cable modem problem

5906 Views 44 Replies 7 Participants Last post by nikeman, Feb 19, 2007

nikeman

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2007

Ok, I have COX cable internet and have had it for about 2 years now. I live in a small apartment with aparently one main cable outlet in my bedroom, which is split within the wall somewhere to run into my living room giving me 2 cable outlets. Well, i had no choice but to use a splitter in my room to be able to have cable TV and internet in here but for the past year or so i have very annoying signal strenth for the internet. It is constantly off and on through out the day but if i remove the splitter and screw the coax directly into the wall it seems to work just fine. I guess my question is do they make some kin of signal boosters for cable modems?? :4-dontkno

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johnwill

· #2 · Jan 28, 2007

I suggest you figure a different way, or rewire the jack. I've tried several bi-directional amplifiers in the past, and the results were very poor. There's simply no substitute for a good feed directly from the external cable connection.

I've seen asymmetrical 2:1 splitters that have a lower insertion loss for one leg than the other, which "might" help. OTOH, If you're so marginal that the splitter causes the problem, there's probably not much hope. Also, many 2:1 splitters have a much greater return loss than you can tolerate.

JamesO

· #3 · Jan 29, 2007

Get yourself a decent cable amp and install it before the splitter. Not the ideal situation, but given your situation it might be the best shot.

Not a real fan of the newer Radio Shack amps, but you can return it if it does not work.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...mplifier&kw=cable+amplifier&parentPage=search

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=SPAMP15

All granted you should have enough signal to make a split, however, the digital equipment is very sensitive to absolute signal level.

If your modem is something other than a Toshiba, enter 192.168.100.1 in your web browser and check you signal level info with and without the splitter in line.

Post this cable modem info back for review and comment.

You might call Cox and see if they will provide/sell you an amp if you pick it up. This might be the best solution as it will be something they know works. Also if you cable splitter or cables are questionable, Cox usually provides a free self install cable kit that has a good splitter and some good pre-terminated coax cables as well.

JamesO

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nikeman

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 29, 2007

Cable Signal: Ready
Tuning: Complete
Ranging: Complete

Data Service: Ready
Connecting: Complete
Configuring: Complete
Registering: Complete

Current state: Operational
Highest State Obtained: Operational

Thats all it says with and without the splitter.. I have a Terayon modem if that helps..

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CannonFodder

· #5 · Jan 29, 2007

If you ask me, the problem is most likely the splitter itself. One thing to look at is the ports coming off the splitter. Most of them have Db ratings for them and a lot of times the ports will be different. You can try using the port with the higher rating for your modem, if it wasn't already hooked up that way. That may help some. If not try a new splitter. They are usually cheap. Sometimes if you can catch the cable guy he may even give you one.

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 29, 2007

i now think that it just so happened to start working once i unhooked the splitter because it started doing the same thing again about 20 mins later. It just will not stay online for more then 30 mins at a time and to make things worse Cox raised my bill for internet and cable so I am paying more for less:sigh:

johnwill

· #7 · Jan 30, 2007

Actually, you want the splitter leg with the lower dB loss for the broadband modem if it's asymmetrical. :grin:

CannonFodder

· #8 · Feb 6, 2007

I was always told that the numbers indicated the Db output. But then I used to work with a lot of idiots.

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 6, 2007

i had a tech come and it turned out my coax cable going to my modem was bad so i replaced it and it works. But I still have the problem of when i am online for a while the internet will just stop working. it wont let me go anywhere at all but the internet will still be connected. I can be on a website and try to go somewhere else but nothing will happen, i can click refresh and nothing will happen. Its weird, kinda like the internet just gets lazy and doesn't feel like taking me to new different sites.. But after i restart my computer it all works fine again..

JamesO

· #10 · Feb 6, 2007

Your computer may have a memory leak?

JamesO

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 7, 2007

JamesO said:
Your computer may have a memory leak?

JamesO

memory leak?? What do you mean and how can i check for that?

JamesO

· #12 · Feb 7, 2007

First, how much RAM does you machine have installed?

If you have XP, you should have at least 512 MB.

A memory leak is caused by a program or programs that do not properly release RAM as it is used. For example the Firefox web browser has some known memory leaks.

You need to start with a freshly rebooted machine. Wait until it stabilized and via the Control Panel (Ctrl, Alt, Del) see how much memory is being used in the upper right hand graph and how much memory your machine has left. If less than 100 MB, then you are getting into danger zone.

You then need to watch the graph when the machine slows and the web browsing slows or stops and check the total memory usage. You then need to go to the Processes tab an sort the Memory Usage column and see what the top few Memory hogs are.

What web browser to you usually use?
How many running Process are active on this machine?
Do you use Hot Switching?
What programs do you use that seem to cause the machine to slow down?

For example, my kids love Disney Toon Town, what a memory leak hog, it always is causing problems as the software has problems releasing memory and will kill a machine with even 784 MB of unused RAM!!

The machine with only 512 MB is always locking up.

JamesO

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Press2Esc

· #13 · Feb 9, 2007

nike,

sounds to me like you have ad/spyware on your system... update/run your friendly version of spybot or adaware and be done with it.

if you feel real energetic check your startup files w/msconfig and uncheck all the trash apps that get loaded with many of the freezware out on the net.

P2E

nikeman said:
i had a tech come and it turned out my coax cable going to my modem was bad so i replaced it and it works. But I still have the problem of when i am online for a while the internet will just stop working. it wont let me go anywhere at all but the internet will still be connected. I can be on a website and try to go somewhere else but nothing will happen, i can click refresh and nothing will happen. Its weird, kinda like the internet just gets lazy and doesn't feel like taking me to new different sites.. But after i restart my computer it all works fine again..

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #14 · Feb 9, 2007

Press2Esc said:
nike,

sounds to me like you have ad/spyware on your system... update/run your friendly version of spybot or adaware and be done with it. if you feel real energetic check your startup files w/msconfig and uncheck all the trash apps that get loaded with many of the freezware out on the net.

P2E

I run spybot and adaware and the problem is still there..

I did that ctrl, Alt, Del to check the performance while the internet was working and while it wasnt an the charts and everything looked the same both ways. My biggest memory eater is Firefox, followed by svchost.exe , and then something called msimn.exe, then IE

Firefox.exe: 52,304k
svchost.exe: 25,028k
msimn.exe: 19,728
iexplore.exe: 17,952

JamesO

· #15 · Feb 9, 2007

How many running Processes and how much RAM does the machine have installed?

JamesO

crazijoe

· #16 · Feb 9, 2007

Quick question,
Do you still have this problem with the modem connected directly without the splitter?

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 9, 2007

crazijoe said:
Quick question,
Do you still have this problem with the modem connected directly without the splitter?

no, that was resolved with the new coax cable.. Please dont close this topic though cause i still need help...:wink:

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 9, 2007 (Edited)

JamesO said:
How many running Processes and how much RAM does the machine have installed?

JamesO

I counted 50 processes

JamesO

· #19 · Feb 9, 2007

Why is your CPU at 68%? Is this at this rate for a long time??

What Process or Application is using all this CPU resource?

The machine should settle at between 2-5% CPU utilization with most of the CPU being System Idle Process.

JamesO

nikeman

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 10, 2007

JamesO said:
Why is your CPU at 68%? Is this at this rate for a long time??

What Process or Application is using all this CPU resource?

The machine should settle at between 2-5% CPU utilization with most of the CPU being System Idle Process.

JamesO

I dont know whats using up all of that, but it stays between 68% and 98% from what i saw..

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