Continually releasing/renewing connection

Son of a ... So I had my entire problem written out and I accidentally hit the "back" button on my mouse and, well, you know the rest...

Damn, so, here we go again. This will be a bit lengthy but I'm including everything I know and have tried so that, hopefully, I will get newer solutions faster. Please read!

I went away for a weekend and when I came back the internet connection was messed up. No one changed any settings while I was gone (they wouldn't know how). The connection would only come back after unplugging the modem (and replugging it in, of course). The connection will last anywhere from 2 minutes to 8 hours (overnight).

I do have a router but the problem occurs even when the modem is directly connected to the PC. I also tried this on my laptop to the same effect.

The LAN connection is fine. Also, the modem seems fine. It says I am "online." Maybe I still am--but something is impeding the connection in my computer. BUT WHAT?

I got the cable internet guy out here. The internet did not fail the entire hour he was here. Not often you WANT the internet to fail--but otherwise he couldn't see what the problem was. My modem signal was fine but he replaced the modem anyway in hopes that maybe, in the future, that would solve the problem. The minute, no, SECOND, he left the driveway the connection failed. I called him back immediately to let him know but he "had done all he could do." So, we won't be seeing him again.

I think he was right about the problem possibly being that I'm losing my IP address. OK, so if I keep losing the address HOW DO I KEEP IT? Releasing and renewing does work but I am so tired of constantly renewing! I want my stable internet back!

I've updated the firmware for the router (and the adapters). I've restarted the computer a hundred times, reset settings, unplugged every piece of machinery, switched cords, tested for viruses and spyware. Turned firewalls off. Turned firewalls on (I use Norton's normally but I tried Windows' version. Zip.)

Everytime I release/renew I get the same IP address. So, that's static, yes? The router is set on DCHP (or is it DHCP? I'm not an expert in computer jargon). I've changed it to static. Same result.

I'm obviously missing some step. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I could take it to the shop but I'd rather try it for free first. I've seen the same problems listed online by other people--but there was never any solid fix listed.

I've read that Zone Alarm can stop the connection--but alas, I don't have that program.

The connection stays on overnight and fails between 9-11am. Then the rest of the day I have to constantly release/renew. Sometimes it's every 2 minutes, sometimes 2 hours--but today has been particularly terrible. I've released/renewed at least 25 times (and that's not an exaggeration--I started a tally because, hey, at least it gives me something to do while I wait for it to renew the connection).

I thought, maybe, just maybe, it could have something to do with peak usage hours--but then the connection would only be slow and not totally disconnected, right? Also, before this, my internet (with router) worked fine for nearly 2 years. And I don't think it's the router or my ISP. It's just a guess--but as I said, the modem and all the signals are in the acceptable range. And it occurs whether the internet is through the router or not.

I have WinXP (SP2)
Linksys router
2 computers and a TiVo adapter hooked up to the router
Motorola sb5101 cable modem

IN SHORT:
LAN 100% fine
Internet sketchy--connection lasts between 2minutes to 8 hours (overnight)
I've reset, restarted, switched cords, turned on, turned off everything I can think of.
No new programs (that I know of anyway)

Please tell me it's something as simple as "turn this option on!" I'd rather feel like an idiot who didn't spend a lot of money on a simple solution than one who shelled out big bucks just to hear "oh, this is turned off. That's all."

If anyone needs more information please let me know.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

OK, I have the "main computer", of course, which is hooked up to the modem through the router. 2 other computers are hooked up wirelessly (I think I forgot to mention it was wirelessly) to the router. Plus a TiVo adapter. But if I lose the internet on this computer I lose it on everything else--though the LAN connection is fine, and the signal is good.

I did try my laptop in place of the main computer--but only directly from the modem. When that failed too I figured there was no reason to try it hooked up to the router. It all fails no matter what.

Did that help?

 

OK, monitoring the uplink...? they've monitored the modem settings (is this what you mean?) The settings have all been "perfect" from their end. But it seems a bit incredible for both modems to fail in the exact same way, no?

