Periodic disconnects..

[kgn]

Hello,

I'm currently a user of comcast cable internet service.. I have a Surfboard5120 cable modem by Motorola I use for my connectivity. Also in the loop from the wall to my computer, I have a Linksys 4-Port Switch/Router. About once a day, if not more.. I seem to randomly get disconnected from EVERYTHING (AIM, IRC, Game Servers, SSH Connections to unix boxes), you name it.. my connection drops it. This only lasts for about 3-8 seconds and everything goes back to normal. I'm wondering if I have a bad line someplace, but I've check all the lines.. they all seem to be just fine. No cracks, exposed wires or holes.

I hope someone can help me find a solution to my situation!

Thanks in advance,

Ken

EDIT: I also am using a "VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter" as a NIC Card, its an onboard unit.. if this matters. Also, Running Windows XP w/ SP2.

[kgn]

Just an little update i forgot to post before..

I've called Comcast a few times, each time they say that during the times I claim this happens, their has been no problems with my modem communicating with their side of the network.. so this only leads me to believe it might be a bad NIC.. but i'm unsure of where to get drivers for my NIC to try that.. its a VIA Compatable Fast Ethernet Adapter.. its an On board piece of crap.

Thanks again

[GroundZero3]

do you have any other computer on the network that closes connection also?

When you lose it, can you still access the router (kind of difficult to test)

Update the firmware for the router maybe?

[NAX]

how do you know if it is only 3-8 secs long? What exactly happens

[Gilthanaz]

I have a similar problem with nearly the same setup. I was going to post my own thread, but I saw this one. I have charter cable internet service as my ISP, and I'm using a motorola surfboard modem. I am behind the same linksys router, which splits my internet connection to two (sometimes three) PCs. This all started when I came home from a trip. Before going away, everything worked fine. After returning, nothing worked. No internet connection at all. I called my ISP and they told me to let the modem "rest" for about 5-6 hours, and then try again. I shut everything down overnight and surprisingly it worked the next day.

But now I have a new problem, my connection is intermittant. However mine drops out about once every 3-5 mintues, for no more than a seccond or two. I called the ISP again and they couldnt really help any, so they scheduled a guy to come check out the lines and modem. Unfortunately he didnt come when he was supposed to and no one was home. Itl be a week before they can schedule me in again.

I've ruled out any individual computer and its NIC as the problem because this problem exists on all my systems. I also eliminated my router by bypassing it, the problem still persisted. Web surfing isnt really hindered by this problem, however downloading, using AIM and playing games online is nigh impossible. I've tried using ipconfig/release and ipconfig/renew, and nothing. Restored my router to factory defaults, nothing. Put it back how I had it, still nothing.

Can I rule out my cable line as the problem if my cable TVs are working just fine?

I need some help here, itl be a week before the cable guy can come and chances are he wont be able to fix it. The only thing I can think of is my modem is screwed. I've never had to let it "rest" before. I may just buy a new one and try it out.

Any assistance would be appriciated.

[kgn]

how do you know if it is only 3-8 secs long? What exactly happens

If you would of read my original post.. it states..

I get disconnected from everything for a breif amount of time 3-8 seconds.. when I say everything, i mean it. Downloads will stop, I'll get disconnected from AIM & IRC.. I'll get disconnected from a game server, if thats what i'm doing at the moment.. basically everything just dies. All the lights on the modem and router are normal.

The steps i'm in the process of taking..

1. I already upgraded the NIC drivers
2. I'm currently trying to upgrade firmware on the router
3. If all else fails, i'm gonna upgrade the BIOS

GroundZero3,

Yes it happens to everything on my line going from my router..
Two PC's, Xbox and PS2. Obviously the ps2 and xbox aren't on at the same time.. well they could be but they never are.. Regardless, it doesn't matter whats on the line and/or in what jack in the router, everything dies for the lil 3-8 second bulllcrap.

[NAX]

STUPID 56K KEEPS MAKING ME DOUBLE POST!!

[NAX]

lol my question really should have been do downloads stop but you answered it anyway

Does pluging your modem directly into the computer work?

Has this problem just arisen or has it happened since you started using the setup or did it work for a while?

Gilthanaz:
Have you tried to reset the modem? There is normally a small recessed button on the back, I had a major problem with DSL i.e. downloads >5KBps and thats what solved it!

[gigahertz205]

your cable line is messed up. that happened to me for a while, but it stopped after i got a new cable

[Gilthanaz]

Update-

For the heck of it I decided to bypass my router and connect my modem directly to my main computer. Bingo, worked just fine. I've now found the problem and its in the router, except the router settings haven't been changed in over 6 months. There is a newer firmware version available, but I cant seem to find where to put it after downloading.

[kgn]

I updated my firmware drivers for my Router, everything seems to be solid now.

[NAX]

yeh thats what I was thinkin. Didn't think firmware wud fix it tho!
Did you try resetting the router or powering it down for a while to cool off?

Can't help much with the firmware thing, normally it's just an executable that you run nothing fancy.

[Gilthanaz]

Well the one im finding is not an executible. The firmwhere is on an EEPROM chip in the router, not a directory on my system, so i dont know what to do with this .bin file once I download it.

[NAX]

is there not a flash utility?
Mabey it's a separate download on the same site. The flash utility will use the bin file.

[jrsweger]

Read the manual, it probably tells you how to update your bios.

[Gilthanaz]

Ah, i got it. I had to do it through the browser-based router setup. Amazingly enough, updating the firmware seems to have fixed the problem. Almost seems like too easy a solution, heh. Connection has been pretty stable all day.