Weird Internet Problem

[hartken]

I am having a very strange problem. I use a program to do work at home, and it keeps freezing up because packets are being lost. The weird thing is that I have two computers (a desktop in my office, and a laptop), and it is only freezing up when I work on it downstairs. I tried changing the wire, and also switched computers with no luck. Now the wire downstairs is shorter than the one that goes upstairs. The one upstairs is over 50' and goes out a window, and it works the best out of all of them!

I talked to the tech support at my office and they had me ping the server. All the times were under 50ms. The software the office uses Citrix (http://www.citrix.com) which I believe connects into a mainframe. What will happen is my program will first freeze, and then the internet will be very slow. I will be talking on my phone, and I hear 2 highly pitched tones that last about a second or two. I have DSL, and maybe this means something? Could it be interference? I have a lamp by my computer, and a big CRT TV set with a DirecTV receiver about a foot away from my modem, and 3 feet away from my computer. Would putting in a router help? I have no problem at all surfing the web. I download off of p2p and torrent sites and never saw a download stop. When this program freezes though, I can't do anything on the internet. If I try to load a webpage, or ping, I get no response. When the program resumes, I can surf the internet just find.

The IT support say their systems are working fine without a problem. Any suggestions?

[TallTravel]

I am sure you know this, but here it is just in case:

All DSL connections in the house must have a filter on them. If you have any phones anywhere in the house, they must have a DSL filter on them between the wall and the phone. Have you confirmed each of the connections has a filter on it?

I mention this only because I don't see any mention of a filter in your post.

[glc]

What DSL modem do you have? How are the 2 computers connected to it?

[hartken]

I have a DSL filter on each of my phones, but not on the modem. It goes outlet->filter->wire->phone.The modem is a Westell Model 6100.

I connect it by ethernet wires straight from the modem to each of the computers. I have a wire going to both locations, and disconnect and connect when I want to switch. I am low on money so I plan on buying a router in a little bit.

I noticed a couple of things since my last post. I brought the laptop up off the table by putting a book under the back so air could go through it. The connection is better and it doesn't get so hot. It fixed the problem of it disconnecting when the modem was okay.

However now I am getting a lot of problems where the modem just looses the connection. I see the DSL and Internet lights blink off, and then blink on again. It takes about 30 seconds for it to reset, and happens more often at night than during the day. Do you think there is something where the service isn't as good during peak hours? The phone line I am on is crystal clear, however I just moved in and had to wire up the line straight to the box outside, with regular telephone wire coming in through a window. Do you think putting in regular phone cable will do anything?

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by hartken I have a DSL filter on each of my phones, but not on the modem. It goes outlet->filter->wire->phone.The modem is a Westell Model 6100. The phone line I am on is crystal clear, however I just moved in and had to wire up the line straight to the box outside, with regular telephone wire coming in through a window. Do you think putting in regular phone cable will do anything?

Well, the truth comes out!!!!!!!!! lol!

One old timer told me when he was teaching me about networking diagnostics some 15 years ago: It is always the cable.

Of course, it isn't, but that statement of his has stuck with me for years.

Back to your comments above: not sure what you mean by regular phone wire. Do you mean the stuff that is packaged in most modem boxes, with RJ - 11 connectors at either end to connect to the back of the phone, the back of the computer (modem), and the wall jack? Or are you talking about Cat 5 or Cat 6 (Category 5 or 6) wire with RJ - 45 (Ethernet uses these, they are similar but wider connectors) connectors on them?

They are very similar inside, almost identical to one another, except for some ciritcal differences: shielding....which reduces interference, protects the wires' ability to transmit without errors, etc....

So it might be worth correctly wiring the phone line to the interior of the home, then through the connection into the wall, with permanent wiring....

[hartken]

Yes, it is the phone line that comes in a box to plug in a wall to the phone. What I did was cut one end off, and attach it to the box outside my house, and run it in through the window. My phone reception is crystal clear with no static, but my DSL modem keeps going off and going on. The internet with this is no problem, I just get back on when the modem comes back online. But this application will end if the connectiont drops. Should I look into a new modem, or check the wire, or call up my ISP.

[glc]

First thing I would do is get a phone technician over there to get all your wiring squared away from the box to the jacks.

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by glc First thing I would do is get a phone technician over there to get all your wiring squared away from the box to the jacks.

I agree. I have found many times that cables and wires are far more important than many people realize. They are often overlooked