Connection to internet keeps dieing.

[Dynash]

Right, here is my dilemma.
I have read various posts after weeks of getting extremely pissed off!
I read one post on some website, If i get the time i'll post it. anyway, the post was the guy was connected to the net, than all of a sudden, randomly his wireless router kept dieing.
Whenever he reseted it, it let him re-connect, but then he would get an error from Windows saying there was an conflicting IP with the router, he then set his settings in advanced TCP/IP settings, to automatically detect settings.
That took the Windows IP conflicting error away, but the problem with the router dieing all the time still remained.
People where replying tell him to change his settings, so that he had another IP address for each computer on the network, he did this, but still the router kept dieing whenever he connected from ANY computer.
He changed his Mac address for each computer, and the IP that was assigned to it, and made sure it was all set correctly.

Now onto my problem...
I done ALL of the above about 10 times, for the last 4 weeks this has been doing this, i've had no problems like this until now, and my network has been setup correctly for nearly 4 years.
well, I asked my brother, he said it was a conflicting IP, he told me to do what was described above, I told him i done that about 50 times it still finds the need to die on me.
well, before I got it to work, I was sitting here for about 6 hours fiddling with all the settings, then i thought, "i'll restart the computer, and routers, see what that does", well it worked, I was amazed that it started to work, it worked for like 20 mins. (note at this time, i switched from the wireless over to the Ethernet cable, as the wireless completely died, i couldn't even connect to the router manager thing.
Well, after the 20 mins, it died again. I have no idea what is causing it. It's not my brother that is doing it, it's me. He isn't even on the PC right now, only I am. as i said it's been dandy for years until now for no reason.

oh, and I set my settings to run off like 5 different Mac addresses, I even reset it to the default and changed things so it would work it never. I've tried about 50 IP's from the xxx.xxx.x.2 - xxx.xxx.x.100 range.
here are the stats:

Router: Scientific Atlanta, 2100
Wireless: Belkin - F5D7230-4
OS: Windows XP SP2: MCE Edition.

Any help would be great. I can connect for like 2 mins at a time every time i reset, so I can currently check for replies.
I'll get my bro to have a shot when he gets up too.

:( - edit: sorry the post is so huge, didn't seem big when i was typing..

[david432111]

The only option for you would be to get a new router, as I see it, it's the router that keeps on dieing which would mean that the router is at fault here.

[Dynash]

I was right all along. I said to my brother when it first happened that it was our ISP, because for the last 6 odd months they have been upgrading the network to offer 50mb download broadband. Well today he finally agreed with me that it was indeed our ISP and not me.

So it's fixed now XD

for the meantime it's working. Fingers crossed it will stay that way.

[BananaMaster]

I was right all along. I said to my brother when it first happened that it was our ISP, because for the last 6 odd months they have been upgrading the network to offer 50mb download broadband. Well today he finally agreed with me that it was indeed our ISP and not me.

So it's fixed now XD

for the meantime it's working. Fingers crossed it will stay that way.


Who's your ISP, As I'm just wondering as something like this is happening to me.

[AxisHOST]

Sounds semi-fishy.

[Dynash]

oh, nothing more than just Virgin-Media. They are crap.
@Axis: Fishy how? :/

[YourData1st]

I've had that problem with every Linksys router I've ever had... Ever 30 minutes of inactivity they would drop off and I would have to retest them. After hours of research it turns out to either be the ISP (happened with both Comcast and Verison) or the Linksys firmware. So what I started doing is installing third party firmware on my routers and have never had to restart the router again. Here's what I got:

Tomato 1.3 on (1) Linksys WRT54G
DD-WRT2 mini on (3) Linksys WRT54Gv8

Why you ask do I run 4 wireless routers?
1) They are cheaper then wireless NIC's
2) Wireless spectrum covers EVERYWHERE!
3) They include a 4 port switch so I can hook up other devices and not have to run cat5 all over the house.

[Decker]

oh, nothing more than just Virgin-Media. They are crap.

If you'd said that at first I'd have clicked straight away :wink2:

We've got VM at home and Telewest Business, both suck, constant outages due to their network not being able to handle the demands.
Once I even had to tell the enginers how to fix their DHCP assignment problems when their servers weren't assigning IP's to cable modems... Jeezus, they suck big time.

[Dynash]

4 Months we've been with them, we've had about nearly 3 weeks downtime overall. The longest downtime was about 2 days. And, you check the website it says "Everything is fine" same with the bot on the phone :P

[Decker]

Had the same problem, it took them 3 days to believe me (only when I phoned to cancel service did they take it seriously) and 5 weeks to respond to a support ticket logged on their site (so tempted to add a bit about another company that took that sort of time to respond...), their online reporting/support system isn't worth a toss, they don't use it!

[BananaMaster]

oh, nothing more than just Virgin-Media. They are crap.
@Axis: Fishy how? :/


Ow ok, My ISP is Orange Home, there having big problems. I'm one of the lucky ones that can get the internet on one PC at a time, Some of there customers have been without the internet for about a week now.

[YourData1st]

Do you guys have other choices? I think the only two choices I have a verizon fios and comcast, but at least its a choice.

[Dynash]

There is, Bulldog, Virgin, BT, Telewest, Pipex, Tiscali, Sky, that's all I can think of right now. And, most of them are child companies of the others, Virgin & Telewest for example. also Tiscali now owns Pipex.

[Decker]

There are many providers, but really only 2 physical networks for consumers.

BT - (mainly copper) network, used by many providers simply reselling the service without any management of their own for switch/router estate, some do, though it was always hindered by BT trying to retain a monopoly after LLU was introduced. Very seldom (if at all) can you use another provider unless you already have a contract with BT to supply the line first! BT also have BT Wholesale for business users.

