Internet has been cutting out a lot as of late

Derrick

So, within the past month or so my internet has been really sketchy. I'd say it's been cutting out every hour or so when it's acting up (and goes steady when it doesn't).

I don't use a wireless connection. I have a wireless router but my connection is hardwired to it (and my computer settings have wireless disabled). It's not just my computer either; sometimes my lady friend will be watching Netflix and that will also cut out.

Is this a hardware problem with the modem/router or a cable service problem? How would I find out? I don't have extra hardware laying around to swap out and I'd rather not buy all new equipment if it's not necessary.

Thank you.

Raekreu

If resetting your router and modem doesn't do the trick then it's probably something on your ISP's end.

The only thing I can think of on your end is to check your network cables to make sure they haven't become mangled in some way.

EDIT: Is your wireless router PW protected? Could be someone leeching all your internets.

Hahnsoo1

Hardware failures with either the modem or router (or both, especially if you have a combination router/modem) are not rare. Unfortunately, the only way you'll be able to figure that out is having hardware you can swap in. A typical new cable-modem/router combo can be found at around 30-50 bucks on various sales.

There are cases of routers overheating and failing, as well. You could put an external normal fan on it and see how it performs. Barring that, just shut off the router and modem for an hour and turn it back on and see how well it does.

If it happens on multiple computers that don't use the same cabling, then it's far less likely to be the cables at fault (but it does happen).

However, I would contact your ISP first and see if there's something they can do about it. There may also be service interruptions on their end that are "conveniently placed on their website" (of course, if you have intermittent internet access, then you may not be able to SEE their website, but that doesn't stop them from doing so). I use a local ISP, and they are pretty good about logging and checking on service interruptions, but if you use someone like AT&T or Comcast, be prepared to be in "On Hold" hell for a few hours. At the very least, they can send a serviceman out to diagnose your wiring and see if it's a problem from that standpoint.

I've also heard of folks stealing cable, internet, AND power from their neighbors by splicing into a line outside the house.

Figgy

Hahnsoo1 wrote: »

I've also heard of folks stealing cable, internet, AND power from their neighbors by splicing into a line outside the house.

This is what I was going to mention. Check that out if you can. When we lived in a backsplit with downstairs neighbours, the guys downstairs spliced our cable line to get TV. We didn't even have cable TV, but we had cable Internet. Whenever they'd watch TV, our Internet would cut out. Had to get the utility company to come fix it and talk to them. They wouldn't even answer the door to us.

Also, can you disable the wireless on your router? You're not using it anyway, so you might as well cut that variable out of the equation (someone leeching.)

Lastly, connect your computer directly to your modem (unless I'm reading wrong and you have a modem/router combo). You want to lose as many pieces between you and the ISP so that you can call and tell them it's them if it keeps happening.

fightinfilipino

line quality can also drop just from damage to a house's or apartment's wiring. especially if there are pests or such chewing cables...

might be worth calling the ISP and seeing if they can send out a tech to measure signal strength on your coax lines.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

'sketchy' and 'cutting out' are not really great descriptions of the problem.

Do you experience drops in bandwidth or latency, or does the service just stop altogether? When that happens, how do you get it back?

The first thing would be to isolate the problem; make sure all your settings are correct (DNS etc) and plug directly into the modem and see if the problem persists.

Derrick

It cuts out at the modem. The modem (an old cheapy morolla from my college days) has LEDs for power/send/receive/online/PC/Standby.

When it cuts out, the internet completely shuts down (to the entire house). Usually I can reset the modem and it comes back up after a few minutes, but sometimes it doesn't. I haven't noticed a drop in bandwidth, and my GF will stream movies while I'm playing games and that seems to be fine.

The only problem is the drop.

Edit: Also, our wireless is password protected with something someone wouldn't be able to just guess.

Hahnsoo1

Derrick wrote: »

Edit: Also, our wireless is password protected with something someone wouldn't be able to just guess.

Unfortunately, that may not matter, depending on your router and how crafty the stealers are.

Still, it sounds like your modem needs to be replaced OR it's a problem with your ISP/lines. I'd call the ISP and get a service tech down there.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

yeah assuming the problem isn't that your roommate's pit puppy has chewed through the exterior line

(don't laugh this happened to me and took far too long to figure out)

it is time to call your ISP. If the modem is spontaneously powering down though, that sounds like hardware failure

dnns

Your signal or power level may also be too low/too high. Look up your modem make and model and see if you can find the diagnostic IP address. For my Cisco DPC3000 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem, it's 192.168.100.1. You can find your power level and signal-to-noise ratios on the status page.

Then go here: http://www.dslreports.com/faqnew

You can look up your provider and see a page similar to this: http://www.dslreports.com/faq/16085

...which explains what you should be seeing in terms of levels.

dslreports has a lot of good troubleshooting info in general and pretty good forums.

Tomanta

I'd suspect signal level issues over bad hardware. If the modem is losing sync (the rcv/send/online lights go out and then it resyncs), it's almost certainly signal level related.

192.168.100.1 is the info page for Motorola modems as well. If you call your ISP they should have the current signal info and a history as well.

Jasconius

Figgy wrote: »

Hahnsoo1 wrote: »

I've also heard of folks stealing cable, internet, AND power from their neighbors by splicing into a line outside the house.

This is what I was going to mention.

I will third this. I had horrendous internet service for a period of like six weeks, which manifested itself as "fine sometimes, and unusable/unstable/doesn't even work other times"

And it turned out to be, primarily, that the cable company discovered someone stealing cable, and the fact that it was good sometimes and crappy other times was he was unplugging the stolen hookup ever so often to avoid being found


but it takes them a while to find this crap, you'll have to pound the support lines until they're convinced there is a major issue

if it IS them stealing cable then their usual remote diagnostics probably won't work too well... they had to send 4 or 5 people out to my location before they could even tell there was a problem

Straygatsby

Before you lay siege to your neighbor or start pulling wires out of your wall at random, spend 50 bucks at best buy for a replacement router and test it for a day. If it does the same thing, return it and commence with the more wild accusations and/or unlikely scenarios.

Thanatos

Straygatsby wrote: »

Before you lay siege to your neighbor or start pulling wires out of your wall at random, spend 50 bucks at best buy for a replacement router and test it for a day. If it does the same thing, return it and commence with the more wild accusations and/or unlikely scenarios.

Just test the modem by removing the router entirely, first, and plugging directly into the modem.

There's no reason you'd need to use a whole new router.

dnns

By the way, when someone steals your cable, the line tap causes a drop in signal, which is why it can cause problems.