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Setup
FiOS Gigabit Internet package
FiOS G1100 Quantum Gateway
PC: Windows 10 Pro, Aquantia AQC111c 5Gbe network Chip, Intel Wireless-AC 9560 wireless chip --- Intel I219-V network chip (not in use, but have tried.. same result)
Ethernet is connected via 3ft Cat7 cable (yes, overkill) from router to my PC.
Short summary of problem
a) on Ethernet: some sites and some network-reliant programs will fail to load/start when on LAN
b) on WiFi: everything works
Detailed description and troubleshooting
This problem is reproducible. It does not seem to change from day to day, so there are a few sites that I know always give me trouble. Also trying to launch Discord chat app will not work on Ethernet. When a site fails to load, it usually is stuck on a blank page with the status message at the bottom of the browser window reading "establishing secure connection..". There have been one or two cases where the header of a page will load, but the body of the page will not.
I have tried bypassing the router altogether by connecting the cable that runs from "the brain" modem (as the install tech called it) in the basement of my house. By connecting this directly into my PC and bypassing the router, I see that there is no effect. The same behavior applies.
I have also tried disabling the integrated Windows Defender Firewall for both Public and Private, found at Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Defender Firewall\Customize Settings -- this has no effect either
I am not using any other third-party antivirus software
I have tried changing the DNS servers to use Google and OpenDNS. It is clear that DNS is not problem.. the same behavior happens regardless
Within the router settings, in the Firewall heading, set the IPV4 to the lowest possible security, which is "Minimum Security (Low) Inbound Policy: Accept. Outbound Policy: Accept." -- IPV6 is unable to be changed. This has no effect on the problem
Within the router settings at My Network -> Network Connections -> Advanced -> then select "Edit" next to "Broadband Connection (Ethernet/Coax)" -> Settings, I have tried unchecking the box next to "Internet Connection Firewall". This has no effect either
Here is a screenshot of the Network Connections in the router settings, just in case something looks incorrect to you.
Solved! Go to Correct Answer
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Perhaps the driver for the Aquantia needs updating?
I also noticed that on your router settings you're running at 2.4 rather than 5. Is there a reason for that?
I've found Chrome to be almost impossible lately and often find a blank screen. This seems to be the result of Chrome not liking the security settings of the site - or - Chrome's security settings are blocking the page. If you go to the left icon on the url and right click it will bring you to security settings for the page in question. I set them all to "allow", reload the page and it usually works. But I'm getting really tired of Chrome after all these years.
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It may be just an issue with Verizon's default DNS server. Try clicking edit on Broadband Connection (Ethernet/Coax) and go to the drop down for DNS servers and change from obtain automatically to use the following and change the DNS server to say Google's which is 8.8.8.8 and see if that works.
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I noted in my original post that Ive already tried changing the DNS, but does not seem to change anything. Ive tried both the google DNS servers and also OpenDNS servers.
Also I should mention, my situation is somewhat similar to this other thread that was solved last year. However, the difference in my case is that I don't have a global loss of internet, only situation/site-specific. Here is the other thread I found before posting here:
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The device in the basement is a optical network terminal, or ONT.
Try using a CAT5e or CAT6 cable. While a CAT7 cable should be backwards compatible, there could be something in the non-CAT7 equipment that doesn't play well with them. It's an easy test that is worth doing to rule out any cable or port issues.
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I was using a cat5e cable initially (from gateway to PC). The cable the ionstaller tech used to run it from the ONT to the gateway on the first floor, that cable is Cat5E (figured theyd use Cat6 cable for gigabit customers but what do i know)
Also im reluctant to think the issue is cable related, since the connection issues are not global.
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@exploiteddna wrote:I was using a cat5e cable initially (from gateway to PC). The cable the ionstaller tech used to run it from the ONT to the gateway on the first floor, that cable is Cat5E (figured theyd use Cat6 cable for gigabit customers but what do i know)
Also im reluctant to think the issue is cable related, since the connection issues are not global.
Do you have anything else plugged into the LAN ports or another device you can try hardwiring for testing purposes?
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No, nothing else plugged in.
I dont have another device right now that i can plug in for testing purposes. Although I could bring home my laptop from work and give that a test. I was also considering a fresh install of windows (sorta been wanting to do a clean install for a while now, irrespective of this problem).
I'll update this after Ive tested other device and/or reinstalled windows on this PC.
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well, just did a 100% clean install of windows and it didnt take long to realize that the same problem persists. So I'll bring my laptop home from work on Monday and see how that behaves.
