Internet Connection Randomly Disconnects

Logain8955 · Joined: Jul 04, 2005 Posts: 4

My internet randomly will shut off and not allow me any access (not through the web, nor through games). I can fix this by going into my control panel, into network connections, then running a repair on the connection found in there. It happens a few times a month, and usually lasts a day or two while it does happen. (Takes usually about half an hour between repairs). I'm stumped by this, no idea why it's happening.

I run WinXP Home, have DSL and directly connect to the modem (no router). I have a Westell Wirespeed modem, my ISP is Verizon and I connect to the modem through the traditional Ethernet, not the USB hook up it has. Any help you guys have would be greatly appreciated. Smile

jeber · Joined: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 4199 Location: The Village

It sounds like your modem is loosing its connection to your ISP and thus loosing its IP address. This could be due to a number of causes, from a momentary interruption in your phone line to a power fluxuation that causes the Wirespeed (man, I hate those modems) to reboot and fail to renew its IP. One thing you might do is the next time this happens, call your ISP and have them check your line from their end. You could also run ipconfig and see if you still have a valid IP address (most likely it will be 68.x.x.x or 69.x.x.x). If you ever see an IP on your computer of 169.254.x.x, you've got a problem. That's called an APIPA (Automatic Private IP Address), and Windows will assign that when no DHCP server can be found. It will not work on the Internet. You'll need to renew your IP to clear that out.
Sometimes, a simple power cycle (unplug the modem, wait 2 minutes and plug it back in) will pull a new IP and restore your service.

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

There is also a firmware upgrade available:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13352191

Logain8955 · Joined: Jul 04, 2005 Posts: 4

Ok, it's been a couple days since this happened, and just started again. This time, I ran ipconfig and got some info. When my net is out, it looks like this:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address : xx.xxx.xx.xxx (numbers hidden cause I'm paranoid about security Razz

)
Subnet Mask : xxx.xxx.xxx.x
Default gateway :

After I run the repair, it looks like this:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address : xx.xxx.xx.xxx (It's the same number as above.)
Subnet Mask : xxx.xxx.xxx.x(same number)
Default gateway : xx.xxx.xx.x

I tried looking at that DSLReports link, but all that did was confuse me right quick. Thanks for the help, any more you guys could give would rock Smile

User: inactive Posts:

User: inactive Posts:

the gateway connection is properly the address gateway for the modem that the system uses

open network options via the control panel
highlight the tcp/ip entry
click properties

insert the gateway address as a static gateway address
this way the system will always use that address and will not use DHCP to find it on start up or restart

it also may help to enter the primary & secondary DNS addresses for your ISP in to the DNS section of the above network connections, just saves the system using the lookups all the time

u can always delete the entry/s if it does not work ...

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5006

FWIW - I lose my network connection routinely. Generally it's a hiccup from the ISP, and my router doesn't pick it up again. The quick fix is to unplug for a short bit (10 sec in my case) and when plugging it back it, it works fine!

kurt165749 · Joined: Aug 08, 2005 Posts: 1

I am having a similar problem...and I believe it is the router which is a DLink DI-514.

jeber · Joined: Dec 19, 2002 Posts: 4199 Location: The Village

Often a momentary interruption in the connection will cause the router to loose the IP assigned by the modem, and if the reconnect is rapid, the router won't have time to renegotiate the connection. In that case, a power cycle (shutting off the router and modem for anywhere from 15 secs to 2 minutes then powering up the modem, and once it's ready, the router) is exactly the right move. You're doing just what the techs would advise, usasma.
Welcome to Lockergnome, kurt165749. I hope your connection stays up long enough to read a few threads. Smile

florin · Joined: Sep 14, 2005 Posts: 3

I have the same problem with my DI524 wireless router. I'm already annoyed about this and I was wondering if there's another way beside powercycling the router. If there no solution, maybe consider another router?
Thanks!

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5006

I had this problem with a LinkSys router - and being ever willing to buy new toys, I got a NetGear router. And the problem stayed with me.

I've experienced less of a problem since getting another NetGear router - but this coincided with some work on the servers at the ISP. So I can't tell what exactly caused it - but I'm not going to buy another router just to find out! Smile

florin · Joined: Sep 14, 2005 Posts: 3

Ok, looks like I got the problem solved after all. Here is what I did: I set up my router to PPPoE with the username and password from my DSL ISP. Then I connected the computer directly to the DSL modem and reset it (the modem), so that any settings made during the initial setup - like the username and passw. - were lost. Then I put the router back and everything was ok so far. I'll wait and see tomorrow.

Werebo · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:20 pm Post subject:

Werebo · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

Josh926 · Joined: Oct 11, 2009 Posts: 1

I'm also having the same type of problem where my internet randomly disconnects until i reset the network adapter. When i do this it will work fine, but it is very irritating to have the internet lose connection and have to do this. I have a Motorola VT2142-VD Vonage router and I am running Windows Vista Home Premium. It says resetting the network adapter might fix an intermittent problem, but im not even sure what that means. If anyone has an idea on how to fix this I'd be very greatful.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Read the last post in this thread at the Vonnage forum
http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic23665.html

I don't know who your ISP is but if they release the IP you are using, then you have to keep resetting the Motorola.

It also appears that the best way to wire is modem, router then Motorola.

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 55 Location: Central MA, USA

[/quote]
As an alternative to unplugging and reconnecting the modem to reset the IP's etc, try resetting/rebooting the modem or router through the setup software. In my instance, I use my browser to access the modem and router. It saves a lot of clambering to reach cables or switches and is often quicker too.[/quote]

Great information. I am having a similar issue with my Linksys BEFSR41 Router, whish is behind a Motorola Cable Modem.

Is there no way to set a parameter in the modem to self correct and reestablish to the new IP address?

I do have: "Obtain an IP automatically" set, but apparently only on initial setting (power cycle or reset) ?

- I sometimes wonder, having once been a Corporate Clone myself, that if the ISP's are purposely dropping / changing IP addresses specifically to drop routers and alternative Net-Phone services, like Magic Jack and Vonage?

Thanks,

Bob

Any more "dead horses" around to beat ?

goretsky

Hello,

Five year old thread, folks. Smile

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

adkmom · Joined: Jun 18, 2003 Posts: 471

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747