Cable internet help (i.e. Suddenlink sucks)

orcmauler · 01-28-2007, 02:41 PM

Ok so here is the situation.

Intermittently for the last week or two my computer just simply drops connection to the internet. I am on suddenlink cable, with a (less than 2 year old) Motorola Surfboard SB5120.

According to Suddenlink, there is "no issue" with the signal getting to me, it must be my router (itself less than 6 months old). No problem, I directly plug my internet connection in to check it out, and it STILL drops.

My signal (when up) is nice and fast with little to no packet loss, so I am not entirely discounting what the cable folks said. That said is there a way to self-inspect the modem itself to find out if it has gone bad, or am I missing another potential hardware or software config that may be zapping my connection.

kedwyn · 01-29-2007, 02:41 AM

My mother had a similar issue and I figured it was Cox bullshitting her. After 2 visits I figured it was worth checking the modem so I stopped by the local office and picked her up a cable modem and her troubles vanished. Might be worth the effort.

Pizoi · 01-29-2007, 02:58 AM

If you're on a Docsis network, which I assume you are because you're using the Surfboard, they're extremely finicky. If the levels on your cable line aren't within a very small window, it will kick the modem offline. This was never a problem on old networks, but as they pack more and more data into the cable lines (HD signals, faster internet speeds, cable phone, etc), it gets even harder to keep stable signal levels.

There's a couple things that might be causing the problem.

- Their levels are floating around more than usual, and it's kicking modems offline because of it
- Your modem is bunk, and slight variances in the levels are causing it to be knocked offline when it really shouldn't be
- There's something fucked with your computer, be it your NIC, drivers, or some other problem

Since they claim that the signal levels are fine, I'd go in and replace your modem. I don't know how it is there, but here, they'll replace them for free even if you own the modem outright. If the problem persists, call them again and ask them to check your signal levels over the past week. They can see all the variances, and will be able to tell if anythings been out of whack.

Jakon Rahl · 01-29-2007, 09:00 AM

I would say the same thing as them, it might just be your equipment. But I have Sudden Link and last weekend (the entire weekend) the internet was offline. They said something was messed up on their end and it would be fixed. Every since they fixed it, the internet has been fine one minute and non-existant the next. Yet they insist its fixed now. Im switching to Roadrunner myself, which is what my work computer is ran off of which is perfect for anything I do, relatively.

01-28-2007, 02:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
orcmauler <3 $$mas Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 501 +0 Internets	Cable internet help (i.e. Suddenlink sucks) Ok so here is the situation. Intermittently for the last week or two my computer just simply drops connection to the internet. I am on suddenlink cable, with a (less than 2 year old) Motorola Surfboard SB5120. According to Suddenlink, there is "no issue" with the signal getting to me, it must be my router (itself less than 6 months old). No problem, I directly plug my internet connection in to check it out, and it STILL drops. My signal (when up) is nice and fast with little to no packet loss, so I am not entirely discounting what the cable folks said. That said is there a way to self-inspect the modem itself to find out if it has gone bad, or am I missing another potential hardware or software config that may be zapping my connection.

01-29-2007, 02:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
kedwyn Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 785	My mother had a similar issue and I figured it was Cox bullshitting her. After 2 visits I figured it was worth checking the modem so I stopped by the local office and picked her up a cable modem and her troubles vanished. Might be worth the effort. __________________ Welcome to SOE's Station pass, AKA MMO mediocrity or worst.

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01-29-2007, 02:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pizoi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 223	If you're on a Docsis network, which I assume you are because you're using the Surfboard, they're extremely finicky. If the levels on your cable line aren't within a very small window, it will kick the modem offline. This was never a problem on old networks, but as they pack more and more data into the cable lines (HD signals, faster internet speeds, cable phone, etc), it gets even harder to keep stable signal levels. There's a couple things that might be causing the problem. - Their levels are floating around more than usual, and it's kicking modems offline because of it - Your modem is bunk, and slight variances in the levels are causing it to be knocked offline when it really shouldn't be - There's something fucked with your computer, be it your NIC, drivers, or some other problem Since they claim that the signal levels are fine, I'd go in and replace your modem. I don't know how it is there, but here, they'll replace them for free even if you own the modem outright. If the problem persists, call them again and ask them to check your signal levels over the past week. They can see all the variances, and will be able to tell if anythings been out of whack.

01-29-2007, 09:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jakon Rahl Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Va Posts: 14 +0 Internets	I would say the same thing as them, it might just be your equipment. But I have Sudden Link and last weekend (the entire weekend) the internet was offline. They said something was messed up on their end and it would be fixed. Every since they fixed it, the internet has been fine one minute and non-existant the next. Yet they insist its fixed now. Im switching to Roadrunner myself, which is what my work computer is ran off of which is perfect for anything I do, relatively.