Put it behind a UPS and buy one of their smart plugs. It'll detect internet outages and reset the connected device automatically.
Also, I buy and deploy a lot of Unifi/ER equipment and that doesn't happen. I think you've noticed there's a common factor in your final statement, though.
it is a bit messed up that you think it's me. I change configs on these things only enough to get them to function, and then I leave them alone.
and what exactly could I be doing to cause random DNS failures, or to cause DHCP to fail only on Ethernet ports? these things can't be configured to do that. they're consumer-grade routers and consumer-grade routers are garbage. all of them.
every enterprise router or access point I administer at work functions just fine for years at a time.
I know it's just an anecdote, but I've always had issues buying(very expensive) home routers from netgear or Linksys, super unreliable devices no matter the price - finally gave up and just started using my ISP provided router(BT whatever hub, latest one) - zero issues. Rock solid WiFi and ethernet. I can see the uptime on it right now is over 100 days and I have no reason to restart it. Yes it's not quite as configurable as some of the other routers I've had but at least it just works.
Static devices (as opposed to DHCP reservations) will just (seemingly) randomly stop working with port forwarding, as the router just forgets the device. You can shake it out of that by pinging the device from the router's diag tools, or power cycling the router resolves the issue. Not great for CCTV DVRs/NVRs.
"Smart setup" sometimes breaks stuff, especially IoT stuff.
Your device may or may not just randomly factory reset itself. (I've had one do it twice in three years, to the point where I now save the config.)
It may or may not completely ruin your Sky Q system's reliability if you have more than one box (although I generally advocate wiring them in completely and disabling all wireless functionality anyway).
The automatic channel setting for the WiFi channels is a total dice roll.
The DNS interception rubbish breaks stuff. Most recent example was I was having infuriating issues with Ubiquiti's AP guest portal... Until I switched the BT Business Hub into a dumb modem and put a cheap ER-x in front. Rock solid since.
I'm glad you're pleased, although I know that's also a relative experience. I recently helped a colleague using Free[1] in France and was blown away by... pretty much all of it.
He was paying €15/mo for 4K television plus 1/0.6Gbit fiber internet on custom hardware they'd provided. I can't help but feel something went terribly wrong in the US for us to be happy with our $80/mo cable options and dated, generic hardware.
Also, I buy and deploy a lot of Unifi/ER equipment and that doesn't happen. I think you've noticed there's a common factor in your final statement, though.