Is your Motorola cable modem blinking orange light and giving you a headache?
We have the solution you’re looking for!
It’s safe to assume that you’re getting no internet connection. It’s spotty and intermittent at best if ever it does reconnect.
Whenever you see your modem flashing its orange LED indicator, it means that your modem is attempting a connection, but it can’t complete it.
To fix your Motorola cable modem blinking orange light problem, you will need to make sure that the cables are tight and secure. Flushing the DNS cache can also help reset the connection between your modem and ISP. Finally, you can enable DHCP on your modem, so it requests a new IP address from your provider.
Now that you have a better understanding of your modem’s flashing orange light issue let’s look at the different causes before attempting to fix it.
Why Motorola Modem Flashing Orange
There are several reasons why you would be experiencing this error. We recommend looking at your physical connections, such as cables and ports.
There may be a service outage, and your modem simply can’t complete the link to the internet through your provider.
Here are some of the problems that could have occurred with your modem and network:
1. Loose Or Broken Cables
Sometimes, cables that barely connect to the ports can cause this particular problem. You won’t get a total disconnection, but it’s not enough to offer you a decent link to the internet.
2. Damaged Ports
Depending on the extent of the damage to your modem’s ports, it can cause connectivity issues such as this.
3. IP Address Glitch
It could be your DHCP or DNS server, but both would be caused by software bugs and glitches on your modem.
4. No Connection
A service outage or physical damage to the external connection outside your home can cause this problem.
These are the main culprits to watch out for whenever you see the blinking orange light on your modem.
We can now proceed to the troubleshooting steps so you can resolve this issue as quickly as possible!
How to Fix Motorola Cable Modem Blinking Orange Light
Before we go ahead with the rest of the troubleshooting steps, we recommend that you check your internet provider if there’s a network outage.
If there’s none, restart your Motorola modem first to fix any temporary issues to save you time.
In case a restart does not resolve the blinking orange light issue, you can proceed to the rest of these fixes:
Solution #1: Check the Cables and Reconnect Them
As mentioned earlier, loose cables and faulty ports are common causes of this error.
In case you suspect these as a culprit, you want to check your cables and make sure they’re connected to the ports properly.
Here’s how to check the network cables on your modem:
- Loosen the coaxial cable on your modem.
- Loosen the other end of your coaxial cable.
- Check for dirt, dust, or damage.
- Insert the cable back and tighten them.
Note: Do not overtighten the nut on your coaxial cables, as it can damage it. It should only be finger-tight.
Solution #2: Power Cycle Your Modem and other Network Devices
If reseating and tightening the cables does not work out, the cause is not due to your network connections.
At this point, you want to make sure that all your networking devices are working properly.
You want to eliminate bugs or glitches by performing a full power cycle of all your devices.
Here’s how to power cycle your network devices:
- Turn your modem OFF and unplug it from the outlet.
- Turn OFF your routers, mesh, WiFi extenders, and other devices.
- Unplug them from the wall outlet.
- Wait for at least 2 to 5 minutes before plugging them back in.
- Turn your modem ON first, then the rest of your devices.
Tip: You want to make sure that your modem gets a signal from your internet provider before turning on your other networking devices.
Solution #3: Flush the DNS Cache of Your Modem
Flushing the DNS cache can do wonders for your network. It’s not going to be the first thing you want to do, but if you’re stuck, it’s an important troubleshooting step.
Your DNS cache is usually stored in your modem’s memory, and you can remove it easily.
Whenever you feel stuck and your network suffers from connectivity errors, flush the DNS cache and see if it makes a difference.
Here’s how to flush the DNS cache of your network:
- Press the Win button + R and type cmd to open Command Prompt.
- Type in ipconfig /release, then press Enter.
- Typeipconfig /renew, then Enter.
- Typeipconfig /flushdns, then Enter.
- A confirmation message should appear.
Tip: You can type in the flushdns command a couple more times if it doesn’t work out right away.
Solution #4: Enable DHCP on Your Modem
One of the reasons the blinking orange light error occurs on your Motorola cable modem is that it’s having difficulty completing the connection.
It could be an IP address error that you can easily resolve by enabling DHCP on your modem.
Here’s how to enable DHCP:
- Login to your Motorola modem’s dashboard.
- Go to Network or Settings.
- Look for the DHCP configuration.
- Switch it ON.
- Save your changes.
Note: Your Motorola modem’s default username is admin. The default password is motorola.
Solution #5: Reset Your Modem to Factory Settings
Resetting your Motorola modem to factory settings can do a lot of wonders for your device and network. It can fix many problems, especially the flashing orange light type.
As long as it’s not a service outage or a connectivity issue, resetting your modem can resolve it.
It’s an excellent way to restore your default admin dashboard credentials if you’ve changed and forgotten them.
It’s also a way to automatically update your modem’s firmware as it can connect with your ISP and download the files. It also clears up your modem’s network and DNS cache, which fixes many issues.
Here’s how to reset your Motorola modem to factory settings:
- Disconnect the coaxial cable from your modem.
- Find the Reset button at the back of the modem.
- Use a pin or a paper clip to push the Reset button.
- Push and hold for at least 25 seconds.
- Wait for your modem to restart and reconnect.
Tip: After performing a factory reset, you must reconfigure your modem.
If none of these steps help you resolve the blinking orange light, there can be hardware issues with your router.
You can contact Motorola customer support for more technical assistance. Your modem might need repairs or replacement, and they will be able to arrange that for you.
Read Next: How to Change Motorola Router DNS Settings?
Bottom Line
Now that you know why your Motorola cable modem blinking orange light and the steps to resolve it, you can start fixing it yourself.
It may sound difficult since you’re dealing with modems and other network devices, but the steps are easy. Follow our steps and get your modem working again.
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.