It can be quite confusing and frustrating when you've followed every recommended step for a smooth internet connection on Optimum but you keep getting error messages. You bought the recommended modem and the router came from Optimum. 

Yet, something seems to be wrong with the network. Your router is displaying indicator lights for different functions of the router. Annoyingly, you don't know what those lights are trying to tell you. Needless to say, since you do not know what they mean, you may have a torrid time figuring how to fix it. 

This is why it's important to know the meaning of the displayed lights on your Optimum router. This blog post will help you know what the router is trying to tell you and how to fix it. Just like other internet services, your Optimum internet connection requires a modem. 

This modem is responsible for connecting your devices to the internet. Without the modem, you cannot send or receive data across the internet. It is the link between your computer and the telecom company.
Optimum Router Lights Meaning
You could want to connect several devices to the internet through the same modem. In this case, you will require a router. The router comes in handy in the office where you want several computers to be connected to the same network. 

At home, a router allows you to enjoy internet services on your smartphone in the sitting room and your laptop in the study. At the same time, the kids can post pictures on social media from their bedrooms upstairs. All from the same modem.

Depending on your subscription package, the Optimum subscription usually comes with a router. It helps to maintain the speed of your internet service across several devices.  It's important to know the function status of your router. 

One of the easiest ways to do this is by watching the built-in indicator lights. These lights could be off, blinking or have a steady glow. Depending on the light display, you can troubleshoot your router if you experience any problems.

Starting from your right-hand side, the Optimum router has the following indicator lights: power, HomePNA, Wide Area Network (WAN), internet connection, TV service, wireless network and the Wi-Fi Protected Setup(WPS). Generally, when there's no light displayed on any of these indicators, it means the corresponding property is off, not connected or not configured.


Power: Your router comes with a power cable which you connect to the wall outlet. Behind the router is a switch for turning it off and on. The first indicator light from your right-hand side tells you the power status of the router. When you turn on your router, this light starts blinking green. When it is completely powered up and ready for use, the light turns a steady green.

HomePNA: The Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HomePNA) is a standard for using telephone lines to interconnect your computers. This connection allows you to use the same network for your LAN and high quality internet connection. This means that with this network you can share files across connected devices such as computers, scanners, printers, and still enjoy high quality telecom services. 

The second light from your right is the HomePNA indicator. This indicator light tells you if the coaxial cables between your router and other devices (such as computers) are properly connected.  If you connected it properly it blinks blue and then turns a steady blue when in use.

Ethernet Connection: In this case, the ethernet connection is the connection you make between your router and the modem using a coaxial cable. It is through this connection that data is exchanged between the modem  and the router. The third indicator light tells you the status of your ethernet connection. 

After you've turned on the system, the router starts flashing a blue light. It means it's trying to establish a connection. When the connection is established the lights turn a steady blue. If you don't see the steady blue light, ensure that the cables are properly connected or that the cables are in good condition.

Internet Service: When you successfully establish an internet connection between the router and the modem, the internet indicator turns a steady blue. It starts blinking when there is data flow through the router. If the internet connection is poor or bad, it turns red. This could be from your service provider or your network.

TV service: This indicator light tells you if you have a TV service connection with your router. It stays off when there's no TV service connection and turns steady blue when the connection is established. If it's in use, it starts blinking blue. If the connection is faulty, it turns steady red.

Wireless Network: Your wireless network allows you to enjoy your internet connection with more freedom. This means that you are not restricted to your work desk while using your router. You simply turn on the Wi-Fi of your device and enjoy internet connection from any part of your building. 

The wireless indicator light tells you the status of your wireless network connection.  If you turn off your wireless network from your modem, this light will remain off. It turns steady blue when you turn it on and starts flashing a blue colour when the wireless network is in use.

Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS): This stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. It makes it easier for you to connect your router to clients by automatically authenticating them individually. With this set up, you can search for available devices and add them to the network without entering the network password. Its indicator light stays off when you've not enabled it. It turns steady green when enabled and begins to flash green when you're establishing a connection with a client.

These indicator lights will help you know if your network is working properly. If you're having problems, they will point you in the right direction and give you a clue as to how to fix it. If the lights continue flashing or refuse to come on after you've followed the recommended steps, contact your service provider or maintenance technician.