Topic: Random dropped connections

[muttley]

My ISP is through Qwest DSL.
I recently contacted them due to random connection drops ( my internet light would go out ... sometimes go red, then solid green before blinking again )
They sent out a newer modem ( ActionTec PK5000 ) but the problem continues.
 
My only other thoughts is the cable that plugs from the modem to the wall, or the wall connection itself. ( The place I live seems to be slowly falling apart around me as it is )
 
I have checked the modem settings, reset the modem ( its new so I wouldn't think it was the settings ) but as an online college student, having your connection drop randomly ( and sometimes during major tests ) can become quite annoying.
 
Tech Support is little / no help ( they would sit on the phone / online with me ) and then say "Well, it didn't do anything" ( Duh. I can't predict when it happens, just does and only for a brief second or two )
 
Should I get all new cables? ( If so, what should I specfically look / ask for? ) ... I would guess I need a new one that connects from wall to modem and then to make sure its all equal, ones that go from modem to computer.
 
If its the wall connection - well, that would require my phone company / ISP to actually do something. *laughs*
 

[bigguy]

I would check cables for sure and your network card. It could be either one of those or both for that matter. Do you have any third party network software installed.

[muttley]

Never thought about the network card. Will have my neighbor friend look into it for me. ( She's a SysAdmin )
 
What puzzles me though is the modem light goes out. ( Where, on my modem it says "Power, DSL, Internet, then the 4 lights for the ethernet connections )
 
The ethernet lights are okay, its just the internet light that goes out.  DSL light is fine when this happens.
 
Is there a specific type of cable I need to ask for ( Will go to the local Radio Shack - as its our nearest store to get anything like that )
 
How would I check my network card for possible failure? And I don't think I have any 3rd party software running, but again, I don't know. ( How would I check? )

[bigguy]

This is dsl right. Do you have filters on the phone lines.

[muttley]

Yep. Its DSL and as far as I know, there are filters on all the lines that are in use except for the direct connection ( which, when i first got the service was told that was the only one to not put the filter on )
 
Hmm, that is a good thought. I will have to double check our plugs. Haven't noticed any issues with our phone quality, so didn't think anything of it. ( Since this problem just started happening about a month ago ) and I've had the service for quite sometime.
 
 

[bigguy]

It could be one of the filters is burned out and needs replacing, just a thought but something that should be checked.

[Nesa]

The filter are for the phones Modems can operate with out a filter.
Sounds like you might have cross talk on your phone line, from you to the exchange. Call up your phone provider and ask them to do a line test.

[RGShack]

Sounds to me like a DSL service problem. While you are researching your problem you might try another FTP program. I use FTP Voyager. If service is temporarily lost it will take up where it left off as long as your computer is not shut down, so if it is a problem with DSL connectivity, your FTP program would finish the file it was uploading and continue on.