Cable Internet Problem

[Javonovich]

Hey, all. For about a year now i have had cable internet problems. I am disconnected randomly and when i try to repair the connection i am given a message saying that it cannot renew the ip address. I just moved recently and had the same problem at my old house, so i am sure its not a problem with the poles or electrical interference. I use an ethernet adapter and have no splitters. I replaced the coxial and got a new modem, but the problem still persists. The cable company insists its not on their end. I just don't know what the problem is. The cable tech guy is coming to screw around with the telephone pole, but i KNOW its just a waste of time. My firewall is currently off. I have no idea what is going wrong, does anyone have any ideas? Could the problem possibly be in the configuration? Oh, and i don't have any viruses and spyware on my computer either. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[mairving]

I would seriously doubt that it is in the cofiguration. More than likely it is the modem or the connection. I would probably suspect the modem even though it is a replacement. The low-level tech support people at cable and DSL are usually completely clueless. They always insist that it is not on their end.

[Javonovich]

Clueless is right. Well then how can this possibly be fixed if i don't have full cooperation from the people who are supposed to help me in the first place. I replaced it many times, so its probobly not the modem. But how can it be the connection? I might be able to look into that.

[scomac]

One thing you might want to check is to see if you have a static IP or a dynamic IP address. If you have a dynamic address (one that changes periodically) and you have your system set up for a static IP that could cause problems, and vice versa. That is easy to check in your internet options. You could try and call the cable company to see if you have a static IP.

Scomac

[Javonovich]

I think i have a static ip address, but i am not sure. How do i change the setup for either type of address?

[scomac]

You need to go into internet options and click on the 'connections' tab. Then toward the bottom there is a box that says 'lan settings' click there and make sure that 'automatically detect settings' is checked.

When you signed up for your cable internet, did they give you any discs to install? I know when I got my broadband connection, they gave me a disc that installed "QIC assistant" which is a diagnostic tool to help troubleshoot problems. Then if you had problems and needed to call support, the assistant would generate a log file. Or, you could run the assistant and troubleshoot the problem yourself.

The problem about checking about the dynamic and static IP's is this: I have everything run thru my router, so I don't show the normal connection on my system that you would. Hopefully, someone else has some other ideas.

Wish I could have been more help but here are a couple sites that give some really helpful pointers with FAQ's and Q&A's:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/cabletech
http://www.cable-modems.org/index.htm

Maybe you can find some information in those.

Scomac

[lpc300]

You also may want to check your ethernet card (or however you connect to your modem). I ran into the same problem and it turned out to be a defective USB to ethernet device.

[Javonovich]

I don't know, i am just stumped. Its just so much of a waste of my time. At least with Dial-up i have a solid connection. I tried everything. I can't fix it, the techs at the cable company can't fix it; no1 can fix it. Its just so frustrating. I don't even use it all day long, i just like to have an hour here and there every so often. Oh well.