Internet Connectivity Spotty

Windows 7 Home, 64 bit. Cable comes in to the cable modem ethernet cable between modem, to wireless router then ethernet cable from router to NIC card in desktop. Printer is wireless.

For the last 5 years or so, connectivity is dropped and I have to reboot modem numerous times each day. Modem and router have been replaced by cable company numerous times, and a new service has been run to my house. The cable tech says that the signal at the modem is within limits. After countless failures to fix due to the cable I'm thinking that there may be a problem with the computer software or network settings. When I am connected, I don't think that the throughput is as fast as it should be all the time.

Can someone help me troubleshoot this. Thanks in advance.

 

OK
Modem and router both from Cablevision.

 

Optimum Online in left column.
This latest modem is about 6 months old: ARRIS TM1602

 

There are firmware updates for routers like that... which I would assume CableVision would push down to it automatically, but without actually logging into the router itself (using the ip address or a URL usually provided on a sticker attached to the router) there's really no way to tell if it's actually getting the updates, failing on an attempt to update, or a totally different problem entirely unrelated to firmware. For example... a setting on the router specifying limitations on bandwidth, number of connected devices, or even overall usage of the thru-traffic.

If you could gain access to the router, it might shed a great deal of light on the issue...

 

I think I can do that. I read somewhere that there's a way to retrieve past performance readout on router and/or modem.

Yes Cablevision pushes the updates.

More likely the modem, I think. Might be a setting. Tech configured it.

Tech from ISP coming today.

 

I had an issue a few months back with my brother's iPhone connecting to the wireless router at my house... before that, I'd never had any issues with it (possibly because we have zero apple devices). I think it finally turned out to be a protocol issue... where WPA2-PSK [AES] is the default, but apparently the particular model iPhone my brother had used an older protocol (or maybe just less widely used/accepted) that would not handshake with the router ... until I changed the security options to WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]. After that, he was able to connect, but my router's 'internet' LED remained amber ... I assume due to the protocol I applied being possibly older and/or less secure.

This, sadly, is all irrelevant to your situation ... which is what makes it so confusing. You don't normally see many issues with hard-wired systems connected by ethernet. I DO have a suggestion or two for you, though... access device manager, locate 'Network Adapters', and find the "Family Controller" or other ethernet device (ignore any 802.11 adapters ... that refers to wireless conections). Then click Update Drivers. Most of the time, Windows is going to come back saying the best drivers are already installed. If that's the case, there's one more thing you should check ... yet ironically ... something you might want to UNcheck.

Right-click the same network adapter again and go to the Properties at the bottom. When the dialog box pops up, check to see if you have a power management tab... (even desktops usually have this feature) ... and if you do, click on it and uncheck the box next to the option that allows the computer to turn this device off to save power.

You could also technically check this setting in the power plan you are running under the Power applet in the control panel... but I've had a handful of people with connection issues where their systems were automatically turning off the network adapter according to the power saving options set for the device... so kind of like the backlight on your phone, it times out from inactivity and just shuts off. Obviously, this will sever your connection, and it would take a second to fire back up, handshake with the modem/router, obtain IP address, etc. etc.

This might be a possible cause. Just throwin' it out there for ya

 

Driver update shows current driver is latest.
Would it be a pwr mgmt issue if it drops connection WHILE I'M USING IT? I left the pwr mgmt setting at default for now.

 

Are you talking about the modem or the router? The modem has 5 BLUE lights. I do not have VOIP so the two telephone lights are not lit. Power, US/DS and online lights all blue.

 

Asked about non VOIP modem. They don't use any. Everybody gets same modem.

As I said, 5 lights: 2 on left are VOIP and never lit; 3 on right side steady blue when connected.

AHA! Standard user manual at ARRIS shows different from mine. 1603 at this link shows mine:

http://optimum.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/287/related/1/session/L2F2LzEvdGltZS8xNTI4NjQ0NTY5L3NpZC80Tm9UNFNPbg==#arris1602

Mine has 5 blue lights.................no battery backup.

The light in the rear next to the ethernet cable is green.

 

With the previous modems they always did; with this one not always.

 

I'd like to take a "time out" at this point.

On Saturday, I convinced the ISP to run a temporary cable to bypass what I suspect to be source of the problem.................and the only remaining length of co-ax that has not been replaced over the last 4 years. The approximately 35 foot run goes through a brick wall, across my neighbor's attic and down into my garage wall where the service enters my occupancy.

It has been three days and so far so good. I will report back if the problem persists.

 

I live in a Townhouse complex, and my building has 3 occupancies. The "tap" is on the lawn in front of our building. From the "tap" each of the three service cables go to a common point on an outside wall of the building. This is the wire that was replaced a few years ago. From there, each of the 3 service lines are routed through the " common" area of the building (attic spaces) to an inside wall of each occupancy's garage. This is the wire that was replaced with a temporary new cable last Saturday pending approval of a new, permanent cable. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

Friday I went into my neighbor's attic where the trouble cable is routed from the building wall to my occupancy. The wire looks good, but there is a coupler in the run and I was able to unscrew it by hand, although it was tight. I suspect that's the problem. I am going to uncouple it and clean everything with denatured alcohol and make it wrench tight. Hopefully, if that corrects the problem I can have the cable company remove the temp line, and not have to spend money on running a new cable thru the building. It looks like RG59, but the run is only about35 feet. For a simple fix like this, the cable company might go in there and install a new coupler. There is no slack in the cable, so cutting a section out and install of 2 couplers would be necessary in order to change the connectors.