Broadband connection problem

[mascan42]

Over the last few days, my cable internet connection has been getting interrupted. All the lights on the modem are on steady, and the computer says I'm still connected, but I suddenly can't get onto the internet, email, DC hub or newsgroups. I'm able to fix the problem by releasing and renewing my IP address, but I've had to do it 4 times in the last 2 days. Any ideas? Is it a problem at my end or at Cablevision's?

[novalia]

it may be as simple as your modem is going fubar... my recommendation before you start doing the turn on turn off shuffle is to simply exchange it.. that's what happened to me..

[B54]

This happens all the time to me. What I do is disconnect everything from the Cable Surfboard. Then I disconnect the COAX cable from the wall. I come back in 5 minutes, then re-connect to the COAX to wall. Then I connect the power to the Surfboard, then the COAX cable to the modem, and finally the router. Then I wait another 5 to 15 minutes and everything works fine again. I think there may be a disruption somewhere or the ISP is shit. Unfournately, here the ISPs are districted, so I have no other option. I have thought about calling them and asking, but it seems to work fine after I do that. It is a pain to have to do, but oh well, what can I really do about it. Try those steps.

[novalia]

yeah i used to do all that shit too.. then i just got a new modem..

[mascan42]

I just called Cablevision and they said even when my connection was working, I had very high ping times. I moved the modem closer to the main line, and it seemed a lot better. They recommended replacing the splitter by my TV

[JoeyDVDZ]

make sure your splitter is rated at -3.5 db. Any higher and you get line noise. Good enough for cable tv, terrible for data xfer.

[HumpX]

Over the last few days, my cable internet connection has been getting interrupted. All the lights on the modem are on steady, and the computer says I'm still connected, but I suddenly can't get onto the internet, email, DC hub or newsgroups. I'm able to fix the problem by releasing and renewing my IP address, but I've had to do it 4 times in the last 2 days. Any ideas? Is it a problem at my end or at Cablevision's?

who is your cable carrier?

Cox has had issues that are exactly what you describe.

Go here (http://www.broadbandreports.com/linequality) and do a line quality test.

[mascan42]

Well, that didn't do shit. I connected the new splitter and within half an hour, my connection dropped out again. Cablevision's sending a guy by Friday to see what the problem is.

[JoeyDVDZ]

I had a problem once, turned out there was oxidation inside the coax heading from the pole to my house. Turns out the douchebag who installed it didn't run enough line to reach the pole, and used a splice.

[Capt.Hilarious]

In the meantime, if you have a router, try testing the connection with it removed. It sounds like you are having issues with your IP Lease time. If the problem is still there without the router, then it's most likely the modem. Not uncommon for them to crap out.

[mascan42]

They came by Friday and changed another splitter - they don't seem to want to admit there's a problem with their equipment - and it crapped out again Saturday morning. I got back on the phone again, and they'll be coming by to replace the modem on Tuesday.

[mascan42]

The cable guy came by today, and he said there was no problem with the signal to the modem.

No fucking shit. I knew that when I called.

And while he says it could be the modem, and the modem is Cablevision's, he didn't even attempt to replace it. Even though they decided on the phone that's what they were going to do.

These guys are never going to fix the problem - I'm going to have to do it myself. Any way of telling for certain if it's the modem that's causing the problem?

By the way, releasing & renewing the IP address doesn't work anymore. I can't even connect to the DHCP server.

[Sinn Fein]

Are you paying a rental fee for the modem? If so just take it back and tell them to deduct it from your bill. Go to Best Buy and buy your own.

[novalia]

it may be as simple as your modem is going fubar... my recommendation before you start doing the turn on turn off shuffle is to simply exchange it.. that's what happened to me..

ahem...

[mascan42]

Unfortunately, although I got the modem from Cablevision, it was a freebie for signing up over 2 years ago, so I don't think it's under any kind of warranty.

So, like I said, is there any way to be sure if that's the problem before I go out and buy a new one?

[novalia]

yeah they'll just swap it out for you just go to one of the stores (bring the modem).

[mascan42]

Thanks - the tech was an idiot who didn't seem to understand the problem.

[JoeyDVDZ]

Did you take the router out of the equation as was suggested, and run the modem direct to your PC? Did it work?

[mascan42]

There is no router.

[ern]

just 2 more cents since it seems to have been solved, anytime you split a cable, you should amp it pre split. FOr all the cable modem people, you may not see much of a difference, but it does help. I am not talking about the cheap ones, if it doesn't require a power source, it is crap.

I have so many splits in my house due to renovations, I have an amp for my line to my puter (dedicated one).

[zagman76]

There is no router.

you for got the /matrix tag... :icon_mrgr

it pains me to hear that you have no hardware device between you and the internet... that's like walking onto a battlefield and not wearing any kevlar or a helmet. For $30 (http://www.globalcomputer.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=328846&CatId=0)... protect your investment and data please!

[blazin]

Have you changed the ethernet cable from the cable modem to the computer?

