Why does the network connection drop for 30 to 60s every hour on my TP link Archer A7?

[AlexVale]

Hi I had been experiencing this very annoying problem on my computer: my Wi-Fi (TP-Link Archer A7, version 3.16.0) is working well either until 45-60 minutes later, when all devices run out of internet connection during 30-60 seconds and thereafter. Usable devices: Dell XPS 13 (Windows 11, latest update); iPhone 12 (iOS 17.4); and Philips Smart TV Wired ethernet is stable. I looked at logs in the router administration page and there is a short record of WAN disconnected followed by no error code at the time of the outage. I have changed the router back to factory settings, switched the channel off of Auto to 6, and switched off Smart Connect (2.4/5 GHz split) but it still does it. Airtel fiber is ISP, ONT displays online. What to check next could it be DHCP lease, ISP DHCP flaps or malfunctioning Archer A7 hardware?

 

[SarahWren]

It sounds like your Archer A7 might be briefly losing its WAN connection. Since factory reset and channel changes didn’t help, the issue could be:

1. ISP DHCP or fiber instability – Sometimes the ISP’s DHCP lease refresh can cause short drops.
2. Router firmware/hardware – Even if settings are fine, the router might have a minor firmware bug or hardware glitch.

You could try:

• Updating the router firmware to the latest version.
• Setting a static IP or longer DHCP lease.
• If possible, test another router for a day to see if drops continue.

This will help identify if it’s your ISP or the Archer A7 itself.