Odd internet speed problem, please help

[CerveloJava]

Greetings all,
I recently noticed an odd problem I'm having with internet connectivity speed, and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction to solve this.

Essentially, when I turn my desktop on, my internet speed is quite slow; however, if I reboot the modem, then it's fine. This has been happening consistently for the past month or two. I thought it was a modem problem originally, but if I plug the network cable into my laptop, it works just fine. So, obviously it's a problem with the desktop.

I'm running Windows 8 (on laptop and desktop), and the desktop is about 3-4 years old. Other than this issue it works fine. I did replace the motherboard about 1.5 years ago.

I'm guessing this is a hardware problem, but I'm not sure. The network card is integrated into the motherboard. Should I just get another motherboard and see if that fixes it? Or are there other things I should try first?

Thanks in advance.

 

[FiDo14DiDo]

if there is faulty hardware, the quickest check would be to get a wireless adapter at a local shop like bestbuy and see if that helps with the speed. if it doesn't you could return it and attempt other solutions.

 

[inachu]

The trick here is you said modem. So you have dial up? I used to be sales and tech support for erols internet on the east coast. Did not think people used modems anymore.

 

[CerveloJava]

DSL Modem. When working properly it downloads at about 24 Mbps (according to speedtest.net). That's after a reboot. Before, it's around 1-2.

 

[inachu]

DSL Modem. When working properly it downloads at about 24 Mbps (according to speedtest.net). That's after a reboot. Before, it's around 1-2.

Modems.... Like any hardware or pc can suffer from heat damage or just from being old.

What are the quickest ways to age your electronics?

Your house is always hot.
Your electronics through the day get direct sunlight on them. Does someone old live with you? Sometimes old people love a hot house. Or those who have low blood pressure tend to love a hot house.

Or your location for the modem just so happens to be near a heating vent from the floor or ceiling.

Also static shock can harm a device.

Sitting electronics on top of other electronics The heat from one goes above into the other thus cooking it.... aging it.

Where I work we have a walk in oven that ages test hardware to make sure something works 5-9 years down the road.

 

[Ketchup]

Is this a wirless router/modem combo? Kinda sounds like it from your description. Is it from you isp? You may want to call them, and see what they say.

One thing I can think would be a bad cable, if you were using a different cable when testing with the laptop. Same for the port on the router.

 

[CerveloJava]

Thanks for the responses so far. As I said in my original post, I'm fairly certain the modem is working fine. It works when I plug it into my laptop. The issue is always having to power cycle it after I turn on my desktop in order for the speed to be correct. I called my ISP when this first started happening and they said everything was working correctly on their end.

So, having ruled out a faulty modem or cable, I'm left with, in my mind, two options: There is a problem in the software somewhere on my desktop, since rebooting the modem fixes the speed, or it's a hardware problem that also works itself out after a reboot. I was just wondering if this was a common enough issue where there were standard things to try. The only thing I can think of is replacing the motherboard to see if it's the network connection on my current one.

 

[Ketchup]

When it works on the laptop, is this after you reboot the modem, or before? How did you rule out the cable?

Please tell us what this device is (model number would be great). If it is a combo device, the company may be telling you the modem part is fine, not necessarily the router function.


And if it does turn out to be the network chip on your motherboard, get a $10 NIC, not a whole new motherboard, unless you just really want a new board.

 

[inachu]

I still think its the age of the product. If not age then ketchup79 is on the right track asking the proper questions.

Reason why I think its age is even my dlink router acted like your symptoms When new it hardly needed rebooting but as the months turn into years finally after 2 years I had to reboot my d-link router on a daily basis to keep the speeds up to par.

So yeah I threw it away and bought a new router from Apple.

 

[dbcooper1]

What is your link speed when working properly vs. slowly?

 

[CerveloJava]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to get a NIC and see if that fixes it.

 

[GodsBusinessWay]

I've generally found if you have to do that consistently it's the modem. If it's from your isp just return it and exchange it. Better to do it now since it never goes bad at a convenient time.

My first post her aloha everyone.

Rick

 

[corkyg]

I had the same problem, only worse, Every now and then the connection would be dropped. Replaced cable modem, end of problem. Agree with Inachu, they do wear out over time. I rent mine from Comcast, so it is super easy to disconnect it and replace it with a much newer model at no additional charge. It handles Internet, TV, and Phone.

 

[XavierMace]

The trick here is you said modem. So you have dial up? I used to be sales and tech support for erols internet on the east coast. Did not think people used modems anymore.

LOLWUT? DSL uses modems, cable users modems. Where do you live that nobody uses modems?

 

[corkyg]

Modem = MODulate/DEModulate..

 

[Onus]

I wonder if it is an autonegotiation issue. You might go into your adapter properties and force 1000Mb/s (or whatever its max speed is). When you initially plug it in, it might be autonegotiating a slower speed; the reboot resets that, and with the cable in place, configures correctly to full speed. This could yet be a cable issue; the one you have works, but isn't up to spec.

 

[jsalpha2]

Is there any way to check out the power going into the modem? The wall wart style AC to DC adapters that come with some modems are not well made and can cause erratic behavior if running out of spec.

 

[CerveloJava]

Thanks for all the responses, I got a NIC, that did not fix the problem. Tried a new modem, also didn't fix the problem. The NIC actually caused the audio on the motherboard to stop working, which actually supported my theory that the MB was bad. I got a new motherboard and everything is working great now.