Modem issues (?) Help please

[Smurvis]

Lately, my internet has been dying. Randomly I would get "Internet Explorer cannot load the page." My other friends on the network would be having the same problem. Sometimes at the same time as me, sometimes at other times. Online games will random zero out, or disconnect without warning. Sometimes when I try to access my router, I get the same "Internet Explorer cannot load the page" error.

Based on that, I thought the router was the problem, because you should always be able to access the router I thought. So I switched it... and still had the same problem.

I tried setting the QoS on the router... the technician on the phone at suddenLink communications said that it sounded like a virus or an upload cap issue (file sharing programs). QoS didn't help. Same problem.

He said that according to their readings... my modem was just fine. But my friend says that they told him the same thing and he had a technician come out and inspect it... and he told my friend that the modem had gone bad.


So what does this sound like? I may need to buy a new modem... it's definitely not the router cause I've tried THREE. It's either a virus (can they infect the network as a whole and do this stuff?) or the modem. And I want to know how reliable "Your modem is fine" actually is coming from these guys.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

Well everyone always likes to bash Tech support, and quite a few times they're justified. So while it is possible it's a virus, if you've run virus scans on all the computers on the network (assuming there is a small number, also make sure to run an online virus scan as well), and they've come up empty you can rule that out. Most viruii only affect one computer though, so really if yours is clean it should be no problem.

So from what you've described it does seem to be a problem with either the modem, or your connection to the ISP. If you have cable it could be that the cable is not giving a clear enough signal to keep you connected (had this problem in my apartment so I have to split from the living room to my bedroom because my bedroom is crappily wired). Either way you should be able to get a technitian to come out for free to check your line and your modem, and I would advise getting this done since you're checked the router and done virus scans. Only other thing is make sure your modem and router are getting proper ventilation as overheating could cause this as well.

Another thing I would try is when the problem comes up, disable and renable your network connection and see if that fixes it. Sometimes after inactivity your connection might get severed and needs to be reestablished. You should be able to right click on your network (network neighborhood, whatever it's called on the desktop) and goto properties and then right click on your connection and click disable, wait a few seconds, then click enable.

Also if you have the manual to your router you should be able to check if the modem is actually connected to the internet from there. I know I can with mine, but all of them are different so who knows.

[JPS]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

I always have the same exact problems youre describing, and its from a lousy ISP...if you have an off-the-wall ISP, my bet is on them

[Smurvis]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

Trust me, rebooting and disable/reenable doesn't work worth a damn. It fixes it... for about 5 minutes, if that. It really doesn't help much at all.

I'm about at my wits end. Friend said that the virus could be flooding the router and @$#%ing with it.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

Possible but unlikely. If you want to make sure then just get the firmware for your router and install it. You should be able to goto the manufacturers site and get a firmware for it and then update it. This will overwrite all software on the router and reset all your settings. Also getting rid of any virus on there. Plus it would have been doing this on all your routers.

I've never heard of one attacking a modem either, though those you can usually reset by leaving off for an hour or so.

[JPS]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

also depends on your IP, if you have a fixed ip someone could simply be flooding it purposely, if you have an alternating IP id say its probably either what coolness said or what you just said

as for the question about how reliable their answers are...if they cant find out what it is, theyll just say its fine just so they dont embarrass theirselves by saying "i dont know"

[Smurvis]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

He was allegedly reading something that said my modem worked just fine.

And it was suddenlink, the people who bought out Cox Communications. Pretty big cable provider out here.

I just don't know... but it's ******* me off. Already reset the router settings, reformatting some other computers on the network, screwed with the modem...

More updates tomorrow.

[thetruecoolness]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

If it's free I would get them to send out a technician to check your line and your modem, because I would bet those are what are causing it. And if not you just limited the possibilities to some kind of crazy virus.

I think more tech support people should admit when they don't know and ask a superior, or google. People and their pride.

[jvrlopez]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

Are you modem lights doing anything odd? Going out every so often?

I had a similar problem, called someone in to look at my computer, had them tell me it was my modem, called in the cable provider, and they issued a new one which just worked fine.

[Smurvis]

Re: Modem issues (?) Help please

Looking like a virus. Friend reformatted a couple of computers on the network, and everything's been running smooth for today.

More updates tomorrow.