If so, Id bet its the modem. They have an average life span of about 2-3 years. The sporadic nature of the problem seems that the modem is just getting tired. I had two different customers with the same problem, comcast phone tech could communicate with the modem fine, but the modem's ethernet portion had a problem, whiich a phone technician cannot test remotely.

If you do buy a new modem yourself, youre going to have to call the cable company and give them the MAC address so they can provision it. If it still drops the connection Im sure you can just return it.

[zagman76]

Have you changed the ethernet cable from the cable modem to the computer?

If so, Id bet its the modem. They have an average life span of about 2-3 years. The sporadic nature of the problem seems that the modem is just getting tired. I had two different customers with the same problem, comcast phone tech could communicate with the modem fine, but the modem's ethernet portion had a problem, whiich a phone technician cannot test remotely.

If you do buy a new modem yourself, youre going to have to call the cable company and give them the MAC address so they can provision it. If it still drops the connection Im sure you can just return it.

With Cablevision, as soon as you plug a new modem in, and try to go to the web, you are redirected to a site that allows you to swap out equipment over the network. You have to put in your account/contact info and then you're all set. I guess they don't want people to call just as much as people don't want to call them!

[Sinn Fein]

Zag is right. Get a cheap router as well. Even if you only have one PC, having a NAT router is worthwhile just for the security.

[Mother Shucker]

You are having the same exact problem I had about a year ago. Connection would drop out for a minute or two, then come back. Cablevision came and changed the modem and all is well. I had the old motorola surfbourd with VOIP, I now have the new surfboard sbv5120 with VOIP and it works great.

[blazin]

With Cablevision, as soon as you plug a new modem in, and try to go to the web, you are redirected to a site that allows you to swap out equipment over the network. You have to put in your account/contact info and then you're all set. I guess they don't want people to call just as much as people don't want to call them!

Thats a great service! I wish Comcast did that, it would save me alot of on hold time.

[mascan42]

Just connected the new modem. Now we wait and see what happens.

[mascan42]

Well, that didn't take long. My connection just died again. Any other ideas?

[novalia]

did u register it with them?

[mascan42]

Yes. It worked fine for a half hour, and has died about 5 times since then.

[Sinn Fein]

What kind of PC do you have? Does it have an onboard NIC or is it a card. Try replacing the network card... $15 at almost any store that sells that kind of stuff.

[mascan42]

I disabled the onboard NIC and installed a new card. Now we wait and see. I can't imagine what else it could be if this doesn't fix it.

[mascan42]

That only took ten fucking minutes for my connection to die again.

I am at a total fucking loss here.

[mascan42]

I hooked my laptop from work up to the modem. If the problem continues, Cablevision's sending a guy to check things out (again). If not, what could be the problem with my regular computer?

[JoeyDVDZ]

Tell them to run a new line from the pole to your house. It could be oxidation in the connectors that connect from the tap, or it could be on the coupler side, at the outside of the house. Either way, a new cable with nicey nice new connectors can't hurt. Dropping connection every half hour is bullshit, and they should be willing to troubleshoot from the pole all the way to your splitter.

[mascan42]

Tell them to run a new line from the pole to your house. It could be oxidation in the connectors that connect from the tap, or it could be on the coupler side, at the outside of the house. Either way, a new cable with nicey nice new connectors can't hurt. Dropping connection every half hour is bullshit, and they should be willing to troubleshoot from the pole all the way to your splitter.
You don't know Cablevision, sir. They won't do shit unless they're certain it's what's causing the problem. If I ask them to replace something that they haven't personally isolated as the cause, they'll charge me for the repair, even if it solves the problem.

They're absolutely convinced that since the modem lights stay on, there's no possible way it could be their problem. They want me to disable my firewall and open myself up to shit ten times worse than an intermittent connection so they can eliminate that as the cause.

[JoeyDVDZ]

You don't know Cablevision, sir. They won't do shit unless they're certain it's what's causing the problem. If I ask them to replace something that they haven't personally isolated as the cause, they'll charge me for the repair, even if it solves the problem.

Actually, I do know Cablevision. Remember that post I made concerning the spliced connection and the oxidation? Cablevision.

I ripped a tech jerkoff a new asshole on the phone for 1/2 hour, and finally they sent a truck in self defense.

Threatening to come down to the office in person probably helped me with that, though.

Oh, and because the problem was OUTSIDE the house, the repair was on them.

Fact is, once they've exhausted every "talk you through it" possibility, they have to roll a truck.

[Garm]

Its definetly a problem on their end. I have cablevision, and every once in awhile it does exactly what you describe, and then it goes back to normal. When I called cablevision, they did tell me they were having trouble in the area. If an of your neighbors have the same service ask them if they are having the same problems.
Good Luck Bro!:action-sm

[mascan42]

I'm all set to shoot these fucking Cablevision guys in the face. The signal just dropped when I was on the laptop, so I called them up. When I explained everything that had been done already, THEY ASKED ME WHAT ELSE THE PROBLEM COULD BE!!!!!:hamm:

They're finally sending another guy tomorrow - but they couldn't tell me what time.