Oddity of my net connection

TheBattousai · Post by **TheBattousai** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:17 pm

I connect to the net via cable modem (service by Comcast). Since there are three computers in the house, we got a router to give them all internet access. However, lately I have either not been able to access the internet or it crawls like no other. The one time we called for tech support (a fun experience, like they always are...), the guy suggested unplugging our router for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Suprisingly enough, it worked, but I still have the same problem every now and then. Can anyone tell me what the problem is and how I might be able to permanetly solve it??? Thanks in advance.

BillyGoat · Post by **BillyGoat** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 11:53 pm

what kinda router and modem are you useing, how long have you been with comcast and whats been the history(problems as of lately or always)

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 6:26 am

If you need to reset the router occasionally to fix the problem, then I'd say you have a bad router. It might just need a BIOS upgrade.

Next time it happens though, try resetting the modem (unplug for 10 seconds and turn back on). That's a common problem with cable - modem losing connectivity. If that seems to fix the problem and it happens often then you probably have a weak signal.

Do you have a home run coax cable going to the modem? The modem should be conencted DIRECTLY to the splitter outside the house and not split again (for instance it should not be split with a TV in the room it's located in). If you did the installation yourself then you may have just split the signal inside.

Your bandwidth and packet loss are directly proportional to the signal strength. I've had clients have problems that 90% of the time were fixed by Comcast coming out and installing a home run. Usually they'll do it for free - it varies. If you ask for it they'll charge you, but if you complain about poor performance repeatedly it's one of the things the tech will do to try and fix it.

TheBattousai · Post by **TheBattousai** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 8:12 pm

BG- Its a Netgear RP114 and some RCA modem (no clue other than that). I've had Comcast as an internet provider for a couple years, and i used to have problems with a bad modem, but this problem seemed to just started occuring about a month or two ago (I'd had the new modem and router so several months by that time).

FP- I have turned off the power, but never unplugged the modem. Does that make a difference, because turning it off hasn't helped. As to the cable splitting, I'm not sure. I'm gonna look into that next, and maybe with some luck I can find someone with a router I can borrow and see if that is the problem. Also, how would you do the BIOS upgrade?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Apr 24, 2003 10:36 pm

Unplug, turn off, doesn't matter. Most modems don't have a power switch on them.

Go to the manufacturer's web site, download the BIOS update, run the program. It may ask you for the router's IP address and then it updates the BIOS.

ShibasScotch · Post by **ShibasScotch** » Fri May 02, 2003 2:03 pm

hey there, FP is right, you need to flash the router firmware, it is a common problem with that router i have the same one, and after flashing it, it works fine