The WEIRDEST Internet Connection Problem Known To Man!

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

Hi,

I am on Tesco 2.2mb Broadband via a Speedtouch modem, the image below is similar to my setup:



The only difference is that I am not wireless so the modem plugs into my PC via USB.

What happens is that the connection suddenly stops after X amount of time, it's hard to explain, but basically it 'jams up' and does not right itself:

• When the connection freezes, IT COMPLETELY STOPS AND DOES NOT RIGHT ITSELF.

• To sort it, I must pull the filter out of the WALL until the Speedtouch ADSL icon in my system tray goes yellow, I can then plug it back in and wait for it to turn green then connect TESCO to the internet via the icon on the desktop.

• SOMETIMES when I put the filter back in and wait for the icon to turn green, it turns green then yellow again and I must wait for the icon to show that it has initialized again. I am not sure whether this is due to me not waiting long enough when putting the filter back in.

• It happens at random times during the day and mostly happens in the evening every 10-60 minutes.

• The connection SUDDENLY stops, what I mean is this; once I was watching a download and I was at my normal speed and suddenly it went down to 0kbps… it happens in milliseconds.

I have tried new USB jacks, a clean install of Windows, reinstall of modem software... everything!

I am computer savvy so don't worry about scaring me with knowledge!

Thanks,

Mikey.

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

Bump?

[BluBarry]

Ok, sure does seem rather annoying sit you got there and 2B honest 'Freeze Ups' can be a host of issues not related to your Inet connection or devices at all but I wanted to ask a couple of Qs.

Since you claim you are "Computer Savvy" please excuse any comment that you think is too obvious.

1. You should Never use USB over NIC if at all possible. Unless of course you don't have an available slot for a NIC.

2. How far away from the Modem is your Computer? Point is, USB is really only good up to approx. 12-15 ft. after that USB has tremendous drop off which can result in malfunctioning of signal transfer.

3. There's an old saying in the Internet World when related to Modems, you can only get something as fast as it is being given. What that means is, you can have 2.2MB or even 6.0MB transfer capability but the Source of your Download isn't giving it to you any faster than 1.4MB.

Solution: (Obvious) if you have an available PCI Slot, try using that and see what happens. If not, you need to let us know what USB protocol use are using. DSL/Cable should ONLY be transmitted via 2.0 which you can get at any outlet that sells Internet Supplies like Staples or Office Max or Radio Shack, etc. I think even Home Depot sells stuff as well.

Don't try placing a Modem into just any USB port in back of your Computer because they're not made for that purpose. And last, you just may have a bad Filter (Voice Microfilter). Which again you can get at the afore mentioned.

Re-Installing Windows etc. is totally unnecessary ..

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

Originally Posted by BluBarry

Ok, sure does seem rather annoying sit you got there and 2B honest 'Freeze Ups' can be a host of issues not related to your Inet connection or devices at all but I wanted to ask a couple of Qs.

Since you claim you are "Computer Savvy" please excuse any comment that you think is too obvious.

1. You should Never use USB over NIC if at all possible. Unless of course you don't have an available slot for a NIC.

2. How far away from the Modem is your Computer? Point is, USB is really only good up to approx. 12-15 ft. after that USB has tremendous drop off which can result in malfunctioning of signal transfer.

3. There's an old saying in the Internet World when related to Modems, you can only get something as fast as it is being given. What that means is, you can have 2.2MB or even 6.0MB transfer capability but the Source of your Download isn't giving it to you any faster than 1.4MB.

Solution: (Obvious) if you have an available PCI Slot, try using that and see what happens. If not, you need to let us know what USB protocol use are using. DSL/Cable should ONLY be transmitted via 2.0 which you can get at any outlet that sells Internet Supplies like Staples or Office Max or Radio Shack, etc. I think even Home Depot sells stuff as well.

Don't try placing a Modem into just any USB port in back of your Computer because they're not made for that purpose. And last, you just may have a bad Filter (Voice Microfilter). Which again you can get at the afore mentioned.

Re-Installing Windows etc. is totally unnecessary ..

Remember I am not wireless...

1. I never got a NIC with Tesco

2. The cable is nowhere near 15ft long

3. I know about that... but that is no excuse for the connection to stop so frequently and so randomly

I am using USB 2.0... I have tried my front USB jacks too.

Also, the Speedtouch 330 doesn't use Ethernet, so that's not an option.

Thanks alot,

Mikey.

[BluBarry]

Originally Posted by IAmNutsAboutPCs

Remember I am not wireless...

1. I never got a NIC with Tesco

2. The cable is nowhere near 15ft long

3. I know about that... but that is no excuse for the connection to stop so frequently and so randomly

I am using USB 2.0... I have tried my front USB jacks too.

Also, the Speedtouch 330 doesn't use Ethernet, so that's not an option.

Thanks alot,

Mikey.

Sorry today is big football day so I guess I sort of forgot about the Forum, I apologize. Anyway, if you haven't solved the issue yet, I was wondering if you tried simply bypassing the Microfilter and going straight into the feed leaving out your phone for the moment? If you do that and the prob seems to stop then I'd look at replacing the Filter. If the problem persist, then I'm just as confused as you are.