If I couldn't get any connection at all it seems like it'd be easier to solve. But I am able to get online--even if for a limited amount of time. The modems says "online." And releasing/renewing the connection works.

Could there be some...I don't know, issue with IE7.0 or AOL connectivity? We do use AOL but we bring our own access (or, uh, try to). But there are AOL connection programs in my add/delete program list. And that would be on both computers that I tried directly from the modem.

Or maybe there was some Windows Update that made everything fail?

I know I'm grasping at straws. And, again, I know I'm not an expert, but it just seems unlikely that it's the modem or the ISP.

Something is just...blocking the internet from reaching my computer (that's how it feels anyway). And it decides to pop up whenever it wants. But it does seem suspicious that it stays connected through the night but fails again in the morning.

Is there any way to test things to rule out this or that?

 

I do have mozilla. This may be a completely stupid question (but well, that's what these forums are here for, right?) Would it be enough to just use a different browser or would I have to actually delete IE to see if the problem is fixed?

 

I just wanted to mention that nothing had been updated. I've had IE Beta for months now. I've had AOL the entire time I've had the cable modem (and even longer than that).

I do remember a few Windows Updates occuring before I left (and at which point thereafter the internet failed). But before that there hadn't even been an inkling of an issue. Sometimes the modem light would say "offline." But it actually said it was offline when I had no internet. But it was rare to be offline. And I never had to release/renew the connection to get back on. Once it was online again that was that.

So, a program fault could be likely...but since I haven't added anything new, it could then only be an update of some sort to an existing program that (maybe) is causing this block.

Also, the connection fails in the morning--before I'm even using any browser (I do close them at night). So, not sure if that rules out a browser issue?

 

I would try to get my network as basic as possible to troubleshoot this...simply connect one computer directly to the modem. What happens?

 

I've done virus scans using my good ol' Norton (which I know some people don't think is great--but it has never failed me--that I know of). I also used MS malicious virus scan. I've scanned for spyware using AdAware, AOL Spyware. I've also used Windows Defenfender.

I've never had anything absolutely terrible come up. I don't know if that is thorough enough for your tastes? Should I use something else just to be sure? I saw I could use a 30 day trial of the Sophos software (but I didn't want to unless people thought it would be beneficial).

 

And right now I have it so that only one computer is connected. The same thing happens.

I am using Mozilla and am still online after it being on overnight. But it's only 10:30am so there is still plenty of time for me to be kicked off for the first time today... I will post an update once I've either been kicked off or once I've passed the usual kick off time and am still on the internet....

 

I agree with jconstan. Take your home network out of the picture including your router. Just leave one computer running mozilla/firefox, your modem and your provider.

If it still acts up, it may be an intermittent connection on the cable running from your modem all the way to the service entrance.

 

It's 1pm and I'm still online. I will disconnect the router (sigh...again) if and when the connection fails. So far I'm optimistic that the fix was simple (yet frustrating that it was so simple). There is still a chance for me to be kicked off at any time.

The only reason I didn't use Mozilla more often is because many sites that I visit were messed up and only looked normal in IE. But I'd rather have a constant internet connection and a crappy looking webpage. It's not all pages that look weird. Just a few--ones that are particularly, hmm, heavy. I don't know how to describe it. They just are burdened down by flash or things of that nature.

Say it is fixed why would it happen all of a sudden? That's just where it gets confusing.

And...that's the update for now. Thanks so far for the help. I hope I won't need more...but please check back later to see if the situation has changed!

 

I have a hard time believing its IE.

 

Probably the main reason people are switching to Mozilla/Firefox.

 

jconstan--All I know is I've been using Mozilla and I haven't been kicked off once (and the connection hasn't lasted this long in a week).

I was using IE 7.0 which is still only in its beta version. Maybe they had a recent update and it just made everything unstable.

I find it strange too--I don't know what about IE (beta or not) could make the internet connection unstable. But I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm using Mozilla and I've had no trouble with the internet so far. Normally by this point I've released/renewed 4 times already.

