Accessing the internet is made possible through a vast array of connectivity devices. Arris is a popular telecom company that supplies some of these devices, including modems and routers.
The lights on Arris modems and routers convey the status of your internet connection. They can blink or change colors depending on certain issues with connectivity and understanding what these lights mean can help you troubleshoot any potential problems.
Table of Contents
Arris Modem Lights Meaning
Though it can vary by the specific model, most Arris modems have between 4 to 9 lights on their display, each with a different meaning.
Power
As expected, the power light simply indicates that there is power being supplied to your modem. A solid green light means that the power is sufficient and the modem is powered on completely. In other words, a solid green light indicates that your Arris modem or router is turned on.
Receive
Sometimes labeled “DS” for “Download Stream”.
This light indicates that your modem is properly downloading data packets (bits of information) from the internet and the signal is being received. If you have more than one bandwidth, such as 2.4GHz and the more high-speed 5GHz, it can change colors.
A blue light indicates connection to both high-speed 5GHz and regular 2.4GHz, while a green light status indicates connection to 2.4GHz only.
Send
Sometimes labeled “US” for “Upload Stream”.
Instead of the download stream, the “send” light indicates your upload stream is working and that you are properly sending a signal out from your connection.
Online
When this light is solid green, it means that your modem has completed its startup process, is fully connected to the internet, and is ready to be used.
2.4GHz / 5GHz Light (Only on Dual Band Models)
These additional lights come on some models and just indicate which channel is currently being used.
Link (Only on Some Models)
This light will blink rapidly when data is being transferred (either uploaded or downloaded) via your connection.
Phone/Line (Only on Some Models)
If you have a phone connected to your router, this light will indicate if it is currently operational. Some models have a “Line 1 / Line2” light as well.
Arris Modem Troubleshooting
By seeing which light is acting up, it can help you determine possible issues in your internet connection.
Power Light Solid Red
The modem is unable to fully power up. This could be due to a faulty power adapter, a loose power connector or simply some other internal hardware issue.
The easiest solution to try would be to simply unplug the power cord of the device from the wall outlet. Leave it like that for around a minute, and then replug it.
Unfortunately, if this doesn’t fix the problem, it might not be something you can fix easily at home. So even if it doesn’t get fixed after a restart or even a hard reset, you’ll be forced to get the device serviced by authorized technicians.
Power Light Flashing Green
Your modem is still in the bootup process, just be patient! If it continues to blink for longer than five minutes, unplug your modem and try powering it up again.
Receive Light Blinking
If you have a dual-band connection (both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands) and your receive light is continuously blinking only green, it means only one of your channels is currently operational. If you’re expecting more download and upload speeds and not getting it, it could be because only the 2.4GHz channel is active.
Usually, double-checking all your connections and then restarting your modem should fix this. Otherwise, head into the admin settings and check if one of the two bands has been accidentally disabled in the settings.
Send Light Blinking
Again, if you have dual-band internet and you see the send light blinking only green, that means upload is operational only on one channel, which may be the cause for a slow connection if you’re expecting to use 5GHz WiFi.
The 2.4 GHz band is designed to reliably support speeds upwards of 100 Mbps, but since it’s the most common wireless band, it can suffer from interference in areas with wireless network congestion (too many devices emitting signal in the same 2.4 GHz frequency). So, if you have an ultra-high-speed internet connection (150+ Mbps), you should always stick to the 5 GHz band.
Double-check all of your connections and reboot your modem or router, and if not solved, check your wireless settings.
Online Light Blinking
If the online light is blinking green, that means your modem is trying to register your connection. If it is blinking yellow or staying a solid red color, it means it was unsuccessful in establishing your connection.
This problem will require you to call your internet service provider. In some cases, this occurs due to a MAC address mismatch. You need to ask your ISP why this is happening and whether your device’s MAC address is properly being registered.
Any Other Lights
As mentioned before, your “link” light will blink frequently as you send and receive data, so this is not a cause for concern. If it becomes a solid yellow or orange color, it means your connection is very slow, so double-check all of your connections.
If the “phone” or “2.4GHz/5GHz” lights are off, it means there are no devices connected to your modem. Check all cables going to the modem and check your phone or computer’s Wi-Fi settings to be sure you are connected to the right one.
Arris Router Lights Meaning
Although a modem provides you with your main source of connection with the internet, a router allows each of your connected devices to communicate with both the internet and each other seamlessly without any conflict.
These days, a single device can act as both the modem and the router, and you may hear these terms being used interchangeably but the truth is, they are different in terms of functionality.
Your router should have the same series of lights as your modem with the exception of a link light on a modem being replaced with a WAN light on a router. The WAN light indicates that an ethernet (with the internet connection) has been plugged into the port.
Routers also have LAN lights which show that your router is correctly connected to your wired devices (such as desktop computers and TVs). If these lights are not lit up, most likely your connected devices are currently powered off.
General Troubleshooting Tips
No matter which light is giving your problems, there are always some important troubleshooting steps you can take when trying to determine why your internet is working the way it should.
Always Check All Connections
Coaxial cables, USB, and Ethernet cables should be firmly attached to the back of any device.
Remove or Replace Splitters
Using splitters is common, especially if there are multiple wired devices being connected to your modem and router. If there is only one device having connectivity issues while all others are working fine and that device is on a splitter, it may need to be plugged in directly.
Try to reduce the need for splitters by utilizing Wi-Fi as much as possible, especially with devices that are in close proximity to your modem and router.
Soft Reset
A soft reset means restarting your Arris modem or router by unplugging it, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it back in. Do a soft reset after you’ve double-checked your connection cables (such as your ethernet cables).
Hard Reset
Though it is not recommended to do a hard reset for every connectivity issue, in some instances it may be necessary and should only be done if your service provider gives you the okay.
You will essentially be giving your Arris device a factory reset and it will erase all saved connection data, including your Wi-Fi name, passwords, and recognized devices. A hard reset is done by depressing the tiny “reset” button on the back of the device using a paperclip.
You shouldn’t use something too sharp to reach the reset button to prevent damage. Also avoid applying too much force.
Note: Don’t try this if you’re not sure about what you’re doing. Since it’ll reset basically every single bit of settings (including WAN settings specific to your ISP, like your IP address, gateway and DNS settings), it’ll be like you just bought a new modem/router.
If it wasn’t you who set it up after you bought it, it’s never a good idea to perform a hard reset on it.
Check for Outages
While the lights can help you diagnose the problem with your internet, there are only so many things you, the consumer, can fix.
If you’ve double-checked all your connections and there’s still no obvious reason behind your connectivity problems, contact your internet service provider or cable company to check for outages in your area. They can also check the status of your router and modem to determine if either needs to be replaced.
If the power light stays solid red, it’s either the modem/router or the power adapter/cable that has gone bad and needs fixing/replacing.
Final Thoughts
Problems with internet connection are fairly common and can be fixed quickly. Securing a connection in your own home is easy to do by checking all of your cables and paying attention to the indicator lights on your devices.
Complex or widespread connection issues are frustrating, so do be deterred from calling your internet service company to help you fix the issue.
There are 5 indicator lights on my NVG433B modem. All are lit except the 4th from the top. It was lit when first installed. Don’t know what that means.