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just in case anyone is wondering, one site im able to reliably use for testing is https://biorender.com/ .. this site loads perfectly, but when I try to login, it attempts to bring me to https://app.biorender.com/signin which is when the trouble starts. It's a blank white page with "establishing secure connection" at bottom left in the status box. As soon as I unplug ethernet cable and connect over wifi, poof like maging it loads instantly. I wish I knew more about different sites, certificates, protocols, etc. and maybe I could figure out whats different about the login page.. but i can't. I've tried to run a ping command on the signin page but that fails too. Tried traceroute but i think i need an IP for that, which I don't know. Anyways, I'll update more later. Surely someone out there must know something
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Also one more thing..
I just decided to check out my device in the router settings. I found my PC and selected "View Device Details" (image 1 below)
By selecting "View device details" I was brought to this page here (image 2 below). Does anything look off/wrong here? What is "Bridge" for "Network connection" ??
So then I saw this "Test connectivity" button and decided to give it a go. When I run that test, this is the result (image 3 below)
so ummm.. that result isn't very reassuring
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@exploiteddna wrote:
Also one more thing..
I just decided to check out my device in the router settings. I found my PC and selected "View Device Details" (image 1 below)
By selecting "View device details" I was brought to this page here (image 2 below). Does anything look off/wrong here? What is "Bridge" for "Network connection" ??
So then I saw this "Test connectivity" button and decided to give it a go. When I run that test, this is the result (image 3 below)
so ummm.. that result isn't very reassuring
Are the other devices on the bridge too? Based upon your reply we (us helpers) will from there to figure out what to do next.
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This is the second time writing out this message.. the first one failed to send until i disconnected Ethernet and connected to Wifi.. but, I digress. On with the real message:
So I brought my laptop home from work today. Wouldn't you believe.. when I connect the laptop to Ethernet, app.biorender.com/signin loads immediately. When I attempt the same connection on the desktop, I'm stuck on a blank page with "establishing secure connection.." in the status box at the bottom of the browser window.
So, laptop works fine, desktop does not
Both devices are running Windows 10 Pro (v2004), both recently updated from Windows 1909. Remember, on the desktop, I did a complete new install of Windows this past weekend, wiped and formatted the system drive and did a clean installation, which should have reset any windows defender/firewall settings back to default. The drivers for both of the NICs were reinstalled too.
Remember, the desktop has two ethernet NICs to choose from: Aquantia aqc111c 5gbe, and Intel I219-V. Previous testing showed no difference in their behavior..
One other thing to note, remember that https://app.biorender.com/signin is only being used for testing purposes because it's convenient. But there are plenty of other sites/programs that are failing to connect. I only use this one because it reliably replicates the problem.
So why is it that the desktop, with a clean installtion of system OS and network drivers, fails to connect to certain sites/programs, but the laptop device is (apparently) able to connect without a problem?? It's hard to imagine that windows defender/firewall is the problem, since both devices should have the same firewall settings that are default for this version of windows 10. Is it possible that this is a hardware issue? Why would these NICs be unable to make connection? I need a network guru to help me drill down and figure this out, because im running out of ideas.
Here are screenshots of the network devices for each device.
Desktop:
Laptop:
Any idead, suggestions, troubleshooting tips.. anything at all that could help, i'd be very appreciative... I really need to figure this out.
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UPDATE:
I repeated a test that I had previously run prior to wiping the system drive and reinstalling the OS and drivers. Instead of plugging into the Aquantia AQC111C, I plugged into the Intel I219-V ethernet port. Rebooted the PC, opened the browser (Chrome), proceeded to https://app.biorender.com/signin which has been a reliable way to replicate the problem , and *poof*, just like that it connected without hesitation. I ran this exact test several weeks back and found no difference in behavior between the two ethernet ports/devices.
So, this suggests something is "wrong" with the Aquantia AQC111C (which is supposed to be a "premium" device added to this motherboard to enable "Multi-Gig Ethernet speeds up of 5 GbE and 2.5 GbE")
I wonder what the issue is, and/or why it's unable to make certain connections
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Perhaps the driver for the Aquantia needs updating?
I also noticed that on your router settings you're running at 2.4 rather than 5. Is there a reason for that?
I've found Chrome to be almost impossible lately and often find a blank screen. This seems to be the result of Chrome not liking the security settings of the site - or - Chrome's security settings are blocking the page. If you go to the left icon on the url and right click it will bring you to security settings for the page in question. I set them all to "allow", reload the page and it usually works. But I'm getting really tired of Chrome after all these years.