I'm not considering this case closed yet but I am breathing a small sigh of relief...

 

And...the relief is over. 3pm and I lost my connection. Damn. Slight possibility it was a run-of-the-mill connection failure. Will have to wait and see the length of time before I need to release/renew again.

 

Yeah, just after 3:30 here and the internet connection has gone out twice. Not sure why I got an extended connection this morning... so...back to the drawing board...

 

If I may throw something in here. I read the part about nothing being changed in your absence, but everything I'm reading makes me think of a signal strength problem, regardless of what the cable tech says. Did he take his signal measurement at the entry point or at the modem? Maybe expansion and contraction of the physical cable at some connection point is causing differences-- think hot days, cooler nights. Is everything professionally wired with top-notch RG6U cabling, or a mish-mash of add-ons over time?

How many "splits" does your cable service have in it altogether? What I'm saying is the cable comes into your house and, at least, it has to be split once-- one way to your TV and the other to your modem. And that's technically the only way it's supposed to be hooked up-- one fork to your modem, the other fork to however many TVs you have. If you split the cable up three or four ways to service that many TVs, and then split off of one of those runs to the modem, the signal loss will be at best marginal, at worst dramatic.If this scenario fits your situation, consider trying hooking up the modem at the first fork in the road, so to speak, and see if things improve.

 

Um...the cable guy didn't have any sort of gadget to test the modem signal--he just used the webbrowser to see the modem signal. Also, on their little computers back at, um, headquarters (?) (which I think shows the exact same thing as the webbrowser) it said my signals were all fine. And that's why they were reluctant to help me in the first place. They assumed I was being an idiot and the problem was the router (in which case they wouldn't have come out to help me. I had to tell them the problem occurred without the router before they'd come).

Last year he (the same cable guy, no less) did have to come to fix the connectors on the wires (or something similiar). He fixed them and that was that. We did discuss this as another possibility for this problem but he seemed to think it wasn't the issue (he did glance at the connections in the basement but apparently decided they were fine).

For my internet--there is the cable connection at the wall...then a splitter--one to the TV one to the internet. But we do have many (many many) splitters in the basement to the TVs around the house. But for the internet specifically it's only hitting one splitter (upstairs, anyway). Is this what you mean by "the first fork."

And again, maybe the cords (or whatever) have weakened over time. If so the internet guy really should have looked into that...but it won't be easy to get him back out here (unless I can say for certainty they are the issue).

So you're thinking that maybe the coolness of night is perhaps allowing the connection to say, well, connected?

Everything was "professionally" done as far as I can tell. The house is 10 years old and everything was put in by the various companies--phone, cable, blah blah blah. Any of the main cords in use would be the cable company's. The splitters are all the cable company's. Anything that has been done is with their stuff.

And again, we did have an issue last year--but I lost all internet connectivity before they replaced the connectors--but we were also having TV issues then. The picture was always fuzzy. They replaced those things and everything worked again. This time the TV is not having any problems and I get random times for internet access.

And other than that there had been no issue with the internet. Just...boom. All of a sudden. No leadup to this.

I hope that answered your question--if you need more info let me know.

 

Your dilemma just kind of struck a chord with me. I had similar DSL issues at work recently. Except you get two divisions you have to deal with-- the internet for connectivity issues; the telephone division for physical wiring and crappy line condition issues. I've also had occasion to troubleshoot cablemodem issues before, and that's what prompted me to chime in.

As with DSL, cable's not a totally "on or off" issue. Depending on line conditions, you can indeed connect and surf without apparent trouble, but if there's noise or weakened signal, you can use up the entire bandwidth just trying to stay connected. And then there comes a point where it just drops. And then the modem tries to re-establish connection, which it may do successfully in a matter of seconds-- until the next time things reach whatever threshhold, which, like you said, could be 2 minutes or 8 hours.

As to your physical wiring scheme, I think you're saying the cable comes into the building to a two-way splitter, one side of which goes directly to the modem, but just before it gets there, it's split again-- to the modem and a TV. That would go against what the cable company-- at least the one here anyway-- would have to say about number of splits before the modem. And I know someone's bound to say they have all manner of splits in their cable wiring and have no trouble, but every situation's slightly different, no?

