connection problem

[StrokeyBlofeld]

Here's a little problem that has me a little stumped, anyone that can offer up any ideas gets a big line of smilies!!!

I have been having my connection cut out on me the last couple of days, very randomly. Sometimes it's fine, then I cannot connect.

I am on a high speed cable connection. (normaly around 16meg). I have bypassed my router and have it connected directly to my ethernet port.

I've done a series of ping tests under DOS and it seems I'm having data loss somewhere.

See below for the tests (I did many more but this is to show what is happening).

I'm pretty sure there isn't a problem with my OS and I don't have any hardware problems that I know of. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.253.70] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.253.70: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=246
Reply from 212.58.253.70: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=246
Reply from 212.58.253.70: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=246
Reply from 212.58.253.70: bytes=32 time=24ms TTL=246

Ping statistics for 212.58.253.70:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 12ms, Maximum = 24ms, Average = 15ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.253.70] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 212.58.253.70: bytes=32 time=13ms TTL=246

Ping statistics for 212.58.253.70:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 1, Lost = 3 (75% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 13ms, Maximum = 13ms, Average = 13ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.86] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=26ms TTL=247
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=247
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=247
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=247

Ping statistics for 212.58.224.86:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 11ms, Maximum = 26ms, Average = 17ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.86] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=247
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=247

Ping statistics for 212.58.224.86:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 2, Lost = 2 (50% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 11ms, Maximum = 14ms, Average = 12ms

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.86] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 212.58.224.86:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Documents and Settings\Jim>ping http://www.bbc.co.uk

Pinging http://www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.86] with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Reply from 212.58.224.86: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=247
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 212.58.224.86:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 1, Lost = 3 (75% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 15ms, Maximum = 15ms, Average = 15ms

[Comadevil]

Instead of "ping" use "tracert". Maybe then u can see where on the route u lose it

[djdan]

Try re-installing your router and internet provider CD thing
I'm a computer expert :roll:

[StrokeyBlofeld]

[quote=""djdan""]Try re-installing your router and internet provider CD thing
I'm a computer expert :roll:[/quote]

LMAO. Ok Dan, so... how do I install my router when I don't have one in use? (I've removed it for the duration of the problem). Oh, and my modem doesn't need re-installing either.... you just plug it in and go.........

You really must have known that you would embaress yourself posting a reply here Dan?????

[StrokeyBlofeld]

If your wondering why I removed my router from my set-up, it's because my broadband supplier does not "officialy" support routers. So basicaly a router will work (as it does with any set-up) but they won't provide any help if your set-up has one in use.

[djdan]

Whats there to be embarrassed about. Just posting my '2 cents'.
How about moving houses? That would solve all problems, and then if problem persists, buy a new computer!!

[StrokeyBlofeld]

heh heh, moving house would be good I guess. As long as it had a bigger garden and 4 bedrooms!!!

An engineer came round this morning while I was at work, he put in a new modem, but I think he was trying to fobb off my missus as he said there was nothing wrong with the other modem and it was a problem with my internet explorer. How he came to that conclusion I really don't know.

Since I came home from work my connection has been fine and as fast as ever, so fingers crossed it was a faulty modem, but I've only been online for about 2 hours..... I'll see how it goes........

[Comadevil]

[quote=""StrokeyBlofeld""]
An engineer came round this morning while I was at work, he put in a new modem, but I think he was trying to fobb off my missus as he said there was nothing wrong with the other modem and it was a problem with my internet explorer. How he came to that conclusion I really don't know.
[/quote]
Because in most of the cases the problem sits in front of the computer.
At least as a administrator in a big network i can tell you this, though sometimes also something is really wrong.

He was just sent for standard procedure: Changing the modem. But thought: Strokey should configure his computer properly and shouldn't listen to the 1000 tips in the last computer magazine
But i also think the modem was broken

[NEO_CrAz3n]

Because in most of the cases the problem sits in front of the computer.

LOL

[MNBob]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEBKAC

[StrokeyBlofeld]

Nice link Bob! lol.

Before I called my provider, I did all the standard user checks, and only when I felt it wasn't a problem at my end did I call them. I would say somewhere between 80% and 90% of the calls providers get relating to a problem with their service turns out to be a "PEBKAC" as Bob so kindly showed us.....

I'm 99% sure it is ok now after having no problems since I came back from work earlier, but time will tell. If the problem arises again I'll have to dig deeper to see if it could be a problem my end.

If it does happen again, and my provider continues to claim it is a problem my end then I'll just put a new hard drive in and a fresh install to prove them wrong.

Here's my thoughts, how can the engineer claim there is something wrong with my internet explorer when I tested 3 different computers on the modem yesterday before calling them? Also, 1 of these computers hasn't been connected to the internet for over 3 months.

So, if it is a problem my end, then it must be a huge fricken coincidence that I have 3 computers with the same problem!!!!

[MNBob]

I hate ISP related issues. I always call them. I always sit on hold for a long time. I always have to give them the same information every time. I always have to be told that they'll schedule a tech to come to my house. I always wait for a tech to show up and before he does any problems go away. When the tech finally does come he fiddles around with the cable modem for a bit and leaves.

Eventually another problem comes up and the whole process repeats itself.

[Comadevil]

[quote=""StrokeyBlofeld""]

Here's my thoughts, how can the engineer claim there is something wrong with my internet explorer when I tested 3 different computers on the modem yesterday before calling them? Also, 1 of these computers hasn't been connected to the internet for over 3 months.

So, if it is a problem my end, then it must be a huge fricken coincidence that I have 3 computers with the same problem!!!![/quote]

This is callcenter business. Callcenter employees also don't have much knowledge.
So engineers rely only on what they can see at the specific location. And they rely on standard procedures which solve most of the problems. IF they come a second time and they haven't read your file then Good Night.

[I__CHAOS__I]

djdan = OP IT specialist
reboot the internet yeah!

I also hate ISP problems, waiting on the phone, getting some nub asking you to delete your cookies etc ... terrible

[StrokeyBlofeld]

Well, at least I can be happy that they got an engineer to me the following morning, and although I'm not entirely happy with him, I can't knock them for being reasonably helpfull and also they are refunding the call charges for calling them with the problem. The call charges would be quite a lot as I was on the phone to them for a total of around 60 mins, and the cost is 25p per min (£15). So it's not all bad I guess......

I've had providers before that offer terrible support, eg: customer support is number in the Northern Regions of Outer Mongolia where a Pakistani answers who you cannot understand and doesn't have a clue resulting in them telling you (after asking them to repeat it 16 times) "it's your problem but we can book an engineer and you will be charged for the call out". and that's another reason I switched.