After a power outage

A power outage turns off everything, and the network devices wake up in a random order when power returns. Sometimes they sort it out, sometimes they get stuck. This page puts them back in the right order.

Steps

1. Wait for stable power

   If the lights are flickering or the neighborhood is still on and off, wait. Several quick restarts can confuse equipment more than one calm start.

2. Check the injector's light

   Find the power injector, where the outdoor cable comes in. If it has no light, test the outlet with a lamp, or check a power strip or surge protector switch.

3. Unplug the router

   If the injector has a light but you still have no internet, pull the router's power plug.

4. Replug the injector's power

   Pull and replace the injector's power plug. Wait for its lights to settle.

5. Plug the router back in

   Then restore the router's power and wait for its internet light to settle.

6. Test a device

   Open a web page. If it works, you are done. Reconnect any smart device that did not rejoin on its own.

7. Call if it stays down

   Call 775-575-9593 or 775-391-5660 and say the outage date and the lights you see.

Nothing works after the power came back. What order do I use?

Start at the outdoor end and work in. The injector powers the outdoor radio, so it goes first. The router comes next, because it asks the connection for an address. The full routine is on restart your equipment. The difference after an outage is that you start by checking the injector's light, because a tripped surge protector is a common reason that nothing returns.

Is the antenna okay?

From inside the house you cannot tell, and from outside you should not try to. Look from the ground for something plain, such as a limb across the cable, without going near it. Never climb, and never touch the radio or its cable. If the injector is lit and the router is lit and you have no connection, the outdoor side may be down or restarting, and a call is the next step.

What if my neighbors lost power longer than I did?

Then the problem may be beyond your house. A tower also needs power. We make no claim about backup power or restoration time. Read the outage page for how to report, and the guide on NV Energy outages and staying online for the utility side.

Can I protect the equipment next time?

A surge protector for the injector and router, or a small battery backup, helps with surges and brief dips. The guide on surges, outages, UPS and generators explains sizes and trade-offs, and the glossary has UPS battery backup and surge protector. We do not publish a model to buy.

Why does the router sometimes show a connection that is not real?

After a restart the router may show its own Wi-Fi as working while the line behind it is still waking up. Devices connect to the router but pages do not load. Give it a few minutes, then restart in order if nothing changes. The restart page, restart your equipment, gives the full sequence.

What if only the router lost its settings?

A router that comes back with its factory Wi-Fi name has reset, and you will need to set it up again; see set up a new router for the order. This is rare after a simple outage, but it follows a hard power loss or a surge on some units. Write your Wi-Fi name and password somewhere safe so you can redo it.

Should I turn things off during a storm?

For lightning, unplugging the router and the injector's power supply protects them from your end, but it does not protect the outdoor equipment, and it does not turn a surge into a non-event. Do not go near the cable or antenna during a storm. A surge protector at the outlet helps. Ask us if you want advice about a battery backup for the injector and router.