Frequent 'No Connection' Problem, and Install Disc ?'s

[Tubusy]

My main problem is that my broadband connection cuts out randomly, it seems to be around every 15-20 miuntes at the moment. It only goes dead for perhaps 2-10 seconds, but it is enough to cause havock with my messenger, downloads, browsing etc.

I've only had ntl BB a couple of weeks, but this happens constantly.

I have a stand-alone cable modem (ntl branded).

Broadband Medic is useless, clearing the web cache and turn-on-turn-off does nothing.

a) Where in the country are you? Surrey
b) What is your operating system? XP SP2
c) What is your home network setup? No other equipment, straight to PC connection.
d) If you have more than one computer, is the problem occuring on all other machines? I tried the service on an old PC, same problem
e) Are you running a firewall of any sort? Have you ever installed one? Did you try to turn it off during troubleshooting? Zonealarm, yes

One thing I have NOT done is a full install from the CD (just broadband medic). I don't want it to install a load of junk on my system and mess around with my browser etc. What does this thing install, and is it necessary?

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[Chris W]

the CD is not necessary.

Are you connecting using usb or ethernet?

[Tubusy]

Originally Posted by Chris W

the CD is not necessary.
Are you connecting using usb or ethernet?

Thanks I'm using ethernet.

[MovedGoalPosts]

You say it's messing up your downloads. Are you using any P2P type programs? If you are uploading heavily at the same time as donwloading the bandwidth can saturate causing crashes. Limit the upload rate to no more than 3/4 of the maximum bandwidth so there is always room for downloads to send out thier acknowledgement packets. Even 3/4 maximum might be high dependent on the maximum bandwidth you get in your area due to contention.

Make sure you have current drivers for your ethernet connection.

[Tragedy]

I've got the same problem,happens just surfing the net,USB cable modem.

[Tubusy]

Originally Posted by Rob C

You say it's messing up your downloads. Are you using any P2P type programs?

Make sure you have current drivers for your ethernet connection.

Thanks. It's not P2P, as I rarely use it and it happens even if I'm just casually browsing, or whatever. Drivers are up to date. Not sure about the drivers for the cable modem though?

Starting to drive me mad!

[Paul K]

You say you turned Zone Alarm off to test if it was the firewall interfering with the connection, how did you turn it off? If you just shut it down manually you may have left the service running in the background which would cause just as many problems.

[Tubusy]

Originally Posted by Paul

You say you turned Zone Alarm off to test if it was the firewall interfering with the connection, how did you turn it off? If you just shut it down manually you may have left the service running in the background which would cause just as many problems.

Okay, I'll try that next... not to keen on having no firewall though. :|

Would it help if I posted info from http://192.168.100.1/CmInfo.asp ? From the pinned post, things seem ok to me, but...

[Paul K]

It may help to post your power level information, make sure you close Zone alarm down by going into the ZA control panel and selecting the option to not run it at start up and then reboot, you can always turn on the Windows Firewall while you are checking the connection.
It may be that ZA is stopping some very necessary traffic between the PC and the SACM and your connection is suffering for it or it could be that you have problems with the levels of your connection.

[Creep]

I wouldn't leave a PC on the internet without a firewall for any time at all. Seriously, PCs can get infected in seconds if left on the internet without contraception.

If you are to change firewalls, ensure your PC is disconnected (to be safe, remove the network cable from the PC) during the firewall changeover.

[Paul K]

Originally Posted by Creep

I wouldn't leave a PC on the internet without a firewall for any time at all. Seriously, PCs can get infected in seconds if left on the internet without contraception.

If you are to change firewalls, ensure your PC is disconnected (to be safe, remove the network cable from the PC) during the firewall changeover.

Or do as I said and turn on the windows firewall Sometimes though removing all firewalls is the only way to fully troubleshoot some connection issues but we would never suggest removing all protection unless it was the last option.

[Tubusy]

THANKS again for all your help so far.

It is still driving me mad! Tested minus firewall (and on other puters) and it's not that.

