Shotty Comcast

RadGH · 02-10-2009, 02:01 AM

I've been having random problems with my network for the past 4-6 months. Every few weeks my internet becomes unstable, dropping connection and things like that. I have no reason to believe its any of my computer in my house and as far as I know the cables are all secure and work fine.

I've replaced the router before and the same type of problem occurs so I don't think its the router. I have also moved both router, modem, and phone (we have digital voice) to my room using different coaxial cables.

I blame the modem (not router) solely because I can't blame anything else. Tech support just does troubleshooting, they are clueless. They say "Oh you aren't getting full signal power cycle your modem. Now its fixed!!", for 10 minutes.

Heres some of my symptoms:
1: Upload rate "dies" for ~20 seconds, while I can still hear people on Skype and see people moving around in games they suddenly can't hear me, and I can't communicate with the servers. When this resolves, I stay connected but most programs disconnect me for some reason (timeout?).
2: Same symptom above, except sometimes the modem itself reboots. All lights turn off except the first and it powers back on. The power connection is NOT as I have tested it using different cables and outlets.
3: Typical low download/upload rates occasionally, with high ping. I've not seen less than 150ms on L4d in about 2 weeks.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? What should I do? I asked about taking it back for a replacement and the tech support lady said I can go ahead and do that, but my friend also said they tried that and they had to have someone go to their house to install it (Their kids spilled milk in it somehow though).

**johnwill** · 02-10-2009, 02:43 PM

There are a couple of things.

First off, make SURE you have high quality cable like RG-6U coming DIRECTLY from the Comcast 2:1 splitter at the service entrance for their feed to the modem. Don't have ANY other splitters on the line to the modem.

Power the modem from a UPS to make sure you don't have a power quality issue.

Complain loud and long to Comcast support until they fix it if the previous two solutions don't work.

02-10-2009, 02:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
RadGH Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 32 OS: Windows XP Pro SP2	Shotty Comcast I've been having random problems with my network for the past 4-6 months. Every few weeks my internet becomes unstable, dropping connection and things like that. I have no reason to believe its any of my computer in my house and as far as I know the cables are all secure and work fine. I've replaced the router before and the same type of problem occurs so I don't think its the router. I have also moved both router, modem, and phone (we have digital voice) to my room using different coaxial cables. I blame the modem (not router) solely because I can't blame anything else. Tech support just does troubleshooting, they are clueless. They say "Oh you aren't getting full signal power cycle your modem. Now its fixed!!", for 10 minutes. Heres some of my symptoms: 1: Upload rate "dies" for ~20 seconds, while I can still hear people on Skype and see people moving around in games they suddenly can't hear me, and I can't communicate with the servers. When this resolves, I stay connected but most programs disconnect me for some reason (timeout?). 2: Same symptom above, except sometimes the modem itself reboots. All lights turn off except the first and it powers back on. The power connection is NOT as I have tested it using different cables and outlets. 3: Typical low download/upload rates occasionally, with high ping. I've not seen less than 150ms on L4d in about 2 weeks. Has anyone experienced anything like this? What should I do? I asked about taking it back for a replacement and the tech support lady said I can go ahead and do that, but my friend also said they tried that and they had to have someone go to their house to install it (Their kids spilled milk in it somehow though).

02-10-2009, 02:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,921 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Shotty Comcast There are a couple of things. First off, make SURE you have high quality cable like RG-6U coming DIRECTLY from the Comcast 2:1 splitter at the service entrance for their feed to the modem. Don't have ANY other splitters on the line to the modem. Power the modem from a UPS to make sure you don't have a power quality issue. Complain loud and long to Comcast support until they fix it if the previous two solutions don't work. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience