connection since I’m working from home. I rarely use this but last week I used this for few days without any issues. I need to keep connected to a zoom call during my work time and I never had any issues. I changed the pocket wifi router sleep to “none”. Rakuten Sim will only cost 2980 for unlimited connection. This is only recommended if you are in a city. I’m in Tokyo and never had any issues with coverage.
https://network.mobile.rakuten.co.jp/product/internet/rakuten-wifi-pocket-2c/
If you need a more reliable connection apply for a Hikari Internet connection. This is an expensive option and if you do not have a VDSL or Fiber connection you’ll need to get approval from the apartment owner to do the construction.
You can go to the below site and confirm if your building is already using one of the NTT internet connection.
https://east.hikari-n.jp/
Check it’s not something with your laptop. Try using your phone or other internet device for 1 hour.
Hard to diagnose but from the top of my head it might be a DHCP issue. Or rather, not an issue but wrong settings. Is your PC set to a static IP address? That would make it try to grab an IP address that your router may have assigned to another device.
> there is a port for an ethernet cable.
Purchase your own wifi router, set it to AP (access point mode), connect it to the ethernet port, disable (if possible) wifi on the in-the-wall “router”, make sure you’re on unused wifi channel, and use your new access point. All those “wall/panel” type “routers” are absolute garbo in signal quality.
Does the wifi signal cut out or the internet? In my apartment, the wifi stays connected at all times, but the internet goes down periodically at the service provider’s end, so my laptop thinks it’s still connected but it’s connected to nothing for about a minute before it comes back.
If it’s the actual wifi signal dropping, you may be able to fix the issue. Otherwise you’ll need to buy and install your own internet (or use a wifi puck). I’ll eventually get around to cancelling my contract and getting a different provider but that’s the only remedy I have considering there’s nothing wrong with the hardware in my apartment.
This sounds like a DHCP lease time fuckup.
Find out your network interface’s DHCP lease time. I bet it’s about 60 minutes.
Fix it in the router’s settings.
If it’s not that, then I haven’t got a clue.
Wild idea, but since you’ve tried the standard fixes, go get an elcheapo craptastico radio clock from the second hand shop. Plug it into the socket with the modem. If the power drops out, the clock will reset.
Had it happen once in a Leopalace place. I had to provide my own wireless router to attach to the Ethernet cable. When I called, a guy came in to change one of the Ethernet cable bits that went through the bathroom ceiling. It was fine after that.
I had kind of the same problem, turned out the cable from the cable box at the top of the apartment building was janky, and needed a new cable adding that I could connect my modem to, It took 3 modems, 2 years for them and some very angry calls from me to figure this out.
I had the EXACT same issue as you in my apartment. Stupid switch on the wall you can turn off and on, wifi (included with the apartment) but kept disconnecting. These are your options going on my experience only.
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First of all, I was never told to actually call the number on the wall and activate it. Once I did that, a new network appeared as an option to connect to. This network is really fast but still randomly disconnects but in your case, just make sure the wifi is actually ‘activated’.
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Another option as you have an ethernet port is to connect what device you need to it and it won’t disconnect, or as you need multiple devices just buy a router and connect to that. Personally I get confused though and don’t understand how it all works if you plug a router into a network that already exists, I don’t understand what happens to the built-in apartment wifi if you plug a router into it and use that network instead.
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What I did that resolved it for me, not ideal but I went to EDON and just signed up to a monthly rental 5g router thing. Plugs straight in, really fast, can connect two ethernet cables, works perfect.
Do you have one of those small crappy Wi-Fi’s that you just put in the wall?
I have the same problem.