I've heard a lot of connection problems but this one is entirely different in the way you are describing it. Even obvious errors that regard loop length wouldn't cause such a reaction with you system.

You are either connected or not. I suspect you got your Connection Kit from your ISP provider (correct?) if so, there must have been more than one Filter included in the package. Try using a different one and see how that goes. btw, who is your ISP?

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

Tesco are my ISP

I have tried 3 filters with no change

Even Dafydd at Tesco is in a quandary!

[BluBarry]

Haven't given up yet don't worry....

You are calling your Modem a SpeedTouch. I'm familiar with Efficient Network's Speedstream Modem line but not Speedtouch. There are models of the Speedtouch line by Thompson. Do you have one of these ?

# Thomson SpeedTouch - 510 ADSL Modem (15.01.2003)
# Thomson SpeedTouch - 530 ADSL Modem (15.01.2003)
# Thomson SpeedTouch - 570 Wireless ADSL Modem (22.10.2003)
# Thomson SpeedTouch 536v5 ADSL Modem - Ethernet, USB (23.06.2005)
# Thomson SpeedTouch 536v6 ADSL Modem - Ethernet, USB (20.06.2006)
# Thomson SpeedTouch 546v6 ADSL Modem - 4 Port Ethernet (27.06.2006)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch Home (04.08.2000)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch Pro (04.08.2000)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch Pro (4 port) (10.09.2001)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch Pro (Firewall) (09.10.2001)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch PCNIC (04.08.2000)
# Thomson/Alcatel SpeedTouch USB (04.08.2000)

If so, did you try downloading their latest drivers and not relay upon Window's Service to supply the Drivers or whatever was on the Disk provided? I know these are long shots but these are desperate times which calls for desperate measures.

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

No I have the SpeedTouch 330:

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=ST330

[BluBarry]

You didn't answer if you've downloaded the latest Drivers or not but I went on their Site and tried to find the Drivers which I wasn't able to locate. I did read some of the reviews for this product and although many were not positive, none related to system freeze ups.

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/Produ...s.asp?pr=ST330

Since I'm not aware of anything or condition that could cause such a dilemma, I decided to research via Goggle 2C if others had this same situation and what they did bout it. I wasn't able to find anyone with this issue but I did read that Highspeed Broadband service that freezes up may be an issue with out-dated Drivers which is why I'm hanging on that for a bit.

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

I found some drivers!!!

http://www.demon.net/helpdesk/techni...rs/SpeedTouch/

Giving them a go now mate. :)

Thanks for the help,

I will report back.

Mikey.

[IAmNutsAboutPCs]

It says that a newer version is installed so back to the drawing board.

[l_b_rex]

Sounds like a Chewbaka problem.
It doesn't make sense. Chewbaka was a wookie...it doesn't make sense!

Maybe your modem is overheating or something else I've never heard of. I'd have to say that you have ruled out the PC, phone line and filter. I am no detective but I'd say the guilty is the MODEM!

[ken.ramsey]

I had a similair issue with my DSL modem. Have you had the phone line tested coming into your house. DSL transmits on a different freq. than voice so your voice may sound fine but the DSL will get messed up. If you have an older house the box that the phone line plugs into from the telephone pole may need to be updated or replaced.

[ebackhus]

A line test from the telco is in order here. I also recommend NOT using USB and instead plugging in a nice Cat5e cable.

[BluBarry]

I really must apologize bcuz the past couple of days, I've been frantically working on my site trying to get the first stage of it completed in order to setup for the next stage, blah blah blah anyway, I haven't forgotten and I was truly hoping you discovered the problem but I guess we're not done yet. I called a Supervisor in the Dallas Texas Office who is a good friend and let him read your original post. His exact words were, "You haven't figured this out and you think I'm gonna figure it out?" I guess that was a backhanded compliment but we laughed and he asked me the same question I asked you but you never replied to it.

Originally Posted by Blubarry (From first Reply)

Solution: (Obvious) if you have an available PCI Slot, try using that and see what happens. If not, you need to let us know what USB protocol use are using. DSL/Cable should ONLY be transmitted via 2.0 which you can get at any outlet that sells Internet Supplies like Staples or Office Max or Radio Shack, etc. I think even Home Depot sells stuff as well.

Don't try placing a Modem into just any USB port in back of your Computer because they're not made for that purpose. And last, you just may have a bad Filter (Voice Microfilter). Which again you can get at the afore mentioned.

Re-Installing Windows etc. is totally unnecessary ..

Originally Posted by Blubarry (from 2nd Post)

Sorry today is big football day so I guess I sort of forgot about the Forum, I apologize. Anyway, if you haven't solved the issue yet, I was wondering if you tried simply bypassing the Microfilter and going straight into the feed leaving out your phone for the moment? If you do that and the prob seems to stop then I'd look at replacing the Filter. If the problem persist, then I'm just as confused as you are.

Please try the Filter suggestion, I'm curious as to what will happen. Obviously the Filters are only for the Phone or Fax Machine in the Room with your System. If you don't have a phone or Fax in the room, then placing a Filter on that line feeding your Modem is a waste of time. I am becoming convinced that the Filter is the culprit. Let's give it a go and see what happens.