Though not exactly at the top run of internet service providers in the US, Mediacom do have quite a few strengths that are worth taking note of. Of these, the one that attracts the most customers is their very affordable rates.
However, it takes more than just a brand being inexpensive for them to take off. Mediacom are no different in this regard and also provide in the key aspects of features, services, and overall convenience. They also are quite adept at making sure that everything is set up perfectly first time – great for peace of mind.
All that being said, we do realise that you wouldn’t exactly be here reading this if everything was working as it should be. Though we would rate their equipment as being excellent quality for the price, there is the occasional issue that can crop up here and there.
Having trawled through the boards and forums, it seems to us as though quite a few of you are having the exact same issue with your Mediacom modems. Of course, we are talking about the one wherein the online light will just keep blinking.
To get to the bottom of it, we decided to figure out what it means, what was causing it, and what could be done to fix it. The following guide is the result of that.
Mediacom Modem Online Light Blinking: What Does It Mean?
To get to the meaning of the issue, we will first need to explain quickly how the connectivity process works – or at least, how it should work. When your Mediacom modem is trying to establish a connection to the internet, it will begin flashing.
The thing is, this light is meant to turn solid after a time to indicate that it has managed to connect. If it is the case that it just can’t manage to establish a connection after repeated attempts, the light will turn a solid red – which is really bad news.
So, as it stands, the flashing light that you are currently getting is far from being the worst case scenario. That being said, it would still be a good idea to fix it as quickly as possible.
Let’s get stuck into a few easy fixes for you. While we are here, we should note that none of these fixes will require you to have a high level of technical skill. It is super easy stuff and we won’t be asking you to take anything apart or to do anything that could risk damaging your equipment.
- Try Restarting the Modem
The most common reason for the flashing light issue is that the modem will have just gotten stuck in an infinite loop. These can be caused by minor bugs and glitches creeping their way into the system over time.
Luckily, these things are generally quite easy to repair from the comfort of your own home. In fact, a simple restart will normally take care of it. If you haven’t restarted the modem before, we will run you through how to do it in the next paragraph.
The first thing you need to do is to press down and hold in the power button on your Mediacom modem for at least 5 seconds. Basically, just don’t let go until you see all of the lights on the modem have turned off. This will mean that the modem is at rest.
So, all you need to do from here is let it sit that way for a few minutes – we will say 5, for safety – and then just switch it on again using the power button after that time has elapsed. As soon as the Mediacom modem has powered up again, the chances are pretty good that the modem will start working as it should again.
- Check your Cables and Connections
When issues like these crop up, we can be all too quick to blame the biggest and most expensive part of the set up first, when it may not be the case at all. This is why we would now recommend that you make sure that everything is set up as perfectly as can be.
The first thing we would recommend doing here is to check that all of your cables are connected as tightly as can possibly be. If they are even a slight bit loose, this could be what is causing the signal to not be received into the modem, causing the flashing light.
To check the connections, just unplug everything and then make sure there isn’t too much gunk or dust in the connectors themselves. After that, you can proceed to reconnect them again as tightly as you can.
While we are checking connectors, we should also give a little bit of attention to the condition of the cables themselves. Basically, all you need to do here is check for any obvious and clear signs of damage.
What you should be looking for are any frayed edges or exposed innards. Should you notice anything like this, the only thing to do is replace the offending cable before trying the system again. Once all of that has been taken care of, the modem stands a far better chance of working.
- Get in touch with Mediacom
If you haven’t had any luck from the above steps, we are afraid that the prognosis isn’t likely to be all that good.
At this rate, the only logical course of action would be to get in touch with Mediacom customer support rather than trying anything yourself that could risk damaging your equipment – unless, of course, you happen to be well-versed in these kinds of things.
In the best case scenario, it could just be that there is a small service outage on their end. If this proves correct, they will already be working on it and will be able to give you an estimated time for when the issue will be fixed.
If this isn’t the case, your best bet is to just explain the steps you have already taken in order to fix the problem. That way, they can narrow down the probable cause of the issue and advise you on the next course of action – replacement, or repair.