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Author Topic: Erratic Internet Connection  (Read 5845 times)

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hypernova

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Erratic Internet Connection
« on: February 25, 2010, 08:40:54 pm »
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?
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EwJ

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #1 on: February 25, 2010, 10:00:52 pm »
Wonky cables (catv/catvi)?
Wonky router/router port(s)?
Did you try without router- pc direct to modem?
« Last Edit: February 25, 2010, 10:03:28 pm by EwJ »

ahofle

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #2 on: February 25, 2010, 10:14:19 pm »
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

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #3 on: February 25, 2010, 10:55:57 pm »
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.
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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #4 on: February 25, 2010, 11:01:54 pm »
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.

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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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2010, 12:12:10 am »
A flaky phone line or jack WILL cause problems throughout the house for DSL, even if a phone still works on all the jacks.
Do as protokatie suggested, plug in directly outside at the main box....
If your box has a short phone line that plugs into one of the jacks that feeds the house, unplug it first. Basically you need to isolate the house from the main line coming in. This will at least tell you if it's the house side or the phone company side, otherwise calling tech support is a waste of time.
If you suspect the new jack you added.... disconnect it from it's source, not just at the jack. That will eliminate the jack AND the line.
Not a technician . . . . just a DIY'er.

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2010, 07:45:16 am »
It might be cold but where I live you are responsible for the wiring inside the house. If the phone co. comes out to fix the line, and they find it's a problem with my wiring inside the house then I get billed for it. Otherwise it's on their dime. So like a previous poster said, the only way to determine the location of the problem is to test at the box

hypernova

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2010, 06:40:15 pm »
Just managed to test about an hour ago.  It's outside, because the main box jack still gives me the same issue, which of course, is a huge relief.  They'll be coming out Monday morning, which means I have to wait a few more days until I can actually play MW2 again without problems.  :(

On a side note, I find it kind of humorous that I said I was going to go test the jack on the outside, then I get two more suggestions to test the jack outside.  :)
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protokatie

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #8 on: February 26, 2010, 09:34:57 pm »
Oh, Dont forget to hook your modem to the test jack on the side of the house!
 >:D

Well, anyways, it's a good thing it is on their end and not yours, less work for you, and monday isnt that far away.
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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #9 on: February 26, 2010, 10:26:34 pm »
thats what I usually do first. Just bring everything to that one point so Tech can't blame it on anything  (bad NIC, router, Modem, lines etc...) I just tell them, its connected outside to elliminate the possibily of wiring problem inside the house.
Funny thing thou, I mentioned to them too, that I saw some of thier employee working on the BIG BOX by my place.

The result was, those guys who was working on something, screwed up my line by accident.
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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2010, 01:53:18 am »
On a side note, I find it kind of humorous that I said I was going to go test the jack on the outside, then I get two more suggestions to test the jack outside.  :)

More of a reiteration that that should be the FIRST thing to do. ;)

And just to clarify -
You did have the "house" side disconnected while testing out at the box right?
(not knowing exactly how your box is setup, some have more than one jack and if the house is still connected you'll still get flaky effects, etc, etc)
Not a technician . . . . just a DIY'er.

protokatie

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2010, 03:20:44 am »
On a side note, I find it kind of humorous that I said I was going to go test the jack on the outside, then I get two more suggestions to test the jack outside.  :)

More of a reiteration that that should be the FIRST thing to do. ;)

And just to clarify -
You did have the "house" side disconnected while testing out at the box right?
(not knowing exactly how your box is setup, some have more than one jack and if the house is still connected you'll still get flaky effects, etc, etc)

Oh good point. When I tested my DSL2 2 weeks ago, the test jack only had one connection per line, so it required that I disconnect the house line to do the test. I HAVE lived in places where there were two jacks per in coming line, basically just a split. But I have only seen that type of box once...
--- Yes I AM doing this on purpose, and yes I DO realize it is pissing you off.

---If my computers were cats, my place would look like an old widows house, with half of the cats having obvious health problems

hypernova

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2010, 06:32:18 pm »
I've only seen the one jack in the few houses I've lived in.

Somehow, my connection managed to stay stable enough last night for about 5 hours.  I played MW2, and had quite a few good games.

Then about 12:30, all hell broke loose.  Choppy as hell.  So I quit, thankful for the time that it worked well enough.
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EwJ

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #13 on: February 28, 2010, 09:27:27 pm »
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.


LOL. Yes, I am an asshat.  4 days without sleep = exceptional reading skills + brilliant and helpful posts.
It sounds like you'll have it sorted tomorrow.  :applaud:

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2010, 04:31:42 am »
i miss read the title of this thread as "erotic internet connection"

time for bed

hypernova

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #15 on: March 01, 2010, 11:38:05 am »
i miss read the title of this thread as "erotic internet connection"

If that were the case, I wouldn't have been complaining!

Well, they came out today, and essentially switched out my modem again, back to the old model.  Seems okay, but only time will tell.  Apparently the new model acts as a router as well, which may cause issues.  I'm skeptical, but hopefully they're right.
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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #16 on: March 01, 2010, 03:16:26 pm »
Did they even BOTHER to test the lines on the poles?
--- Yes I AM doing this on purpose, and yes I DO realize it is pissing you off.

---If my computers were cats, my place would look like an old widows house, with half of the cats having obvious health problems

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Re: Erratic Internet Connection
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2010, 06:57:15 pm »
Nope.  I did run a ping on google.com, and had 0 packet loss over 450 packets.  All seems well so far, though I haven't continuously run speed tests to ensure no intermittent connection loss.

Also, it's a subdivision, so no poles.
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