Losing Internet Connectivity

I have looked at various other threads on this issue. The suggestions don't seem to fix my issue.

Browser: IE7 on laptop
Browser: IE6 on desktoop
Model: ISP (Charter Communications) supplied Netgear
OS: Win XP SP3
Antivirus: TrendMicro Internet Security 2010
Windows firewall: Off on both PCs

My internet connection drops on both wired desktop and wireless laptop. Currently using WEP security key. ISP says problem not on their end.

One of the IE messages is DNS is not reachable, but I don't know how to troubleshoot this.

Appreciate the help.

 

This is something that can be hard to trouble shoot but lets give it ago.

When you lose connectivity does it fall for both wired and wireless or just one or the other?
Is it at any specific time of the day?
Is it when both machiens are on or does that not matter?
Does the router restart/switch off or just the internet light go out?

Any more info would be great help

 

Both wired and wireless fail at the same time. Can take laptop to any public Wi-Fi site and connect without issue

Time of day (around 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.) seem to be a little worse (ISP says they have no issues at these times.)

Router seems to be staying connected.

Also, at time I can ping some URLs and not others (i.e., google-yes, yahoo-no)

I've tried 2 LinkSys and 1 Netgear router with ISP's modem; now using ISP modem/router with no change in issue

 

So if you try a different router do you lose connectivity?
Is it after extensive use of the internet that you lose connection?
Are you using a phone extention cable up to the router?

Broadband or Dial up?

 

I'm using broadband internet - no phone is involved.

Connection drops sporadically - when opening home page (google.com) or going to email (mail.yahoo.com) most often - that's what we do when 1st connected. Other connection drops seem to be random.

Behavior is identical with different routes (3) and modems (3)

 

Have you tried changing the ADSL filters on all your phone sockets?

 

I'm not using a phone connection. I'm connected using a coax connection from my cable broadband service

I'm not familiar with ADSL filters on phone sockets. My phone if VoIP with same provider as Internet

 

Strange. Erm I'm a little stumped now.

 

That's the same conclusion that most everyone arrives at. Any thoughts on where else I might look?

 

I feel bad for not being any real assistance so I think I will try and help you in much greater detail.

We have estabilished that

Laptop - Not the problem as you have tried the laptop else where
Computer - Do you have a friends house you can try the computer at just to make sure its nothing to do with the PC
Router/Modem - Tried several all drop the connection

That leaves
any cables running to the router/modem
the cablse in the walls
Can the ISP do a check on the line or send a technician around to do a check on the lines in the house?

 

Thanks for the suggestions. We've tried everything you've listed except hauling the desktop to another home.

We don't have a lot of options for another ISP

 

Can your isp not offer a technician to test your line?

 

ISP has 'tested' the line and found 'no problems'. However, why would the dns not be reachable on 2 separate PCs at the same time. Yes, the browers are different, but behavior is essentially the same. Also, microsoft does not seem to offer any help with these types of error messages with their product.

Thanks so much for taking the time to brainstorm this issue with me. I appreciate it.

 

After struggling with this problem for about 8 weeks and doing all the troubleshooting others suggested, my problem ended today.

Comcast is my Internet provider. My modem was installed in Jul 2003. Several months ago, Comcast did an upgrade to increase upload and download speeds. I saw some issues then but thought it was Comcast working out bugs.

High level frustrations made me call Comcast. Got the same old line: your modem looks okay from here. I told the phone tech I thought Comcast oversubscribed capacity of the available bandwidth in our area.

Finally got a tech here today. Results? Three new wire-end connectors that were causing some noise, and a new modem. According to the tech, the old modems had problems dealing with the higher speeds. He surmised that the modem just was getting tired of trying to keep up and was just lugging down. He had not seen a modem as old as the model installed in 2003.

I am seeing connectivity speeds like never before. It is a beautiful new world for me.