NTL Disconnecting

[BIGZIPZ]

I have had the same problem all the time I have had my STB, random cut-offs after a random period of time.

Two weeks ago I tried to update Zone Alarm to version 5 and I had massive problems, so I decided to install a different Firewall, and since then I have not been cut off a single time.

Of course it could be coincidence.

[Mr Clean]

I'm not using a Firewall at all at the moment. I have tried with Norton and Zone Alarm. Same thing, STB still dies after a while.

I use Azureus Bit Torrent Client, (I had the same problem with every client I tried though) and set the maximum # of connections per torrent to 50 instead of 100 and the maximum # of torrents connected globally to 500 instead of a thousand to see if that makes any difference. (still connected and downloading at the moment)

I'm now assuming that it's the number of ports open on the PC that is killing the modems traffic in. It's seems like I'm DOS Attacking myself with Bit Torrent. (too many ports open)

It seems to be working fine at the moment but only time will tell if it disconnects again. It's so intermittent at the moment, you never know.

Cheers

[Neil]

Originally Posted by jamgood

<Snip>

Have you measured the upload speed on your PC (if so, what is it?)

[Mr Clean]

Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt.


Uploads have been allowed, capped (at stupendously low speeds) stopped.

[Mr Clean]

Well well well. I've had no disconnections since the last, (touches wood) which the date of, I forget at present, everything seems to be ok since I limited the amount of ports to be open on my PC while downloading/uploading.


So the theory of DOS attacking yourself with P2p software seems to be true.

Doing this has made no changes to the upload/download speeds and everything seems like gravy at the moment.

So here's to the future of not being disconnected.

Cheers

[gatj98]

We're having a similar problem to this, but we've got a stand alone modem - a terayon one. After an hour or so the uplink seems to drop - you can't use the web (servers not found), email goes nowhere, and dns requests fail (running, something like "dig www.bbc.co.uk" on my linux box says the server couldn't be reached. The downlink however remains active - I can send an email from work to my server at home without any problem. I connect through a NAT router, and find that either powercycling the router, or the modem - or getting the router to reboot or renew the dhcp lease brings the connection back. All of these activities renew the ip address lease, and the uplink returns for a while. It started doing this a few weeks ago, and it's getting rather annoying. Any ideas anyone?

Cheers

[Mr Clean]

What do you have running at the point of disconnection.
I've found that when downloading using Bit Torrent software (any of them) I get disconnected.

When using Soulseek or Kazaalite, nothing happens, stays connected forever all good.

Cheers.

[Foo Fighter]

Hmm this has started happening to me now quite often. Before it was once in a blue moon but lately i cant leave it on while at work or overnight because its just dies.

Gonna change thr routers firmware so if that helps

[gatj98]

I don't have any file sharing or anything like that running - just plain old web-browsing and it goes. I think it must be a dns problem - because if I can connect to home from work bi-directional communication must be possible - to send an email requires two servers to talk to each other. My understanding is that an incoming connection - such as an email message comes from a known ip address, so the recipient server (mine) doesn't have to do a look-up to reply to the request, so it can recieve incoming email even when it can't resolve dns properly. However of course to instigate connections from my system I need to be able to resolve dns properly - and it's this that fails. It's almost as if the ntl network says you've had your ip address lease for x amount of time, so I won't respond to dns requests until you renew it manually. My router, a netgear RT314, renews the ip automatically when necessary (and also updates our dyndns account with any changes)

I have a linux box which runs a dns server - it provides dns for our network, and caches look-ups for external addresses - it passes external requests to the ntl dns servers. I haven't touched the setup, and it had been running fine for over 18 months. Maybe my router is on the blink and isn't renewing the dhcp properly.....

[bigsinky]

the problem is buggy firmware with routers and modems and stbs. if you are using P2P like bittorrent to download movies etc, then with 4 or 5 torrents going, you are maxxing out you download connection. the router,stb,modem needs a little download overhead to do its housekeeping duties, but with maxxed out downloads it can't do this so it drops a connection and when you try to repair you get a "failed to renew IP address". for me anyway i have to reboot modem and router, but this is a major PITA coz i have to renew the download of the torrent files. it was suggested that new firmware for my router might solve the problem but guess what, downloaded new netgear firmware and i still get the same probs. even if you try to throttle back the download to say 90% of total i still get the connection dropping. suppose i will just have to download 1 torrent at a time

hope this helps ya

cheers

big sinky

ps can anyone from the cable forum team let me know if there is a firmware update for the ntl home 120 cable modem and if so where can i get it.

[Ignition]

ps can anyone from the cable forum team let me know if there is a firmware update for the ntl home 120 cable modem and if so where can i get it.

Customers are not allowed to alter the firmware of modems in any way shape or form, the modem is not the issue your router is.

The issue is actually routers not having enough memory to handle all the mass of connections so bodges have to be made with firmware code to try and get around it.

Try reducing number of connections on your BT client, or even paying for your movies which would be good for the soul.

[bigsinky]

or even paying for your movies which would be good for the soul.

I already have a sizeable (>500 dvds) of original movies all of which i paid for, thru the nose in some instances. if the prices for dvds and cds in the UK were priced a bit more sensibly then i would be the first one at the tills buying them. too many ppls lining their pockets in the movie and music industry and on a point of principle, if i can download, reauthor, and burn a dvd for a fraction of the price, i would rather keep the money in my pocket thanks. watch you don't fall of that big horse btw

cheers

big sinky

[Ignition]

Not at all, people that download a DVD or 2 a day make the service more expensive for everyone else, but that's perfectly acceptible of course as DVDs are overpriced.

My original recommendation stands though, reduce number of connections on BT and wait for the email politely suggesting you start paying for movies again, I don't think the companies in question really care if you own 500 DVDs the ones you've 'self authored' are probably of more interest.

But anyway.... that's a different issue. IF you ever fall into strife feel free to send me your MAC / IP address, I'm sure your usage will make interesting reading.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by bigsinky

I already have a sizeable (>500 dvds) of original movies all of which i paid for, thru the nose in some instances. if the prices for dvds and cds in the UK were priced a bit more sensibly then i would be the first one at the tills buying them. too many ppls lining their pockets in the movie and music industry and on a point of principle, if i can download, reauthor, and burn a dvd for a fraction of the price, i would rather keep the money in my pocket thanks. watch you don't fall of that big horse btw

cheers

big sinky

How much is a sensible price for DVDs? You can get them from £7.99 in certain stores.

Of course, on P2P, you can get them for free. But, look at it this way. Yes, there are a lot of people lining there pockets in the Movie industry. It's there to make money, and unless you allow the people that finance the film to make a return on their investment, they won't invest in films. No investors, no film.

It's also worth noting that if enough people thought the same way you appear to, then the result would be quite simple. People would stop making movies.

One final thought: If you invested several million pounds in something (Film, music, anything), wouldn't you at least want your money back, even if you wanted for forgo any profits?

[Mr Clean]

Originally Posted by scastle

How much is a sensible price for DVDs? You can get them from £7.99 in certain stores.

Of course, on P2P, you can get them for free. But, look at it this way. Yes, there are a lot of people lining there pockets in the Movie industry. It's there to make money, and unless you allow the people that finance the film to make a return on their investment, they won't invest in films. No investors, no film.

It's also worth noting that if enough people thought the same way you appear to, then the result would be quite simple. People would stop making movies.

One final thought: If you invested several million pounds in something (Film, music, anything), wouldn't you at least want your money back, even if you wanted for forgo any profits?

Never mind all that. Save it for another forum, this is meant to be a Connection Issue Thread, not about the price of DVD's or what people are downloading.