Random, intermittant, daily Internet problems

[l Thomas l]

We have a Linksys Wireless G Broadband router (WRT54G) and 5 devices connected to it. 2 iPads, 2 laptops, and 1 desktop. They are all connected by Ethernet cables except the two iPads. They are not always all connected to the network at the same time. Sometimes one or two of the iPads are turned off. Sometimes one or two or three of the computers are turned off.

We are having extremely random Internet disconnections. The Internet will just stop working. It can be while using it, or after coming back to it after any period of inactivity (a day, 20 minutes, an hour, couple hours, anything). I'm pretty sure the Ethernet cables are fine. Cable tester says they are fine. None of the computers indicate that a cable was disconnected, or that the computers were disconnected from the network. It can happen to any of the 5 devices, any of the computers or the iPads. Here's the thing: Usually, at least one of the computers or iPads still works. In fact, usually only one device won't work, while all the others are still working.

Giving all the devices manual IP addresses doesn't seem to change anything. Still will work most of the time, then have a daily outage at some point in the day.

Cycling power to both the cable modem and router fixes it EVERY SINGLE TIME, without fail. Gets all 5 devices working too.

I have Comcrap. Maybe they are trying to limit the number of devices using the Internet? We complained to them (not about this problem in particular), got a small discount, and a better connection, but the problems still persist.

Any ideas? Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

You need to isolate whether the problem is with your router, or your modem / connection. Can you wire up one PC to the modem directly for a day, and see if the internet cuts out?

try opening a command prompt, and do "ping -t www.google.com".

If your internet drops, you will see "No reply from host" filling your screen.

There are other apps, like "SmokePing" too.

If the internet doesn't drop, when wired directly into the modem, then it would indicate a problem with your router, and it probably just needs to be replaced. You could also flash with DD-WRT, depending on which hardware revision you have. DD-WRT is often more stable than factory firmware, in many cases.

 

[l Thomas l]

Thanks, I will try that. Is Vista SP2, fully updated, with Windows Firewall, safe enough to run directly to the modem? Or what about a 3 year old Macbook?

Pinging any site does not work when the Internet stops working, from any of the computers. Pinging the router does work though.

I forgot to mention, even though cycling power to both modem and router works, if I only cycle power to one of them, it will not work.

Thanks for the DD-WRT suggestion as well. Hopefully that will work. I have a feeling it is the router. I forget how long we've had this router. I don't think it's been longer than 3 years. Very recently, our wired router just crapped out. It just flashes lights and refuses to work. Not the diagnostic lights, but the functioning lights. We used to run the wired connections to that router, then the wireless router to that router for the iPads. We've had the wired router way longer than the wireless one.

 

[John Connor]

I would isolate it like mentioned with just one computer. See what happens. If it still goes out I would go to DSLreports.com and create a smokping and see what that tells you. If you get errors than it's Comcrap and they need to fix your connection. Keep in mind you must log into the router and allow pings for Smokeping to work. You could also try pingtest.net and see what you get. I would try to update the firmware to the router with Linksys's first before diving into DD-WRT. You have to read about how to flash with DD-WRT and you most likly have to flash with a micro build first otherwise you will brick your router. As always the 30-30-30 rule applies when updating firmware. http://compnetworking.about.com/b/2009/03/11/the-30-30-30-hard-reset-rule-for-routers.htm

Pinging any site does not work when the Internet stops working, from any of the computers. Pinging the router does work though.

This tells me that it's the modem or your connection to the modem. You might have ingress in the line.

 

[Mushkins]

Pinging any site does not work when the Internet stops working, from any of the computers. Pinging the router does work though.

And you have a WRT54G? That thing is ancient by now, sounds like its on the fritz and it's time for a new router to me. If you can ping the router but cant get out, you're losing WAN connectivity for some reason. When this happens, take a look at the lights on your cable modem to see if it failed in some way or if it's totally ok.

Also think about what you're doing on those devices. Are you doing heavy downloading/streaming/bittorrent? You could easily be pushing the router beyond its throughput capacity and the WAN connection fails entirely until you restart it. That device just isnt made to handle high bandwidth or large numbers of concurrent connections that we try to use today, and routers do funny things when you push them to the limit.

 

[John Connor]

I currently use a WRT54GL which is going on 6 years old now and is flashed with DD-WRT and I have had ZERO problems with it. Soon to upgrade to a newer router though.

Just go to Newegg and search for the WRT54GL and you will see the thing still sells! LOL!

 

[Cabletek]

We have a Linksys Wireless G Broadband router (WRT54G) and 5 devices connected to it. 2 iPads, 2 laptops, and 1 desktop. They are all connected by Ethernet cables except the two iPads. They are not always all connected to the network at the same time. Sometimes one or two of the iPads are turned off. Sometimes one or two or three of the computers are turned off.

We are having extremely random Internet disconnections. The Internet will just stop working. It can be while using it, or after coming back to it after any period of inactivity (a day, 20 minutes, an hour, couple hours, anything). I'm pretty sure the Ethernet cables are fine. Cable tester says they are fine. None of the computers indicate that a cable was disconnected, or that the computers were disconnected from the network. It can happen to any of the 5 devices, any of the computers or the iPads. Here's the thing: Usually, at least one of the computers or iPads still works. In fact, usually only one device won't work, while all the others are still working.