Again, the cut offs don't seem to be associated with anything. They just happen around every 20 mins for a few seconds, whether there is a lot of activity or not.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm not sure what will help working this out:

Cable Modem : Euro-DOCSIS 1.0/1.1/2.0 Compliant
Boot Code Version : 2.1.6d
Software Version : 2.94.1010
Hardware Version : 1.19

status

Acquire a Downstream Channel 586750000 Hz Locked
Connectivity State ok Operational
Boot State ok Operational

Downstream Lock : Locked
Downstream Channel Id : 2
Downstream Frequency : 586750000 Hz
Downstream Modulation : QAM64
Downstream Symbol Rate : 6952 Ksym/sec
Downstream Interleave Depth : taps12Increment17
Downstream Receive Power Level : -4.5 dBmV
Downstream SNR : 30.5 dB

Upstream Lock : Locked
Upstream Channel ID : 1
Upstream Frequency : 33584000 Hz
Upstream Modulation : QPSK
Upstream Symbol Rate : 2560 Ksym/sec
Upstream transmit Power Level : 44.5 dBmV
Upstream Mini-Slot Size : 2


Req

Init Maint

Per Maint

Short Data

Long Data


(1)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

Modulation Type QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK QPSK Differential Encoding Off Off Off Off Off Preamble Length 64 128 128 72 80 Preamble Value Offset 184 128 128 176 168 FEC Error Correction (T) 0 5 5 4 9 FEC Codeword Information Bytes (k) 16 34 34 76 236 Scrambler Seed 338 338 338 338 338 Maximum Burst Size 0 0 0 12 0 Guard Time Size 8 48 48 8 8 Last Codeword Length Fixed Fixed Fixed Short Short Scrambler on/off On On On On On

Cable Modem Operation Configuration
Network Access : Allowed
Maximum Downstream Data Rate : 150000
Maximum Upstream Data Rate : 32000
Maximum Upstream Channel Burst : 1600
Maximum Number of CPEs : 1
Modem Capability : Concatenation Enabled, Fragametation Enabled, PHS Disabled

Mon Aug 08 01:41:08 2005 Mon Aug 08 01:41:08 2005 2 Critical(3) 82000500 Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ... Sun Aug 07 10:58:10 2005 Sun Aug 07 10:58:10 2005 1 Critical(3) 68000300 DHCP WARNING - Non-critical field invalid in response. Fri Aug 05 17:10:55 2005 Fri Aug 05 17:10:55 2005 1 Critical(3) 82000500 Started Unicast Maintenance Ranging - No Response received - ... etc

[Tubusy]

Okay people, don't give up on me!

I've found what may be a further clue. In Network Connection Details, the 'Lease Expires' time (every 20 mins or so) seems to co-inside with the network disconnections. Now, sometimes I loose connection more frequently than that, but maybe it has something to do with it. What do you think?

I'm pretty certain now it's not my PC or software that is causing the problem... my signal levels appear to be okay, so what else could it be?

[Raistlin]

I had exactly the same problem about 18 months ago. It turned out that it was zonealarm. I did exactly as you did and stopped it from loading at startup, I still got the same problem - this is because there are still some elements of ZA that will load even if you have told them not to.

You need to do one of two things:

1. Completely uninstall ZA (I'll find the instructions for total removal of ZA for you shortly), or
2. You need to configure ZA so that it sees your Cable Modem as a trusted part of the network.

What's happening is that ZA is interefering with the DHCP lease process, I think it's not allowing the requests which go between PC and Modem to be actioned properly.

Like I say, give me a moment and I'll see if I can find the instructions for how to take care of the two points above for you.

[Tubusy]

Originally Posted by Raistlin

You need to do one of two things:

1. Completely uninstall ZA (I'll find the instructions for total removal of ZA for you shortly), or

Like I say, give me a moment and I'll see if I can find the instructions for how to take care of the two points above for you.

I think I've tried it on a firewall empty system and it was still happening. Even so, I'll give anything a shot so if you can remember how you config'd ZA I'd appreciate it!