Telewest/NTL/Virgin Media - fibre network,piggyback on the copper network to 'provide' only also. Virgin is the domestic end with telephony/ISP/entertainment (that's TV to you and me) Telewest/NTL is the business end, although it's still the same, just branding.

So really we have 2 networks and a few more suppliers/providers (middlemen) in the UK - gives them a feeling of power you see :wink2:

[YourData1st]

it sucks not having real choices. What kind of speeds do you guys get?

[Decker]

Depends on the area, even though they advertise 20M (in small print maximum, but you may not get it) most are limited to 5M or less. Unless you stump up for a dedicated line.

[Dynash]

Yeah, with all broadband though it's split between about 10-20 people so you never get the full download. But Virgin are seriously annoying me, it's cutting off even more frequently to where it's almost impossible to use. My area they advertise, 2mb, 10mb, 20mb, and "coming soon 50mb". Bet the network on the 50mb will be just as crap.

[YourData1st]

In the US they advertise 2m up and 5m down. We just started getting 5m up and 15m down, about a year ago, but you have to pay a premium for it.

[Dynash]

I'm phoning them up tomorrow, I've reached my limit. So has my brother.
The only thing that is working perfectly is the phone. (it broke once, the box on the wall fried).
More chat of getting told to refresh my cookies and delete my cache me thinks.

[Dynash]

It's official. They are even worse!
I phoned up 150, connects me, surprise it's a bot talking for about 10 mins about it being free blah. selected the options, then it tells me, the number for technical support has changed (she said that was good news I fail to see how :tired2:) then it says "if you want support right now, dial this number or this number", one of them was 151 (the new good number) or I could phone something like 0606111111, and get charged 25p/min with a 50p connection charge. Rip off!

So I phoned 151 right after, she told me exactly the same thing! She said "The technical support number has changed" (Duh, that's why I'm calling :tired2:) then she said if I wanted help I had to call that premium number. I'm so annoyed right now, they never help apart from telling me the typical BS that's scripted. Then when you raise your voice and start getting ultra peed off, they make meaningless threats about getting the police involved then cut you off.

Seriously, Virgin suck. My connection cutting off is getting even worse. I should be allowed to quit this contract like 6 months early? because they aren't exactly offering a service to me, if it's constantly offline and unusable. So I'm paying for nothing.

[bryonhost1]

Hi!
I've got Embarq/used to be Sprint DSL here..and it rocks. Only one downtime..but it was a ugly affair. I am bringing in charter on a very short leash next month...as a backup if I feel it's really needed.

As with any connection...it depends on many factors.

Right now I'm at 3M..and I typically download from the biggies (Microsoft/Sun) at 350K/s. They do have one higher speed...and I've learned I can move it up and down at my leisure..as long as I give them three days lead.

Freeware sites like download.com come in at 56K/Sec..but hey...it's free.

Last week..I downloaded over 12GB from Microsoft alone. Go Go Speed Raceeeeeerrrrr!

Bryon

[Decker]

Virgin Media - todays tell tale sign!

Calls 151 - on demand TV not working
VM - Okay disconnect the power
Me - okay done and rebooted the decoder
VM - okay I've rebooted it from here
Me - no you haven't I just cycled the power!
VM - I sent it a signal
Me - when I powered it off, nevermind it's working now
VM - please enjoy our service
Me - so what was it a failed firmware update
VM - pardon?
Me - software update failed?
VM - please enjoy our service
Me - you don't know do you
VM - please enjoy our service
Me - thanks, bye
VM - please enjoy our service
Me - hangs up and swears out loud!!!

[Dynash]

The only thing I am actually pleased about is my TV.
Once in awhile it does screw, and the sound lags behind the picture, and it goes to a load of huge purple, red pixels. (reminds me of Freeview). The only company I can think of right now that wont be as bad a Telewest & Virgin, is Sky.

The UK has got to have the worst set of ISPs known to man :p
(¬_¬ Just as I was writing this, it cut out twice! Thats like every 20 seconds).

[Decker]

Back to VM broadband :D
I had a look over my peerguardian logs this morning, and you should see the amount of incomming traffic that's blocked - with no apps open :eek3:

[YourData1st]

just don't forget to enjoy your service!

[Decker]

You being funny :P

[bryonhost1]

Hi!
Ouch. Well..the US may lag the rest of the world on broadband speed...but at least it is extremely reliable. Only one time since I moved here in March was it dead..but it was very, dead for almost 24 hours. Still...I was able to use dialup to check email..at least it was doable.

I have also used dialup to do remote desktop...and it works a lot better than you might think. Charter came calling yesterday...and I am tempted. Backup broadband connection..and extended basic cable for a reasonable price.

Still...dunno.

Bryon

[Dynash]

I just got off the phone with the "support" at Virgin Media.
As usuall the customer is always wrong, I apprently have no idea what I'm talking about, and that's coming from 5 different people telling me the same thing from a script. Screw them, Guess who fixed it? Moi.

VM never helped at all, my bro called about 3 times in a row, then talked to the Insurance company about his network card blah, and then I had a fiddle, and I got on the phone, before they spoke about how they would like to help, (I was that pissed at them) I just told him straight to shh, while I told him the problems and that I've already done about 60 ipconfig crap.

Oh, and guess how long I was waiting? At least 30 mins, I got through half of Leona Lewis's album! The time before that, the second I called back right after my brother, they hung up right away after I gave him the name/phone # etc.

I so hope VM gives it's customers some sort of support evaluation, I guess the support being useless is main reason they haven't yet? :P Anyway, so far it's all working :D

edit: oh, phone 151 and listen to the amount of problems with broadband there are in London xD
And, once again, L4 (Liverpool) has gone offline completely, this is like the 6th time in the last few months.