Intermittent DSL connection too! HELP!

[Richard M Balling]

You would think if there was a problem with my setup, it would be consistent and be problematic all the time. But it’s not.

I’ve been reading threads trying to trouble shoot my connection. Looks like others have shared similar problems but I have yet to find any real answers.

It works well about 70% of the time. While other times it just stops working.
System and setup:

P3 800
Win/98SE
10/100 ethernet card
DSL (bell simpatico HSE)
Dumped their software, using RASPPPoE
When working I get between 750 790 kbits/s
IE:6

Symptoms:
1)I can go for days with no problems at all. Other times, out of the blue, my browser just will not load a page. The browser just goes blank (all white) and the status load bar at the bottom of my browser indicates it’s trying to load, but this CAN take several minutes before “the page cannot be displayed” appears. These periods of it not working can go from minutes (10 or 15) to hours (the most has been 4 hours at one time). Then out of the blue, it’ll decide to work again. This can repeat sometime a couple of times a day.

2)during the not working periods, the connect light on the modem stays on most of the time but flashes occasionally (as if there’s no service). The light might be on for say 10 min or so (still not working mind you), then begins to flash for 5 seconds, as if it were rebuffering to get signal. This process "usually" repeats for the duration of its non working period. Although there has been a time or two where I didn' t see it flash at all but it still wouldn't work (the light remains on)

3) The odd time I’ll even get booted off and the raspppoe will pop up and ask me if I want to reconnect. This has happened only a few times of it not working. Most of the time it follows step 2.

4)there is no pattern to this at all, it happens when it wants too, different times of the day / eve…then begins to work great again (with the regular speeds)

Things I’ve done to trouble shoot:
1)cleaned cookies;temp;history, still same result
2)logged off, then log back on, still same result.
3) rebooted computer, still same result.
4)turned off modem (let it sit for as long as 30 minutes), then turned it back on,log back on, still same result.
5)turned off everything,(computer and modem etc) come back later, still the same
6) turned off firewall and tried to surf. still same result. Browser acts the same way.
7)turned off the modem “while” connected and working properly to see if the browser acts as it does when it doesn’t work properly, it acted the same as when it decides to not work.
8) called tech support, they said their service is fine, must be my computer. Actually said it must be the raspppoe program (basically because I’m not using their program)

I learned that the box that services the entire block is about 20 houses away.

This is getting frustrating


btw...
A)the phone line from the wall to the modem is 6' (one that came with the modem)
B)doesn't make a difference if other programs are running in background or not.
C)the phone filters are all plugged in properly, this can happen
if the phone is used or not.


Richard

[Redo40]

Have you been to DSL Reports (http://www.dslreports.com/tools) and tried the tweak test? Also go to Raspppoe troubleshooting (http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~normanb/README9X.HTM#Section6) and see if anything there helps.

[Richard M Balling]

OK...here are my results, now what? Forgive me, I havn't a clue

http://monitor.dslreports.com/tweak/block:174b34e?service=dsl&speed=960&os=win98SE&via=raspppoe


my advertised speed from my provider is 960 kbits/sec

thanks in advance
Richard

[Redo40]

According to your results, to optimize your connection you need to up the Rwin. I doubt this will help with the problem you are having right now, tho it would help to speed up downloads. If you choose to change the settings for Rwin, you can download DRTCP and use it to change the settings. Did you look over the troubleshooting section at the Raspppoe site? Also, I notice that you are running Win98SE. When you downloaded raspppoe, did you also get the patch Windows 98 Second Edition Problems with NDIS Intermediate Drivers (http://download.microsoft.com/download/win98SE/Update/Q243199/W98/EN-US/243199US8.EXE)

[Richard M Balling]

Ok, just finished the tweak.

I did the ping and found my average.
my RWIN should be 23760.

(132x1.5)(960)/8=23760

downloaded DRTCP and rebooted.

My speed is 912 kbits/s now. not bad since advertised is 960.

I also noticed that it said that the tweak will improve "blank pages" So I hope my problem falls under that. lol

to answer your question, yes I did do the patch for Win98SE when I installed RasPPPoE.

A big thanks Redo40!!!

I hope this fixed things. I'll keep everyone updated here as to whether this did the trick (fingers crossed)

Richard

[Redo40]

Glad to see the speed up, which is about right, you never get the full advertised speed. Keep us posted.

[Richard M Balling]

Hmm...*update* ….it's acting up again. :mad:

tonight at about 9:00 I lost my connection. I got booted off...I looked at my modem, sure enough, the connection light was flashing (indicating no service)

So I phoned tech support. was on hold for 30 min before I got through, then we started trouble shooting.

1)before I called, I turned off my computer leaving just the modem on.. still no service
2)unplugged all phones including filters from their jacks (to see if it's a bad filter)...so nothing on the line but my modem. still no service.
3)turned off and reset the modem.

they asked me a bunch of questions, types of phones I have in the house. Whether I have a fax or satellite on the line. (I don't have anything else plugged into the line)

They suggested I disconnect my modem and move it to another phone jack in the house. Still after doing that, there was no signal.

After a few minutes, they were confused and put me on hold again.
After that, about ten minutes later IT DECIDED TO WORK.

They didn't do anything, and I didn't do anything different.

So I reconnected it to the computer and turned everything on and sure enough....it worked.

