Internet randomly goes out for long periods of time...?

Goldie · Joined: Nov 20, 2007 Posts: 1

Lately my internet has disconnected for at least a day without a known reason. At first I just thought I left the modem and/or router unplugged for too long (moving furniture), but it happened again last night randomly (thank goodness for my neighbors internet â™¥). I don't know what the problem could be - nobody touched or moved anything.

I'm using a Westell DSL Modem, which is connected through ethernet cable to a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, which is connected to an eMac through... a cord. My ISP is Cox Digital Cable or probably Bellsouth.

I've already tried unplugging and plugging everything back in several times, so don't give me that answer.

Anyone know what the problem could be?

Thank you <3

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 869

1. Call your ISP to see if THEY are having problems.
2. Does it work directly from the DSL modem?

User: inactive Posts:

Ahem!
When you're having troubles with your ISP, you call the ISP, OK?
Nobody here has a clue what's wrong with your internet connection, nor can they do anything about it.
Only the tech's at your cable company can help you there.

It sounds like a loss of enough signal level to maintain connection. But a cox cable technician, or Bellsouth tech. can walk you through tests to see if that's the real problem.
If that's it, they can send out a 'field tech' to effect repairs.

I recently dealt with exactly that problem in a house where there were over a half a dozen connectors and at least one splitter between the cable box outside and the computer modem. With such low signal level, the modem would not stay connected. I unplugged two TV's to effect a temporary repair. As long as the TV's stayed physically disconnected, the Modem received enough signal level to stay on-line.

The 'field tech' showed up two days later and ran a new cable from the outside cable box directly to the cable modem, and solved the problem.

For DSL problems, the most common fault is the cheap "Filters" that the phone companies provide. I've heard that Radio Shack sells a much better filter. Or so I've been told. Confused

Good Luck,
The Shadow Cool

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2422

My Motorola Surfboard dropped the signal a few times in September and the first 3 days in October I had to unplug everything (modem, router, switch, print server), waiting at least a minute, then plugging in one by one starting with the modem. Wait until the lights are solid green. Then the router - again lights should be solid green except for the internet light, which blinks. Then last the switch and print server.
This happened enough that I decided that my modem was dying. I called Comcast and when through the procedure I did to get the signal back and the tech seemed to agree with me that the modem might be failing. He also checked to see if there was any work going on in my area which might account for the drops. He didn't find any.
I went out and purchased a new modem but didn't hook it up. I thought I'd wait until the signal went out again. It hasn't dropped since I called Comcast! I noticed that I have a different IP (Comcast rarely changes IP; I can lose electric and when it comes back, I still have the same IP. I can go away for a week, unplug everything and when I come back, I have the same IP). Maybe they decided that the problem was on their end and not my end so switched me to a different server.
So, before you waste $$$ on a new modem, call your ISP.

User: inactive Posts:

Z.....

In this case the modem is supplied by the cable company.....
People don't buy their own modems. If it turns out that it's bad, the COX Cable co. will replace it.

Likewise "BellSouth" if it turns out to be DSL and not Cable.

Cool

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 869

Shadow: Gotta' remember that this case is DSL - I think - he wasn't all that clear (Cox Digital Cable or probably Bellsouth!). If it IS DSL, I wonder how far he is from the "hub"?

User: inactive Posts:

Edit:

Bellsouth (also in this area) also provides the modem and on-site service.
They will also send out a field tech to troubleshoot problems. All the user has to do is CALL THEM!

In either case, it's a problem between the user and the Provider. The user calls the provider and the provider is obligated to solve the problem.

I tell my own customers the same thing when they call me and complain that their computer won't stay on-line with their cable or DSL provider.
I can't fix it! Wink

Sure nuff, when they call their internet provider and the provider sends out a tech, the problem eventually gets fixed.
I say, "Eventually" because the cause of the problem is not always readily apparent.
And some companies are more aggressive in fixing problems than others.

Good Luck,
The Shadow Cool

goretsky

Hello,

I suspect your connection is through BellSouth, since you have a Westell DSL modem and I believe Cox only offers cable connections and not DSL lines.

If you changed the phone jack the DSL modem was plugged into, then it could be that the other phone lines in your house need to have DSL filters placed on them. The DSL modem should then be able to get a strong enough signal to provide an Internet connection, even when the telephone is in use for voice calls.

