Internet disconnecting

[Atlasion]

Ok, for the past few weeks my internet has been cutting out. It disconnects then reconnects all within about a minute (which kicks me off FFXI).

I spoke to my ISP, Nildram, they told me they saw no problems at all on their end. I even got disconnected a few times whilst on the phone to them and they said they saw nothing happen in their logs. So it must be a problem on my end..

I get the message "A network cable is unplugged", and my router flashes orange as it reconnects. Theres 4 of us connected to the router. I've tried disconnecting everyone except me, but the problem still persists. I also tried having someone else connected on their own but they still got DCed every few minutes. I have 2 microfilters so both phone sockets have one in them, and I tried using another cable connecting the router to the microfilter.

I'm thinking the problem may be the router itself. But before I go and spend £60 or so on a new one, I'd appreciate any other suggestions that could solve the problem.

[Sigi]

60 pounds for a router? buh, where are you shopping? Any chance you're using DSL or cable? If DSL, do you have a DSL modem that has a network port on the back? Same if you have cable. Try swapping ports on the router (unplug the cable from your computer and plug it to another port)

Get a new network cable... try it out if the port switch did not work.

Eliminate the router (IF POSSIBLE!) from the loop. (Modem > Computer, not Modem > Router> Computer)
If with a new cable, the issue still appears if you have removed the router... the issue is your ISP (or the modem, but that's the ISP as well )

If it doesn't... it's your router. Go shopping and find a decent priced router and not an overpriced piece of shit!

[Fhqwghads]

I dunno if it's just me, but from my experience routers can be extremely flaky and stop working properly out of the blue. Try bypassing the router and see if the problem clears up. If it does, time for a new router.

[Omnipotent]

I had the same problem and acutally when out and bought a new router, and it still happens. I then went out and bought a new wireless card and it is now fixed.

[Atlasion]

Sorry I didnt make it clear in my first post. All 4 of us are getting the same problem. I did try replacing the cable connecting the router to the microfilter but that didnt help.

I'm trying to connect an old ZyXEL modem to see if that keeps me connected, but I've lost the CD for it and can't find anything online to install it.

[Sigi]

then the issue is the modem, which is your ISP's responsibility. Tell the jackasses to replace said modem and prorate your time since you have been unable to use the web.

Oh wait.. pounds. Shit. You're in the UK. Beg them nicely to please fix their modem which in your gross incompetency of using it normally caused it to malfunction. /sarcasm

[docvicious]

If its DSL

It's one of these problems

1.) Phone Noise
2.) Bad Router
3.) Router burned out your ethernet conector
4.) You've been looking at illegal porn and the security team went in and fuxored with your Net settings. (yes they actually do this.) Had a friend who had his wireless capped at 200kbps off of a 10MB line.




edit
I'm actually experiencing 1-3 all of them or some of them atm =/ someone calls and the line disconnects and my USB port on the router was burned out some how.

[Atlasion]

4.) You've been looking at illegal porn and the security team went in and fuxored with your Net settings. (yes they actually do this.) Had a friend who had his wireless capped at 200kbps off of a 10MB line.

The problem has been around pretty much since I got the internet installed, its just gotten worse recently. So I don't think this is the case. I can still download things pretty fast too when not disconnected. Also, I'm pretty sure I haven't been viewing any illegal porn.


I noticed I got DCed a lot when someone is on the phone. This might just be coincidence though. It tends to go through phases of being fine for a few hours then being shit for a while.

I'm going to buy another microfilter tomorrow in the hope that it solves the problem (unlikely). I'll probably just go and get a router whilst I'm at it.

[levish]

you might also want to try setting your IP address manually in the network adapter settings

start -> settings -> control panel -> network connection -> "insert method of connection here" typically something to the effect of "Local Area Connection blah blah" which will be changing in there to help you pick it out.

Right Click your connection, go to properties select internet protocol (TCP/IP) and click the properties button

and select try the following IP settings:
#1 (try this first)
IP Address: 192.168.0.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.0.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.0.1

#2
IP Address: 192.168.1.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.1.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.1.1

Sometimes the network card has troubles obtaining a IP address for some reason or another and this is a workaround.