Giving all the devices manual IP addresses doesn't seem to change anything. Still will work most of the time, then have a daily outage at some point in the day.

Cycling power to both the cable modem and router fixes it EVERY SINGLE TIME, without fail. Gets all 5 devices working too.

I have Comcrap. Maybe they are trying to limit the number of devices using the Internet? We complained to them (not about this problem in particular), got a small discount, and a better connection, but the problems still persist.

Any ideas? Thanks

192.168.100.1 if you can bring that up post signal levels and error logs of the modem my suspicion is this.

The cable modem is out of spec and needs a cable installer to repair your set up, so the modem reboots, when they happens the linksys G routers were NOTORIOUSLY picky about losing their connection they would refuse to renegotiate the lease until you power cycled them, so if the cable modem says it is ONLINE [should be a cable or online light that goes solid] you just need to reboot the router most likley so it grabs its IP data again and goes on.

 

[John Connor]

Maybe that explains why at least every month or so I have to acquire a new IP address. Although I do have the firmware flashed with DD-WRT, so I'm not sure if that would still exhibit the lease issue. Next time I'll reboot the router and see what happens.

 

[l Thomas l]

Also think about what you're doing on those devices. Are you doing heavy downloading/streaming/bittorrent? You could easily be pushing the router beyond its throughput capacity and the WAN connection fails entirely until you restart it. That device just isnt made to handle high bandwidth or large numbers of concurrent connections that we try to use today, and routers do funny things when you push them to the limit.

I don't download too many files, but we do do a lot of streaming. Netflix or Youtube (I always choose HD on Youtube if possible). No bittorrent, gaming, or anything else intensive.

It seems to have stopped having the problem where it disconnects one device in the middle of activity. Now it usually happens if there's a period of inactivity (anywhere from 20 min to hours). Pinging the router does not work anymore when it happens (this is from a wired connection too). Also, before, I would only have to cycle power to both modem and router. Now I can get away with only cycling power to the router, but I have to make the device try to get a new IP address. ("repair connection" in windows). Still fixes it every time.

I've been meaning to flash with dd-wrt but I have been busy, and I have been waiting to set aside enough time when no one is using the Internet connection. Hopefully that will extend the life of the router. I've heard it's a lot more secure too.

 

[l Thomas l]

192.168.100.1 if you can bring that up post signal levels and error logs of the modem my suspicion is this.

The cable modem is out of spec and needs a cable installer to repair your set up, so the modem reboots, when they happens the linksys G routers were NOTORIOUSLY picky about losing their connection they would refuse to renegotiate the lease until you power cycled them, so if the cable modem says it is ONLINE [should be a cable or online light that goes solid] you just need to reboot the router most likley so it grabs its IP data again and goes on.

Why do I need a cable installer? I can't repair it myself?

These levels fluctuate about +/- 0.2dB, but always around there from what I can tell:
Signal To Noise Ratio 37 dB
Power Level -7.5 dBmV

I see some "3-Critical T005.0 SYNC Timing Synchronization failure - Loss of Sync" But not nearly as many times as one device stopped working. Other than that just the Ethernet link errors from when I cycle power to the router.

 

[evilbix]

Power level is on the lower end of "acceptable signal". SNR is great. It looks like your modem is behind several splits. You need a cable guy to fix the signal. "acceptable" is -10 to +10, over 32snr, and upstream should be -30 to -50db.

Realistically.. a low downstream power level will cause reboots. Upstream too high will also cause it to be unable to lock. If you trace the coax back and it's off more than one split, you'll probably want to call your provider and have them barrel that line back to the ground block and run it off a split from there rather than where it is now. You can argue fees stating the cable guy set it up wrong.

cable provider spec is the cable modem is always off the first split. However.. I've actually had a lot of neighborhoods with too much signal strength, so it's a loose rule. However, you're on the low end with that modem.

 

[Mushkins]

I don't download too many files, but we do do a lot of streaming. Netflix or Youtube (I always choose HD on Youtube if possible). No bittorrent, gaming, or anything else intensive.

It seems to have stopped having the problem where it disconnects one device in the middle of activity. Now it usually happens if there's a period of inactivity (anywhere from 20 min to hours). Pinging the router does not work anymore when it happens (this is from a wired connection too). Also, before, I would only have to cycle power to both modem and router. Now I can get away with only cycling power to the router, but I have to make the device try to get a new IP address. ("repair connection" in windows). Still fixes it every time.

I've been meaning to flash with dd-wrt but I have been busy, and I have been waiting to set aside enough time when no one is using the Internet connection. Hopefully that will extend the life of the router. I've heard it's a lot more secure too.

If you're losing all network connectivity and need to ask for a new IP address from the router, it's not a problem on the WAN end and your cable modems signal levels dont mean much (but may indicate other issues). It sounds like the router is no longer properly handling DHCP on top of dropping its WAN connection.

Definitely stand by my original feeling that either the router is finally giving up the ghost or the firmware has become corrupted. A flash to DDWRT is in order, and if you're still having issues, well... she's dead, Jim.