Assistance Please: Internet Connection Drops

[kawzman]

For the last several months my home network’s internet connection drops several times per day (for all devices simultaneously). On a good day, the drops are less than 5 per day. On a bad day, the drops are as frequent a few times per hour. The network connection between the attached devices (see detailed network configuration below) is rarely affected and I am still able to stream video and transfer files between the attached devices.

The status lights on both my modem and router never indicated an issue (all green). The only indicators were that Cisco Network Magic Pro (installed the desktop PC and laptops) would indicate the internet was down and the obvious, no internet through the browser. I have read several posts in other forums that blamed Network Magic for their drops, so I uninstalled it on all the applicable devices but the problem persisted.

To eliminate my router (D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N) as the culprit, I unplugging it and only ran a wired connection from my modem to my desktop for a little over a week. There were no drops. After ordering a new router (NETGEAR WNDR3700v2) thinking that it was the culprit, the drops started again but were not as frequent. I additionally bypassed the UPS to eliminate it but the drops continued.

Now with the new router installed (NETGEAR WNDR3700v2) and the original configuration restored as detailed below, the drops continue. This router, however, has indicated at least once that I noticed that there was an issue. At some point after the internet connection dropped, the indicator for internet blinked amber (initializing connection and obtaining IP address) but never changed to green and the connection was not reestablished until after rebooted the modem and router.

Another possible indicator of a problem occurred only once (a few nights ago) while I was working on my laptop. A warning window popped up that told me that my laptop’s IP address was being used by another device and to contact my network administrator. I don’t know if this is related to the same problem or is another issue altogether. It never occurred before or since.

So I’m left with thinking that it is my modem. What do you guys think? It will have been in continuous use for three years this August. It’s the only piece of hardware left to be eliminated. Any chances it’s a service issue with my ISP (Charter)? I’m open to any suggestions and additional troubleshooting options. Thanks for the help.

Cheers,

Kawzman


MY NETWORK CONFIGURATION:

Cable Modem: D-Link DCM-202

Router: D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N, replaced with NETGEAR WNDR3700v2 last week

Network Physical Setup: Coaxial cable is run into and out of UPS (CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD) for surge protection. Coaxial cable runs to cable modem. CAT5 ethernet cable runs to router. CAT5 ethernet cable runs to desktop PC.

Attached Devices:
1. Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1)
2. 2 laptops (Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit SP1)
3. iPad
4. PS3
5. iPhone 4

 

[VirtualLarry]

Network Physical Setup: Coaxial cable is run into and out of UPS (CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD) for surge protection. Coaxial cable runs to cable modem. CAT5 ethernet cable runs to router. CAT5 ethernet cable runs to desktop PC.

This may be your problem. A friend of mine had Comcast cable, and he ran his cablemodem coax connection through a surge suppressor, and had issues. The tech told him to take the coax surge protection out of the loop, and lo and behold, it fixed the issue. It may be fine for cable tv, but the frequencies that they use for internet connections often get attenuated by the coax surge protectors. Try that and see if the problem continues.

 

[Texashiker]

Cable Modem: D-Link DCM-202

Go to the back of the house where the cable line enters the building. There should be a ground block - it will either be copper or silver color.

Disconnect the cable line from the ground block.

Lick your finger and touch the center copper core.

Do you feel a slight tingle? Like voltage tingle?

While your at the back of the house, is there a wire going from the ground block to a ground rod?

If your unsure of what the ground block should look like, I will take a picture of mine tonight and post it here.

 

[kawzman]

Thanks for the input guys.

VirtualLarry, I already tried that. UPS has been eliminated as the culprit.

Texashiker, I checked the connections there already. I'll check the cable and ground block next.