Internet drops signal often

[z1ggy]

Even after getting a brand new modem AND router.

I tested the signal strength getting to my PC and it was right over at the limit for signal strength ( I think around -12dB).

Only thing left I can think of is:

I need to put in amplifier.
Comcast sucks balls and is just plain shotty.

Any other advice?

 

[paul878]

What are you talking about? Your Cable modem drops the internet?

 

[z1ggy]

What are you talking about? Your Cable modem drops the internet?

Any device using wifi from the router, or even my computer which is hard wired to the router, doesn't get internet. Sometimes all the lights (indicating a signal) are on.. others it's not on.

I end up having to disconnect the power from the modem and/or router to get the signal back.

 

[Ketchup]

How long between lost connections? If you leave a wired connected straight to the modem, does the same issue occur?

 

[Steltek]

Please describe your equipment and exactly how it is presently connected. I presume you have a cable modem which routes internet to a router. You then have wireless clients that connect to the router along with a computer which has a hard-wire connection to the router? Is this correct? Also, does your modem have a built-in router itself?

 

[z1ggy]

How long between lost connections? If you leave a wired connected straight to the modem, does the same issue occur?

I can't try it for long enough because my roommate needs the wireless for his laptop.

Please describe your equipment and exactly how it is presently connected. I presume you have a cable modem which routes internet to a router. You then have wireless clients that connect to the router along with a computer which has a hard-wire connection to the router? Is this correct? Also, does your modem have a built-in router itself?

Your assumption is correct.

No it does not. It is the SB6121

 

[ch33zw1z]

Forget the roomate, you need to trouble shoot this.

So:
-Do you also have TV service? if yes, does that have any problems?
-The modem should be accessible with this IP: 192.168.100.1, what are your signal strengths?
-check all the coax connections in the chain to the modem, and outside on the main drop. then should all be tight and sealed. if one is loose open it up to make sure there's no rust, if it looks good then tighten it by hand then give it a good turn with a 7/16" wrench.

-You only want one splitter between the main drop and the modem. make sure that splitter is newer, if not, replace it.

 

[scoob8000]

Forget the roomate, you need to trouble shoot this.

So:
-Do you also have TV service? if yes, does that have any problems?
-The modem should be accessible with this IP: 192.168.100.1, what are your signal strengths?
-check all the coax connections in the chain to the modem, and outside on the main drop. then should all be tight and sealed. if one is loose open it up to make sure there's no rust, if it looks good then tighten it by hand then give it a good turn with a 7/16" wrench.

-You only want one splitter between the main drop and the modem. make sure that splitter is newer, if not, replace it.

+1

Also, I don't know if customers are responsible for their own house wiring with Comcast, but you might want to give them a call. If all your house wiring is good, it's probably their problem.

 

[Binky]

Comcast will come out and test the signal. It's annoying because you have to stay home for a 2-8 hour window, but they should test the signal and modem for free. You should not have to buy your own amplifier.

 

[scoob8000]

Comcast will come out and test the signal. It's annoying because you have to stay home for a 2-8 hour window, but they should test the signal and modem for free. You should not have to buy your own amplifier.

I can't speak for comcast but as one of their competitors, I would be more than happy to check everything to the outside of the house if the customer couldn't be home during normal business hours.

 

[denis280]

I can't try it for long enough because my roommate needs the wireless for his laptop.

do the roommate make upload?

 

[piasabird]

My guess is the wireless is bad. I have seen this before. When the wireless cuts out the router will drop even connections that are hard wired to the router. It may not be the actual wide area connection to the Internet.

I have had this problem with cheaper wireless routers from AT&T before we went to Universe.

 

[piasabird]

Some websites think some of these routers run better if you upgrade the firmware.

 

[z1ggy]

Forget the roomate, you need to trouble shoot this.

So:
-Do you also have TV service? if yes, does that have any problems?
-The modem should be accessible with this IP: 192.168.100.1, what are your signal strengths?
-check all the coax connections in the chain to the modem, and outside on the main drop. then should all be tight and sealed. if one is loose open it up to make sure there's no rust, if it looks good then tighten it by hand then give it a good turn with a 7/16" wrench.

-You only want one splitter between the main drop and the modem. make sure that splitter is newer, if not, replace it.

The connect is split before it hits my modem. I know this could be a problem but I have tested the signal strength and as I said, it was about 1dB over the limit for signal strength requirements. Perhaps because I am so close to the limit, that it constantly does go over the limit. This is a problem though, because there is only one cable outlet in my room. I have to have a coax go to my TV and to the cable modem..Hence the need for the splitter.

I will check all the coax connections though to make sure they are tight.

Some websites think some of these routers run better if you upgrade the firmware.

Can I find a firmware update for the router (Linksys) on their website?

 

[corkyg]

I have the same system from Comcast. There is a splitter that sends the Comcast signal to the TVs and the cable router. It is on the outside of the house. After a series of similar problems, Comcast replaced the splitter. The tech said it was the wrong one. That solved the issue.

 

[z1ggy]

I have the same system from Comcast. There is a splitter that sends the Comcast signal to the TVs and the cable router. It is on the outside of the house. After a series of similar problems, Comcast replaced the splitter. The tech said it was the wrong one. That solved the issue.

Okay, I will have to call them. See if they can swing by on a Saturday. In my old home in a different area, I had the same system... A split before modem, with one coax going to TV and another going to modem, and I never had internet drops like this.

My internet is dropping multiple times a day, every single day.