[Cephius]

you might also want to try setting your IP address manually in the network adapter settings

start -> settings -> control panel -> network connection -> "insert method of connection here" typically something to the effect of "Local Area Connection blah blah" which will be changing in there to help you pick it out.

Right Click your connection, go to properties select internet protocol (TCP/IP) and click the properties button

and select try the following IP settings:
#1 (try this first)
IP Address: 192.168.0.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.0.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.0.1

#2
IP Address: 192.168.1.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.1.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.1.1

Sometimes the network card has troubles obtaining a IP address for some reason or another and this is a workaround.

If it had trouble resolving an IP it wouldn't connect at all, the fact that it sometimes disconnects would suggest an IP resolve problem is not the issue.

[levish]

If it had trouble resolving an IP it wouldn't connect at all, the fact that it sometimes disconnects would suggest an IP resolve problem is not the issue.

What makes you think it's having trouble resolving a IP then the original poster mentions that his computer shows the "network cable is unplugged" message typically associated in my experience with the network card trying to obtain a IP address?

hmm reread your post, the workaround I suggested was not for IP resolve issues, it is for issues related with obtaining a DHCP address and possibly issues around renewing it's lease.

[Atlasion]

you might also want to try setting your IP address manually in the network adapter settings

start -> settings -> control panel -> network connection -> "insert method of connection here" typically something to the effect of "Local Area Connection blah blah" which will be changing in there to help you pick it out.

Right Click your connection, go to properties select internet protocol (TCP/IP) and click the properties button

and select try the following IP settings:
#1 (try this first)
IP Address: 192.168.0.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.0.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.0.1

#2
IP Address: 192.168.1.198
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
default gateway: 192.168.1.1
Preferred DNS server: 192.168.1.1

Sometimes the network card has troubles obtaining a IP address for some reason or another and this is a workaround.

This could help, thanks.

Would all 4 people connected to the router need to do this?

Also, how would I know what to put in for the Subnet Mask and Default gateway? Sorry, I'm not very good when it comes to networking, or PCs in general.

[Vyvian]

If you go to Run and type "cmd" hit ok. Then type IPCONFIG and press enter, write down what your default gateway is.

For example for me:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.3
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

So, every computer on my network will have the Subnet mask 255.255.255.0 and the default gateway of 192.168.1.1. But each computer will have a different IP address, like my notebook might be ".4" and my second desktop might be ".2". Occasionally what happens is if stuff gets turned off and on a lot, the network card inside a computer tries to remember what IP address it was given sometimes, and request it. But its possible the router has given out that number to a different machine. The router is supposed to be like oops no, but sometimes it will try to give out the requested number again, and now you've got 2 machines with the same IP.

[Cephius]

If it had trouble resolving an IP it wouldn't connect at all, the fact that it sometimes disconnects would suggest an IP resolve problem is not the issue.

What makes you think it's having trouble resolving a IP then the original poster mentions that his computer shows the "network cable is unplugged" message typically associated in my experience with the network card trying to obtain a IP address?

hmm reread your post, the workaround I suggested was not for IP resolve issues, it is for issues related with obtaining a DHCP address and possibly issues around renewing it's lease.

The thing is if his router is using DHCP how are you going to set a static IP for it? Chances are he'll get an IP address conflict sooner or later which will just create a whole nother set of problems. Can just do a release/renew but there's something else going on with his connection it seems.

[Vyvian]

In windows XP, an unplugged network cable means that either the router/switch/modem is off, the cable is bad, the ethernet ports (card) itself is bad, the cable is actually unplugged or you "released" your ip. If it had a valid connection, with power, of any kind, you get the "Limited or No Connectivity" message, with a 169.254.x.x ip. If you have that, you either have dhcp problems or simply a bad router.

If the network card is actively trying to obtain an address, there is the yellow dot that moves left and right underneath the LAN icon in the taskbar.