Adelphia cable issue: cannot connect to other cable users in same neighborhood.

[routhic]

I'll keep this simple to avoid getting hung up on like I do with the Adelphia tech support after they promised that:
a) it was their fault
b) they will fix it

I have adelphia cable (Yorba Linda, CA if it makes a difference). Dynamic IP, no server hosting. Yada yada yada.

I have three friends with cable through the same company (friend A, B, and C). I also have many friends who use various dialups, DSL, etc.

Using AIM (Aol instant messenger) I sometimes will be unable to connect to Adelphia friend A and B (live near me), but I will always be able to connect to friend C, or anyone else in the universe for that matter.

The same goes for Arranged Team on Battle.net in Warcraft III.

This isn't a firewall issue, because we adelphia users in the same neighborhood can turn off firewalls and still be unable to connect. We've tried everything and tested with other friends with different ISPs etc. The problem is with the cable provider, I am almost 100% sure it isn't the modems, cat5, router, firewall, OS, anything like that.

I should note email is functional and pings remain constant (very good downloads) regardless of whether I can connect to my neighborhood friends.

It's just that SOMETIMES we are unable to connect to each other.

So, we tried some ghetto research into it. We noticed that when we COULD connect to each other we had different IPs for the last two sets of digits. When we COULDN'T, we had very similar IPs (almost down to the last two digits).

Adelphia, after claiming they could fix this, and that it was indeed their problem, declined to help and hung up on me.

My friend (he knows a bit more than me) somehow switched his DNS server. Adelphia "punished" him for a day or so, removing all internet access.

My question is this: Is there any way to fool Adelphia into letting is remain on different servers if this is in fact the problem? Is there any way to fix this problem, or perhaps word it in such a way that it falls under the category of internet or email (for example, not a "game" but instead some sort of technical term I could use to maybe legally force them to provide tech support with the issue)?

Thank you very much for reading and/or providing some sort of help. I found these forums just last week and I was able to solve two long-standing computer issues just by looking back a few days in the threads.

[DVNT1]

Welcome to TechIMO routhic!

As for helping you get around the ISP's TOS (Terms of Service), that isn't appropriate in this forum.

That said, I have two initial thoughts. For the ISP to have a TOS that blocks you from using another DNS is really strange. Perhaps this isn't really a TOS item, just an assumed one because Internet access was lost(?).

As for being able to AIM constantly except a few within your own ISP network, that sounds a little like an ISP routing issue. Although even more like routing if it was a constant problem.

I would call the ISP multiply times until you get a Tech. support person who can help you. Because, if it is a routing problem, there isn't anything else you can do about it.

[osprey4]

Have you tried running a traceroute to friend C? Or maybe go over to DSLReports and run the tweak test?

[mlee97]

I also have Adelphia Cable and have lots of problems with them ... it seem as though they are staffed with brilliant technical people (2 of them to be precise) while all the others are extreme newbee's that don't have a clue, and don't like to be shown up.
When I call for tech sup. I try to get a certain person, so in CA perhaps you could ask for their BEST techie, maybe you'll get lucky and they'll put the one guy on who can fix it ...

[mdroth]

I've got a friend who works for adelphia- I'll get ahold of him and see if he has any ideas for you.

mike

[routhic]

Well I have called tech support several times.... it's almost funny what I got from them.

First time I call I get their usual level 1 rep. He claims it is Adelphia's fault. I will be called back by an "engineer" within a few days.

So, I let a few days pass, and call back. The level one guy boots me up to level 2. Level 2 rep says that it is in the unix department, and is being worked on.

Come home a few days later, message on the machine saying that everything has been fixed, call if more problems crop up (nothing is fixed).

I call back, get booted to level 2.5 because this level 2 guy has his "supervisor" helping him. Basically he tells me that it isn't a web browsing issue nor is it a email issue, so I can't be helped. I try to convince him that AIM is used by... everyone, and that Warcraft 3 is a major game and that he can't dismiss it as battle.net's fault. Then he proceeds to tell me that nobody else has called in with a problem, and that other AIM users are running it fine (I'm sure Adelphia monitors AIM conversations to ensure their service is running great). I ask if I had my friends call in with the same problem will that fix anything, and he says no. I ask why not and he trails off and hangs up.

Thank you for your suggestions so far. The terms of service says I can't host a server nor can I stick to one IP... I was hoping there was a loophole, not breaking the agreement.

[iHack-M1k3]

I have this exact same problem, and have been unable to find anyways to fix it without adelphia freaking out, if anybody knows of a way to fix it that would be greatly appreciated. ~ Mike

[pickel]

Off topic...I had cable for years and then realized how they were screwing me. After repeated attempts to resolve my problems, finally RIPPED their cable off my house and threw it in the street. it was that BAD. Even though DSL is a bit slower, Bellsouth has ALWAYs provided excellent service and thier Tech support is always available and able to resolve my problems the first time. If you can't get DSL in your area maybe my words were wasted. Good Luck !