Diagnosing Internet Drops (Router vs. Modem)

[Callisto]

I've been having issues lately of sporadic, very short duration internet drops. 99% of the time my network/service will be fine, great speeds, constant connectivity, then things will drop for just a couple of seconds. Not enough affect normal usage, but enough to be annoying when it murders a Netflix stream or my doing outbound streaming.

I can't tell for my life if it's my actual Comcast service dropping/their modem hiccuping, or my router. Sometimes it seems more like the router, as wireless will drop and consoles will get a 'LAN cable has been disconnected' error; other times it seems like the LAN stays up and just loses internet throughput.

Router is a D-Link DIR-655, more or less at stock settings with the most recent firmware on it. Wireless is in B/G/N mixed mode, I have one of the PS3s DMZ'd, and port forwarding for XBL done, but not really anything else special changed.

Modem is an Arris CM820A rented from the ISP. Nothing special changed on it to the best of my knowledge.

What's the best way to go about determining which of the two devices is dropping? I couldn't tell if router uptime figures given in the browser were the uptime for the LAN, or the uptime for internet throughput. The layout of our house makes it kind of a pain to keep a PC connected directly to the modem for an extended amount of time, and I'm not sure how to log connection activity even if it were to see if/when drops were happening while I was at work. Any advice/suggestions?

[Waraji]

Only advice I can personally give is something you don't feel inclined to do: have modem connected directly for w/e period of time is required.

I would time (write down) whenever an outage occurs, and keep a log for maybe 5-10 outages. Then test for longest/average of the time intervals. If we're looking at 1 outage per day, yeah would have to leave shit connected full time...

There's probably software someone else might suggest to help out, never fear. Or buy another Router and figure that out, they're fairly cheap, especially refurbished ones.

[Kurokikaze]

Set up to "ping -t"s one to google.com and one to your default gateway (the router) and see if the google.com ping drops any packets... If your connection to the default gateway drops then it might be an issue with your networking equipment. If it's your ISP then you will notice that the google.com ping test will drop packets but you'll still be able to access your internal network.

Since the issue is sporadic, I'd leave both running from some time (say 15-30 minutes?).

Just based on what you're saying though, I'm inclined to say that this is sounding like an issue with your router. While outside access may be unreachable, your internal network should be more or less fine if it was just Comcast crapping out.

[Ratatapa]

I would go with Waraji and connect your PC directly to your ISP modem for a little bit and see if it happens If it doesnt then call your ISP if it doesnt, then something is wrong on your side

[orinthia]

Do you have other machines on your home network? If so, setup some shared folders, put some music or video in them, and play them across the network from another machine. The constant streaming won't harm your internet traffic, and if your home network is having problems, you'll know immediately due to a disconnect in the music/video (it stops, can't find host, etc).

Your area could also have heavy wireless traffic, as in many neighboring home wireless routers are all trying to use the same few channels, or you could be at the far reaches of your router and not getting a strong signal. Download inSSIDer home ( http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/inssider.html ) to see how good your wireless connection actually is, as well as how congested your area is. If your router or wireless adapter has an antennae, you can build something like this: http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/ , very easily and gain some reception.

[Buffy]

Orinthia's solution is unique and not something I would have thought of, but it is a pretty good idea. Video would be better than music because of the higher bandwidth requirement.

Alternatively, purchase a new router, see if the problem continues. If it doesn't, great. If it does, return the router and tell your ISP you are getting dropped.

[Callisto]

Do you have other machines on your home network? If so, setup some shared folders, put some music or video in them, and play them across the network from another machine. The constant streaming won't harm your internet traffic, and if your home network is having problems, you'll know immediately due to a disconnect in the music/video (it stops, can't find host, etc).

Your area could also have heavy wireless traffic, as in many neighboring home wireless routers are all trying to use the same few channels, or you could be at the far reaches of your router and not getting a strong signal. Download inSSIDer home ( http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/inssider.html ) to see how good your wireless connection actually is, as well as how congested your area is. If your router or wireless adapter has an antennae, you can build something like this: http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/ , very easily and gain some reception.

I'll look into this, thanks. I just moved into a new place, had these issues at the previous apartment and didn't seem to for the first few weeks at the new one but they're cropping up now. Pretty much the only devices utilizing our own wireless network are our phones, anything that can be hardwired in our place is set up as such, I should definitely be able to stream things between devices for extended times and see if there's issues.

[Waraji]

Be warned about calling your ISP about your problems. If it turns out, that your network is getting drops, make sure you contact them under the guise that you do not run any 3rd party router. They will jump on the first sign of you not using their rented equipment to charge you for any Tech Visits (and there will be a lot) claiming its Clients Hardware problem, instead of theirs.

If you do manage to isolate this to being the ISP's problem, have their technicians visit only with your modem connected. Disconnect the router and hide it, toss the cables to the back and direct connect your PC. At some point they will probably ask you if you use a router or the sort, obviously do not answer yes. They are always trying to shove additional equipment down their customers throats, so don't let them sell you into renting a Wireless/Multiport Modem.

I had no choice in the matter of Modems, but I have completely disabled the onboard Wireless function on their modem, and have my own running off my router.

Edit: Yes I'm this paranoid about these asshole ISP's.

[Callisto]

Yeah my modem is at least not a wireless gateway. Comcast in my area is actually not bad, they have a retail shop where I can just bring my equipment and tell them it's not working properly and they'll swap it for a new one without really asking any questions.

[Siya]

Curious as I have a similar problem. Contacted ISP and they told me all the singals to my modem look good. However me and my gf are on the network, one day I will d/c every hour(ish) and she won't. Another day she'll d/c every hour and I won't. I assume that is the router? It's a modem/router built in one so I can't test the modem solely (or can I?).

[Buffy]

You could turn it off and connect a different wireless router.

[xopher]

Buy your own modem and get a different router. Those rented pieces of shit have usually gone through hell.

[Fiendishone]

Rather then starting a new thread I'll just post here instead:

Farking Nat 3 on my PS4. Googled shit, watched youtube shit, read walls of text blah blah blah.
I'm not a tech savey kinda guy sadly just would love to find a super easy walk through of how to get rid of Mr. Natmotherfucking3.
Dsl modem, Linksys E1200 wireless router.
I tried setting up a static IP, did the port forwarding to ports 80, 443, etc etc. And still hasn't changed.
Would love any tips/opinions/laughsatmystupidityofnotbeingabletohardlineconnect .

[Ratatapa]

Normally nat3 means blocked ports
I would give a link but ATM I cannot just look on Sony site for all ports used by ps4

[orinthia]

snip

You've tried this right? http://portforward.com/english/route.../E1200/PS4.htm

If it's still not working, maybe your dsl modem is also acting like a router and has its own settings you need to mess with (read: disable, turn off, etc).

[Fiendishone]

You've tried this right? http://portforward.com/english/route.../E1200/PS4.htm

If it's still not working, maybe your dsl modem is also acting like a router and has its own settings you need to mess with (read: disable, turn off, etc).

Yes, did all those plus found a list of additional ports (might have been for ps3 iirc).

[orinthia]

Plug your ps4 directly to the modem. If it works, reset your router to factory, upgrade firmware, put some custom settings back in (like wifi name, password, etc), turn on upnp, and try again. If ps4 gets nothing through the modem directly, then either your isp is being a dick or your modem itself is blocking access (it might be acting like a router without your knowledge). Try to log into the modem if you can or give its model number.

Could also temporarily make the port your ps4 uses a DMZ, meaning all traffic is unfiltered and allowed to pass. Last resort, but if it works...