On Tue, 15 Dec 2015 18:05:12 -0700 "Jack J. Woehr" <j...@well.com> wrote:
> li...@wrant.com wrote: > > The next suggestion is to check the modem as well and fix it with a couple > > of cents worth of capacitor(s). It is more > > likely the modem is source of the problem, especially if it is running a > > bit hotter than designed t > You're quite sharp. I actually had a brand new one in the closet which I > bought a year ago and forgot about, so I > removed the old one from service and replaced it. > > Thanks for taking time to reply. > That's right! Cool tactic, keep a spare at hand. I have one for the broadband modem at home too. Yet I also replace capacitors and debug hardware problems too so thought it was nice to share mit dem OpenBSD folk a simple approach to save them cash to contribute. Hey, no problem, I'm glad I sent a copy to you anyway. Please understand the sharpness has nothing to do with your message or topic. The original post has not yet reached the mailing list as you can see (happens or other threads too despite passing through spamd is confirmed). Too much to read / figure out so why not discard. This is getting debugged and sorted one way or another, in the meantime, here is a re-post (for the list), Mr.moderator believe me it has value and learning tip as advice: > Mystery solved. The $3 transformer for the DSL modem is dying. If I > unplug it and let it cool off everything works again :) As you describe it, that may be the modem cooling off, instead or in addition to the adaptor. Or an electrolyte capacitor gone dry (in the modem itself). > Off to buy a new $3 transformer :) The next suggestion is to check the modem as well and fix it with a couple of cents worth of capacitor(s). It is more likely the modem is source of the problem, especially if it is running a bit hotter than designed to, resulting in reduced life of temperature sensitive components. The heat may cause it to operate unstable or lock up, but the original problem may be unstable power input as you have found out. But in the modem itself, and not only the adaptor. You'll know this is the case if over the course of its lifetime the device gets to need some time to start operating after plugging it into power socket. With ageing it will completely stop working as power input deteriorates. If the new adaptor does not eventually solve it for you, you may also need to swap the modem too eventually. But before you thrash it, you may want to anyway open the box and inspect the elements around the power input circuitry of the modem board. You may save the device (and some electronic waste pollution, energy and learn something in the process), by replacing the most likely failing component(s). These are dirt cheap and can be found anywhere, if you can't handle this yourself, a kid you know keen in electronics may have some fun trying to revive it and actually succeed with a simple replacement of the power input filtering capacitor(s) in the modem. Again, still have a fresh new modem (hint TP-Link? or any other brand) as the fallback solution, but maybe don't just throw the old one away for recycling, have a go at it or ask somebody you know may be interested in taking a look inside. Same applies to other small electronics devices like table top Ethernet switches, wireless access points, "routers", VoIP devices, you-name-it, cordless phone base stations, external broadband modems, TV set-top boxes, all of these with a life expectancy of less than 3 years by design. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence Thus said I have in use modems I bought more than 20 years ago that still work today without need for any repair but those are a different type of manufacturing process devices and use cases, of course. And still if some device needs repair, it's a capacitor worth less than $1 95% of the time for long term failures. Please excuse the narrative, best of luck and don't forget to have fun.
