I have never seen a modem or a router with an on/off button, but the cable company always asks you to restart them. One of those things that is easier said than done. Just tossing this out there...

My current DSL modem has an on/off switch, as did the one it replaced, but I ran into your situation with a friend's cable modem a few years ago.

For lack of any better ideas I just yanked the plug.

My Arris modem has no on/off button. When it was installed, the technician told me to unplug it for about 5 seconds if I have to reset it. I tried it, just to see what would happen, and it worked fine. It took a minute or two before all the indicator lights were properly lit but then all was well (and I was told to expect that time delay). BTW: It's best if you shut down the computer before performing a modem reset. Not only have the Time Warner techs told me that, but I have found it to be true from experience.

Interesting, I was never told to shut down the computer, but it does sound like a good idea. But you didn't have to reach behind it and pull the plug!

You may have access to a web interface for your modem at:

http://192.168.100.1

If you do have access, you may find a reboot option there.

Your link is broken. (Is it correct? http://192.168.1.1 is what I've got in my records and what works on my deuced Mac(hina).)

Different router models have different default LAN IP addresses (the address that any computers on the local network use to connect to the router). For you, that address is http://192.168.1.1. I've got Verizon FIOS, and that's my LAN IP address as well. Kevin's suggestion of http://192.168.100.1 applies to some cable modems. Since slolerner made reference to "the cable company," that may well be the correct address.

Note that you can easily ascertain your own LAN IP address via System Preferences -> Network -> Ethernet. Since these panes seem to be redesigned with every OS X upgrade, I won't try to be more specific than that, but somewhere you should see IP Address, Subnet Mask, Router, and DNS Server. ("IP Address" in this case refers to your Mac's LAN address; Router is the one you're looking for).

Yes, I have been using that address in my browser to configure the router since I got it. It then assigns devices on my network with IPs within that range, 192.168.1.102, 192.168.1.103, etc. I got in with name admin and password admin to get started and then gave it my own name and password.

Last night I wasted a lot of time trying to install DD-WRT on it because you can replace the native software with their open source software and get more functionality, but after doing my 30/30/30 reset, I found out that it only runs under DOS, a few postings about OSX, but you have to do it in the terminal . too scary. I'm having trouble with my access point and since I have two Wireless-G's, I thought I would reset the second one to use as an AP. I was lucky I didn't 'brick' the modem, and the reset didn't take.

Someone tell me the psychology of not just buying an Airport Extreme and stop drooling over the WRT 1900AC...

I'm guessing you meant 192.168.100.2, 192.168.100.3, etc.

??? I know my printer is at 192.168.1.104

The print server 'told' me that and that is what I type into the printer setup control panel to use it.

The various devices on your network that use DNS will "renew" their lease on the LAN IP address at regular intervals so unless you are hard coding the IP addresses they may change from time to time. Normally the range of leased IP addresses would be as DK suggested in the range of 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.100 or 10.0.1.1 to 10.0.1.100. But it is easier to address a printer if it has a fixed LAN IP so a fixed IP address just outside of the range covered by the DNS server in the router such as 192.168.1.104. Setting the fixed IP address outside the DNS assignable range prevents the fixed IP device (printer) address from being assigned to multiple devices. FWIW the LAN DNS server IP address is generally 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.1.1 according to which range your router uses.

Thanks!

Back to the original question, is it ok to put a switch onto the modem cord, like you can on a light cord? Are they just too cheap to put an on/off switch on Arris modems?

Yep, it's a question of cost. The profit margins are so thin on commodity hardware like cable modems and routers that manufacturers don't want to add the switch. After all, the people who make purchasing decisions (usually, the cable companies) aren't the ones inconvenienced by the lack of switch, and when they're buying millions at a time, even a fifty-cent price difference matters.

It's not even that it is easy to unplug, you have to wiggle the connector out of the Arris and you're not quite sure when it is back in all the way.

Somebody will have to pass judgement on this, but I've been told since time immemorial that you should yank the plug from the wall rather than yank the plug from the device (and vice-versa, i.e. you should plug the cord into the device before you plug it into the wall).

As for cost cutting, I was amazed when I got my replacement DSL modem: Not only had one of the four indicator lights been eliminated, but where the original came with a USB port, an Ethernet port, and a cable for each, the new one has only an Ethernet port and a cable that's Ethernet at the modem end and splits into Ethernet and USB cables at the other end.

Yikes!

You've gotta admire the creativity!