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Erratic Internet Connection

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hypernova:
Over the last few days, my internet connection has gotten very erratic.  I contacted tech support, and they think the problem was with the DSL modem.

Over the entire course of my having this connection during the last 4 or so years, I've consistently gotten 4200-4500 kbps download, and 650 kbps upload.  Monday started the issues, however.  I noticed my CoD MW2 games would be sketchy.  One time I even got a disconnected icon pop up on screen (picture of a cable disconnected from socket.)

I ran speedtests on speedtest.net and speedtest.zoomtown.com.  It's very interesting to watch that needle fluctuate so rapidly.  I'd done speedtests in the past just for fun, and it's always been consistent.  Didn't really move except normal flicking back and forth.  Now it can go crazy  It can jump from 1000 to 3000, drop back down to 500, and jump up to 2000.  I still get some tests where I get an unblemished report and no fluctuating, but it's not the norm anymore.  I've tested this with two different computers.  With a router in the mix, and connected directly to the modem.

So after I called tech support, they had me run a ping.  111/114, 3 lost (2%).  They suggested a new modem.  Just picked it up today.

And the same thing is still occuring.  Just ran a speedtest right now, and watched the reading start out at 500ish for about 3/4 second, then jump up to 3500 and kinda stay there.  Ran another immediately, and watched it go to about 3500, uniformly drop to about 2000, then slowly rise back up.  I ran another ping from the command prompt on a few different sites.  After about 170 pings to three different sites, I had one packet loss.

Pinged my router.  On occasion, I get a ping that isn't 1-3ms, but I didn't get any packet loss on 300 packets.

The odd thing about all of this...I've not had any problem with the upload speed.  It has remained at exactly the same rate on every single test.  Around 640-650 kbps.  Only the download is erratic.

I do have one thing to consider:  I added a phone jack about two month ago.  It hasn't given me any problem...that I know of.  Here's the setup.  I extended from another room that must have been a terminating point, because it only had one set of wires, as all other jacks were just a node along a series, so I left those alone.
If this wire I added wasn't perfect, is it possible that it can affect all other telephone wires in the house, and compromise the integrity?  I figured it wouldn't matter, and that since I wired it as the last in a series, it shouldn't mess with the other wiring in the house.  I connected the modem to another jack in the house (not directly connected to my new one) and I still had the same issue.  Am I right on this matter that this new jack I added shouldn't affect the entire house?

EwJ:
Wonky cables (catv/catvi)?
Wonky router/router port(s)?
Did you try without router- pc direct to modem?

ahofle:
I assume you tried unplugging the phone from the new jack?  That would eliminate that as the issue I would think.

Another thing to check is your network adapter.  Try swapping it out for another one if possible.  I just had a similar issue where I had a new modem shipped out and it turned out to be the network adapter (never seen one go bad before that).  :-[

protokatie:
I had the exact same issue with my DSL as well. I started the major trouble shooting by opening the telephone box on the side of the house, hooked the DSL modem directly to the test jack, and my netbook directly to the modem. The problems were still there. I called my ISP, told them what I did, they ran a few tests. After that they sent out a line tech, and sure enough, there was an open line on the poles (One of the wires in the twisted pair had broken, this happens sometimes). All fixed now. If you do what I did, and it fixes it then it is on the inside of the house, if it doesn't fix it then it is the wires on the poles and the telco company will have to fix that.

hypernova:
Like I said in my original post:


--- Quote ---I've tested this with two different computers.  With a router in the mix, and connected directly to the modem....
I connected the modem to another jack in the house (not directly connected to my new one) and I still had the same issue.
--- End quote ---

I just switched the only common cable amongst all tests, and it does the same.  Disconnected the phone from the filter just for kicks, and no difference.

I was already considering your suggestion as my last step protokatie, so I suppose I'll go extreme tomorrow, and plug the modem into the phone outlet on the outside tomorrow, and see what happens.  I've got nothing to lose.  But damn it's cold out there.  I'd love to do it now...but it's just a tad dark, and even colder.

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