Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out

VonV · 05-19-2009, 06:31 PM

I'm on wireless, my ISP is Ripwave 1Mb by Irishbroadband and I'm on Windows XP Home Edition. My connection keeps cutting out for anything between 5 seconds to 5 minutes every 15 minutes or so, but it always seems to cut out for about 30-45 minutes at the same time every night.

What I have tried:
I was told it could have been a DNS failure so I changed my DNS settings.
I have called my ISP and they 'refreshed' my connection, I called them again and they told me it must be something to do with my end, not theirs.
I have ran a spyware scan.

I have not moved my computer nor my modem; where it is right now I used to have (near) perfect connection.
There should be nothing near my computer/modem that is interfering with my signal.
I'm only a few miles from the mast, so I shouldn't be having any problems with signal strength.

This happens across all browsers but I only use Firefox (it often tells me "Connection Interrupted" or "Network Timeout" when this happens), but my connection doesn't seem to acknowledge that it has gone down. I get no "limited or no connectivity" notice on my task bar like I usually would if my connection was having a 'moment'

Suggestions/anything else you need to know? I'm getting a bit desperate at this point, I normally don't resort to forums but try to solve these sort of problems myself. This has been going on for about four months now, and it's really beginning to really interfere with such things as Skype and MSN as I keep getting kicked off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

MikenandezNST · 05-19-2009, 06:35 PM

As funny as is sounds are do you happen to be near a street light of some sort?

VonV · 05-19-2009, 06:38 PM

Yeah, I'm in an apartment block, there's a tall one only a stone's throw outside my window.

MikenandezNST · 05-19-2009, 06:43 PM

Check and see if you notice around the time when you usually drop connection for 30-45 minutes if that darn street light turns on around that time.

Had a client once that was having the same exact issue and after all and all was tried the issue ended up being with the street light.

That is probably not too far away from now.

Post back with info.

VonV · 05-19-2009, 06:47 PM

When it goes down for that length of time it's usually around 4-4:30am, so that's more likely when the street light goes off rather than on, even then... I think it's more inclined to go out at about 6am (I'm a night owl.)

Very interesting and odd thought, though.

05-19-2009, 06:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
VonV Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out I'm on wireless, my ISP is Ripwave 1Mb by Irishbroadband and I'm on Windows XP Home Edition. My connection keeps cutting out for anything between 5 seconds to 5 minutes every 15 minutes or so, but it always seems to cut out for about 30-45 minutes at the same time every night. What I have tried: I was told it could have been a DNS failure so I changed my DNS settings. I have called my ISP and they 'refreshed' my connection, I called them again and they told me it must be something to do with my end, not theirs. I have ran a spyware scan. I have not moved my computer nor my modem; where it is right now I used to have (near) perfect connection. There should be nothing near my computer/modem that is interfering with my signal. I'm only a few miles from the mast, so I shouldn't be having any problems with signal strength. This happens across all browsers but I only use Firefox (it often tells me "Connection Interrupted" or "Network Timeout" when this happens), but my connection doesn't seem to acknowledge that it has gone down. I get no "limited or no connectivity" notice on my task bar like I usually would if my connection was having a 'moment' Suggestions/anything else you need to know? I'm getting a bit desperate at this point, I normally don't resort to forums but try to solve these sort of problems myself. This has been going on for about four months now, and it's really beginning to really interfere with such things as Skype and MSN as I keep getting kicked off. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

05-19-2009, 06:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
MikenandezNST Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,155 OS: Win Vista Ultimate EditionSP1/WinXPSP3 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out As funny as is sounds are do you happen to be near a street light of some sort? __________________

05-19-2009, 06:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
VonV Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out Yeah, I'm in an apartment block, there's a tall one only a stone's throw outside my window.

05-19-2009, 06:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
MikenandezNST Tech, Microsoft Support Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,155 OS: Win Vista Ultimate EditionSP1/WinXPSP3 Blog Entries: 2	Re: Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out Check and see if you notice around the time when you usually drop connection for 30-45 minutes if that darn street light turns on around that time. Had a client once that was having the same exact issue and after all and all was tried the issue ended up being with the street light. That is probably not too far away from now. Post back with info. __________________ Last edited by MikenandezNST; 05-19-2009 at 06:45 PM. Reason: typo

05-19-2009, 06:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
VonV Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Connection Keeps Randomly Cutting Out When it goes down for that length of time it's usually around 4-4:30am, so that's more likely when the street light goes off rather than on, even then... I think it's more inclined to go out at about 6am (I'm a night owl.) Very interesting and odd thought, though.