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unexplained internet outage cable modem to router to pc

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I had a weird internet outage recently. Everything is working now but don't know why I had the problem in the first place.

My default network is configuration is
cable modem -- router -- pc 1 and pc2​
All ethernet connections, no wifi.

One afternoon, I notice the dynamic ip address assigned to me has changed, with a totally new network prefix. Turns out cable company is in process of splitting my node, though I do not know it at the time.

Shortly after, I lose internet connection on both pc1 and pc2. Do the usual power off/power on, swap cables, etc. No internet until I try
cable modem -- pc1​

Figure it must be a bad router. Swap the router for a backup unit. My default network with backup router works fine for a few hours, then I lose internet connection again on both pc1 and pc2.

Do many permutations of power off/power on. Cable swap. Swap original and backup routers back and forth. Reset routers to factory defaults.

I can always get internet connection on one pc when I have configuration B
cable modem -- either pc1 or pc2​

but pc never connects to internet in configuration A
cable modem -- either main router or backup router -- either pc1 or pc2 or both​

In both A and B, I can bring up the modem status page from my pc. The modem looks ok and connected to the cable provider.

In A, I can bring up the router admin web page and the WAN looks fine, with ip address assigned by cable provider. I use the router ping utility to ping 8.8.8.8. No reply.

I swap between A and B, swap which pc I am using, with and without rebooting. B always works, A never works.

After 24 hours of tinkering with no resolution, I leave my network in configuration A (my default) and try to get through to my cable provider tech support. After an hour or so of waiting, I see the provider has put out a notice saying there is a service disruption in my neighborhood. I hang up and wait for the status to clear, leaving my network in configuration A. A while later, I see everything is working. I took no action on my part, so it is not something fixed in my router or pc.

The next day, I ask the cable tech what would make configuration A fail but B work? DNS? DHCP? The ip address assigned to me? MAC? How to avoid this problem? He confirms my node was split, but there is nothing that should cause such a problem. If B works, A should work as long as router is ok.

Everything has been fine since then, but I'm confused why I had this weird partial outage. Any ideas?
 
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