Now that it's working again, they can't test it so I was told to call back when it's not working again so it can be tested.

Problem is, twice earlier this week I tried to get through to them and it started to work while I was waiting to be served...so I hung up.

Looks like I have no choice but to play this cat and mouse game.

Btw did a speed test once it worked again and got a decent 917 kbits/s of the 960 that’s offered. About the only good thing so far lol.


Richard

[kittyfire]

Sync is always going to be a physical issue. There is never any time that losing sync on the modem is going to be caused by software. All that sync light is doing is telling you that the dsl signal is being seen on the phone line. If that light starts to blink at times, then goes back solid, you're having an intermittent sync issue. Common causes for intermittent sync include radio frequency interference and electromagnetic interference, line issues and modem failure. Within the immediate environment, is there any stereo equipment... any 900mhz cordless phones... any lines from speakers crossing the dsl line... any fans... Is there an alarm system that uses your phone line? Satellite?

[Richard M Balling]

*update*

been back and forth with tech support:

they sent me a replacement modem....it didn't work at all.no lights when turned on.

So they sent in a tech, checnged modems, different brand. Hope this does the trick.


Richard

[ezeebob]

I notice a slower boot time, or delays / Blackouts or Time-outs while waiting for webpages to load.

Generally this is Windows looking for a DHCP server, it does this every ten minutes or so, causing your web browsing to freeze for 30 seconds or so.

Windows 95, 98, ME
1. Right click on Network Neighborhood (My Network places)
2. Choose "Properties"
3. A new window will open
4. Highlight the TCP/IP bound to the Ethernet card that is connected to the DSL Modem
5. Click "Properties"
6. Choose the "IP Address" tab, specify, type 192.168.0.15
7. Set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0
8. "OK"

. Frequent network time-outs.
Old DLL files cause this problem. Please install the msdun13.exe patch available from Microsoft.
http://download.microsoft.com/msdownload/msdun/patch/1.3ug/en/MSDUN13.EXE

From http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe.htm#15

[Richard M Balling]

why specifically that IP range?

Richard

[ktkendall]

Hi Ezeebob;
I have been reading from that website and it seems to have quite a bit of good info, but I don't see how changing his IP address to that will even work. Where is he going to get his IP address from his ISP if he statically assigns the above mentioned setup??

[ezeebob]

That IP address is for the NIC (network Card) and will prevent windows from assigning one each time. The reason why you use these specific numbers is because those are internal numbers assigned to NIC's.

The other thing to check is in the NIC's properties that no power saving features are enabled.

This of course is only if you have a modem connected to a NIC.
If your using a USB modem disregard.

If it's a USB modem make sure you have the latest USB drivers
for your mobo. USB modems are known to be a bit of a pain
as for as connection reliability is concerned.
You could try a different USB port, sometimes that helps.

There is a very good forum at the site I mention earlier, the site's
owner Bob Carrick is very knowledgeable and could probably offer some help.

[glc]

If the DSL modem is connected to the NIC and you set that static IP, it's not going to work unless the modem is really a NAT router. You have to be misreading something.

[ezeebob]

Not to start a war here but you are mistaken.
Read for yourself. I have mine set up this way for the last three years and works fine.

http://www.carricksolutions.com/pppoe.htm#15

http://www.guardiandigital.com/docs/EnGarde-HTML-Manual/node36.html

http://support.earthlink.net/mu/1/psc/img/walkthroughs/broadband/Cable/2391.psc.html

http://support.earthlink.net/mu/1/psc/img/walkthroughs/broadband/Cable/2415.psc.html

http://www.google.com/search?q=NIC+static+ip+address&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off

[kittyfire]

Are you talking about using the 192 as a static on the local host if an IP is being obtained by a router?

[glc]

I respectfully yield to kittyfire who is a DSL support technician.

[kittyfire]

GLC's right. With a 192 static IP, you're not going to get out of the local loop and that's okay if you're having to force a machine to think it has a static ip and the router's able to take the dynamic assigned by the ISP. But that's a rare solution as the norm is to still have it set to assigned automatically and the router assigns it. I've seen it have to be forced with a pseudo static rarely. Normally, you don't want anything in the tcp/ip stack other than assigned automatically.

I don't see what this has to do with an intermmitent sync issue. Sync is not software related in any shape, form nor fashion. Make the IP anything you want but it won't resolve an intermittent sync issue.

[ktkendall]

I thought we were talking DSL modem direct to PC here, cause I statically assign mine but I have a router.

[Richard M Balling]

Well, I've had this new (different brand) modem now for nearly a week and "so far" it's been consistently working.

I'd take the sync issue a step further and say it has nothing to do with the computer (in my case) PERIOD!!!! As I mentioned earlier in my post... I disconnected the modem from my computer, moved the modem to another jack on the other side of the house, plugged it in there and watched it have no sync (while on the phone with tech support).....then after about 15 minutes, it decided to regain sync!

Nothing else was on my line, NO satellite, alarm, 900mhz phone...nothing!!(but the phone I was talking on)

So there you have it...... it appears that

-the original modem didn't work
-the replacement modem didn't work (at all in fact)
-the third modem (another brand) appears to have * SO FAR * fixed my situation

But now I'm working crazy hours and don't spend much time on here to see if it actually works like it should.

Richard