 

Every situation is indeed different.

OK, there are the main connections in the basement. One leads to the wall connection in the room my computer is in. From the wall it goes to the splitter--one to the TV--one to the modem (and set up by the cable company).

And going back to the basement--there is a cable wire going to nearly every room in the house (set up by "the pros"). So, I think, technically, there's the massive splitter in the basement leading cords to the rooms throughout the house. But in the room I am in, there is only 1 splitter dividing TV and internet (though what I'm saying is it might be divided first in the basement).

We've always had many splits--since the house was built. They told me that it might affect TV picture and internet. As I said, last year they came to fix the connectors. Maybe this will make sense to you--there was something about them being "too short" but it's all worked since they were replaced.

I've never had slow internet (I just either have it or I don't).

Today hasn't been too bad with releasing/renewing. It was bad between 3-4 but I haven't had to renew in over an hour. Seems lame...but that is something of a triumph. Though I did have to renew, today I am doing it much less than usual.

I don't know what that could mean--if anything. Could be coincidence. Could be...nothing.

Is there anything I can look at/do to determine whether this could be something I should look more into?

We are thinking of getting DSL and we already have Verizon's modem (long story about them being idiots and sending us the modem despite the fact that, at the time, we were not eligible for DSL). Anyway, I have the modem and am tempted to ask if we can get a 30 day trial period.

If the same thing happens we'd know that it's my computer (most likely). But if the DSL connection stayed then we'd know that there was something wrong SOMEWHERE on the cable company's side. Modem (though unlikely since we've been through 2), cables, connections, etc.

But that is a bit of extra work I'm hoping to avoid for now--at least until I've tried a few more options...

 

I may try that--though you're right--it doesn't sound appealing. Being out of the TV is not a problem. It's just a matter of lugging my entire computer to the wire source...ugh.

And so much for the internet staying on overnight. Last night was the worst it's been in a week...

 

You say the basement has a large splitter, which sounds like a 4-way (or more), one outlet of which leads to the room with the modem and a TV. If that's true, and the splitter's not an amplifier, you're sending 1/4 (or less) of the total signal (for lack of a better term) to the room with the modem, where it's getting cut in half.

Here's one thing you could try that's not too difficult. Get a two-way splitter-- one of those nice full-bandwidth ones (a 5mHz - at least 1GHz). Use whatever adapter you need to put it first inline before the big splitter in the basement, with one side going to the big splitter, and the other to the wire going to the room with the modem. You can then easily and temporarily omit the TV split there at the modem, and still have TV service in the rest of the house, which will be more like what the status quo should be anyway.

 

It's been a few weeks since I've posted about my problem but we think we've found the solution. And when I say "we" I really mean the cable guy.

He is mostly certain that a TV and VCR in the other room are somehow "generating" electricity into the cable system. When it surges the cable internet connection is killed. And obviously you don't want electricity in the cable.

I know it sounds strange. But he did tests on every piece of equipment; with the TV and VCR plugged in there was voltage in the cable (unplugged--no voltage). And so far without those plugged in the internet hasn't failed.

We aren't sure what the next step will be but it's possible we have a solution.

Has anyone ever encountered this problem before?

 

No, not yet. It's probable they were hit by lightning. The TV and VCR are in the shop now (our local Radio Shacks are now defunct). But we will get to the bottom of it. Our internet connection has been perfect since they've been unplugged.

Everything appears to be solved (despite fixing the TV/VCR). So, I guess just one more possibility for people to consider in the future--though I think our solution is probably rarer than others...

But thanks everyone who responded. I hope I don't need you again (you know what I mean).

 

Is it still fixed? What was the last thing that you did to finally fix it?

 

The last thing done was by the cable guy. He found the source of the electricity in the cable line (a TV and VCR in another room). He unplugged them and the internet has been perfect ever since. All that was done was a simple unplugging of other appliances.