Have you tried resetting the settings in your Linksys WRT54G residential gateway? If so, did that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Goldie,
I too had problems like yours.After replacing all of the phone filters,the wires in my house,a modem, several calls to the phone company,visits from techs the DSL seemed to repair itself.All tests indicated that my signal was what it should be but it still dropped.Now all is fine.
My advice: bug your provider and test all of your connections.

Jimmy

MarvinTheMartian · Joined: Apr 03, 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Western PA

I haven't seen anyone suggest seeing if there is a firmware upgrade for the router. I have come across this several times and a firmware upgrade did the trick...especially with linksys routers. I even had to do it myself about 3 months ago.
MTM

Bearly1227 · Joined: Feb 21, 2003 Posts: 32

Perhaps your ISP has borrowed a page from my provider, Verizon DSL.

Verizon routinely drops my DSL connection (in New England), and they have "problems" up to three days at a time.

When I call to complain, I am reminded that my DSL contract specifically stipulates that service is not guaranteed and in the event of an outage, they have no obligation to compensate me for the lost time.

Unfortunately, Verizon is the only provider that was able to provide me any service at all!

To their credit, Verizon did, maybe two years ago, replaced the "normal" DSL phone connection (filters on other phones) with a direct link to my computer (filters no longer required). Recently they upgraded my copper wire from house to pole from copper to fiber. Which helped bring me closer to my 1500 m bytes speed (on a spectacular good day).

It may not be your modem, but just a crappy provider.

Bob

User: inactive Posts:

For some odd reason, the US (at least) seems to be full of 'Crappy Providers'.
In my 'business' I have to deal with them almost every day. Crying or Very sad

In most areas, anyway, the phone co. has a monopoly on the DSL service.
And the local cable company has a monopoly on the Cable service.

All is not lost though. There is third option which I opted to buy.

I'm set up with "Wild Blue" Satellite, ISP service.

It ain't purrrrrfect, but for my area where there is NO DSL or Cable, it works great.

I'm currently running at the Basic level, for $49.95 per mo. and it's more than sufficient for my needs.

Of course, when there's a bad storm in the area, here or at the Earth Station in Laredo, Tx., service may drop out for a while.
That's when I dial out on my Atlantic.net service and keep right on truckin'.

It's always nice to have options!

Cheers Mates!
The Shadow Cool

JimTheMuso · Joined: Aug 24, 2004 Posts: 220

Interesting to see the differences in internet suppliers between different countries. Here in England we usually consider ourselves to be behind the US in any new technology. However, most folks in UK now have broadband connection. In my particular case I am using a company (owned by Carphone Warehouse) which supplies me with high speed broadband 24/7, all main phone calls to UK landlines (numbers starting 01 and 02) totally free 24/7 plus calls to many overseas countries (US, Australia, Spain and many others) also totally free 24/7. The only restriction on these free calls is that you are charged after 65 minutes - but you just watch the clock, hang up and redial and get another free 65 minutes. I have been using them for over a year now with very few outages and my TOTAL phone bill (line rental, broadband, extras like caller display, calls to chargeable numbers including mobiles etc.) has not yet reached the equivalent of 55 US dollars in any month. So I guess we have kept up with you somewhat in some cases.
Jim.

User: inactive Posts:

Many places in the world had NO communications at all while we in the US we went through many generations of phone service. I use the term "Service" loosely. Laughing

I remember phones that were in wooden boxes and hung on the wall. You'd have to turn a crank, to activate a magneto to send a signal to the operator at the phone co., letting them know that you wanted to talk to them. They had to place all calls for you. To make a call from Iowa to the east coast sometimes took an hour before the operator would call you back to tell you that your party was on the line.

Everything was done over copper wire,,,,there were no satellites and NO fiber Optics in the early days.

I also remember the old black phones with no dial on them. All calls had to be made through the "Operator".

The first Dial phones were totally amazing. Finally we could make a call without having to go through an "Operator".

I remember a phone company rep, coming to my grade school and giving us a tutorial on how to use a Dial Phone. WOW, that was pure heaven. Wink

When the internet arrived in many countries of the world, it came in as either DSL or Cable. They never had to go through the growing pains that we did.

I still have my dial up internet service, even though I also have my Wild Blue Internet Satellite.

I'm just thankful that I'm not still using one of those wooden box phones. Wink

Cheers mates!
Shadow Cool

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 869

And we didn't have to dial "1" for English!!!

User: inactive Posts:

AMEN brother! AMEN!

Those were sure the 'Good ol' Days' Wink