Why Does My Xfinity Cable Keep Cutting Out?

Xfinity Internet is the largest cable internet service provider in the United States, with over 31 million customers. With that many people connected to the Xfinity Network, there are bound to be occasional hiccups and problems, such as the cable cutting out. So why does the Xfinity cable keep cutting out?

The Xfinity cable could keep cutting out for several reasons, including old or damaged equipment or the cable box needing a refresh. The problem could also be on the broadcaster’s end and not your equipment.

Your cable television troubles will be fixed by a simple power cycle of your modem and router. A power cycle will force your devices to restart. It’s also possible you have an intermittent WiFi connection or bad cables. To troubleshoot these problems, you should attempt some fixes below.

Why Does My Xfinity Cable Keep Cutting Out?

Finding yourself with intermittent internet can be frustrating. The internet has become a basic utility in this modern era of ever-increasing internet-connected devices. Below is a list of troubleshooting fixes that will solve most people’s problems. If they don’t solve your problem, they will at least help you narrow it down so you know what to fix.

• Check for Bad Equipment
• Check your WiFi Connection
• Power cycle your modem and router
• Check for Bad Cables
• Poor Broadcast Signal quality
• Too Many Devices on the network

These simple troubleshooting steps and fixes aren’t difficult, even for someone who feels they are technologically illiterate—simple steps to solve your internet cutting-out problem and get you back online as fast as possible.

Check for Bad Equipment

It’s possible that your modem or router is failing or broken, but it is more likely that there is just a simple bug gumming up the works. Even the best internet equipment has this problem now and again. The easiest fix is to turn it off and on again. This is accomplished with a simple power cycle that forces your device to restart.

Power Cycle Your Router and Modem

Power cycling your router and modem is just another way of saying turn the power off, wait a few minutes and turn them back on in a specific order. A simple power cycle will solve most of your internet problems.

1. Unplug the power from your modem and router
2. Wait 5 minutes
3. Plug the power back into your modem
4. Wait 5 minutes or until all the lights on the modem are steady and green – this will depend on your specific model of modem.
5. Plug the power back into your router
6. Wait 5 minutes, or until all the lights on your router are steady
7. Test your internet connection

If you only have one device and can’t tell if it is a router or modem, it is likely a router-modem combination. In that case, just unplug the one device, wait 5 minutes, then plug it back in. Then you can test your internet connection.

Poor WiFi Connection

If you are connecting the device with the internet cutting out via WiFi, you may have a poor wireless connection. You may be experiencing interference. You can try to move your router to a better location for better results. 

Move Your WiFi Router to an Ideal Location

• The higher up your router is, the better the signal can spread
• Avoid interference-inducing obstacles like large appliances, concrete walls, or large metal panels
• The more centrally located your router is, the better coverage you will get in your home

While you’re checking the internet, see if all of the channels are working correctly, or it’s just a few.

Check for Bad Cables

Check your cables to ensure they aren’t corroded, rusty, or frayed. It’s also important to make sure that your cables aren’t loose. After your power cycle, check all the connections and ensure they are tight and snug where they belong.

You should also check to make sure none of the cables are damaged in any way. Also, check to ensure there are no 90-degree bends in the cable. Any knots or 90-degree turns can damage cables internally, and the damage won’t be visible to the naked eye.

Bad Broadcast Signal

If you are experiencing your cable cutting out on your television and it is only happening on some channels and not others, your local internet and equipment may be fine. You may be experiencing a bad broadcast signal that can’t be fixed on your end.

Too Many Connected Devices

If you have multiple family members or roommates connecting to the same device with multiple devices and everyone is streaming video, you could experience intermittent internet. What’s happening is there are so many devices on the network you are using all of the available bandwidth. 

Try disconnecting most devices and just connect a few to see if that solves your problem. If it does, you may need to upgrade your internet service plan to a higher speed or leave most of the unnecessary devices disconnected from your router.

Conclusion

Most problems with intermittent internet can be solved with a simple power cycle force restart. If not, there are many other possibilities it could be. If you attempt all of these fixes, you will solve all but the most heinous problems.