At this stage, Optimum are hardly a brand that need much of an introduction. They’ve managed to hit a level of popularity that has seen them develop into a household name. For us, these things don’t happen by accident.
It takes more than just a decent marketing tactic for a brand to secure a large share of the market – you need to back it up with quality. But though Optimum are no doubt a quality brand, there is still always going to be the potential for the occasional issue to crop up. Unfortunately, that’s just the way tech works.
In recent times, the issue that seems to be causing Optimum users the most headaches is an issue wherein the DS light on the modem will just keep blinking. Now, the thing to note about this issue is that Optimum actually source their modems from quite a few different providers.
So, this will mean that they may look a little bit different on the outside, but they will all work in pretty much the same way. We will just have to try and explain the fixes we have here in a more generalised style than we normally would.
Better yet, we won’t have to go through any really complicated fixes here as the issue is normally quite easy to resolve. So that means no playing around with complicated settings menus, or having to tinker with optimisations or new installations.
So, there’s no real pressure on you here to be in any way ‘techy’. With that being said, let’s get stuck into it.
Optimum Modem DS Light Blinking: What Does it Mean?
As we always do before diagnosing these sorts of problems, we like to explain what the cause of the issue is before we fix it. That way, if the same problem crops up again (which it most likely will), you will understand exactly what is happening and be able to deal with it a lot quicker and better.
So, the DS light on your modem’s purpose is to indicate the network connectivity status of the modem. The system of lights each have a clear meaning, letting you know exactly what is up at any time.
Should the light be a stable and solid green, this will tell you that the modem has a stable connection to the network it is running off and that your internet connection will most likely be just fine.
On the other hand, if it begins to blink or flash, this will mean that there is some sort of problem with the line and that your modem is trying, but struggling, to establish a connection with your network.
If the light keeps flashing, this essentially means that you will need to take some action as if the issue persists, it is unlikely to resolve itself. Let’s get into a few steps you can take to get rid of the flashing light and restore your internet connection.
- Give the Modem a Restart
Let’s kick things off with the most basic fix out there. However, don’t let the simplicity of this tip fool you – it is widely known to be massively effective for fixing simple issues such as these. The reason for this is that, when you hit restart on the modem, it will effectively power cycle every single element within the device.
This allows everything to have a fresh start again and gives it a better chance of working. It is also a pretty nifty way of clearing out any bugs or glitches that may be causing the connectivity issue. So, before we get into any of the more in-depth diagnoses, let’s rule this fix out first.
- Make sure your Cables and Connectors are good
The next thing to try here is nothing to do with the modem itself – but rather making sure that everything needed to make it work is in place. Though often totally forgotten about in the grander scheme of things, your modem doesn’t stand a chance if your cables and connectors aren’t holding up their end of the bargain.
If your cables are loose in their connections, they won’t stand a chance of transmitting the signals they need to to get the system as a whole to work.
To this end, the fist thing we would recommend doing is making sure that each cable is connected as tightly as it possibly can be. Once that is done, we will then need to check the cables for any obvious signs of wear and tear.
So, all you need to do here is have a look along the length of each and every cable, making sure that everything looks okay. The biggest tell-tale signs of damage are frayed edges and exposed innards. So, should you notice anything that doesn’t quite look right, we would recommend that you replace the offending item immediately.
Though it may be tempting to try and repair it instead, there isn’t much cause to do so in this case. Seeing as new ones can be picked up reasonably cheaply (even those by reputable brands), just go for a new one.
It may also be worthwhile having a look into the connectors while you are here. If there happens to be large build-ups of dirt and dust in them, this can prevent them from putting across a signal.
On top of that, if there is any sign of corrosion on those metal connectors, this could also be what is causing the issue. Though pretty rare, cases such as these do happen from time to time. Again, the solution is to have the offending item replaced.
- Get in touch with Optimum
Unfortunately, if none of the above fixes has done anything to remedy the situation for, the chances are pretty good that there is nothing more that can be done from your end. At this point, the most likely cause of the issue is a service outage in your area. Quite often, these will be due to some routine and scheduled maintenance.
In most cases, the company will warn you about these in advance, but it is possible that you missed the memo. So, the first thing to do is ask them if there is an outage.
The service team will be able to verify this for you immediately. Should there be no outage, they can then check for issues remotely and see if it is your main line, the server, or some form of other technology woe.
In either case, we would definitely suggest that you call them at this point to see if there is anything out of whack on their end.