Loosing internet connection

[blue47766]

When I'm on the internet I keep loosing the connection, even though I'm told I'm still connected, could be after an hour or a lot longer. If I disconnect and reconnect at the telephone socket or turn the computer off and restart everything is ok again. Any ideas?

 

[Damocles]

I presume you are on dialup?

 

[blue47766]

Virgin broadband

 

[mcfcbird]

What kind of computer are you using and under what system?

 

[blue47766]

XP. Problem only started recently.

 

[Damocles]

It is going to be either one of two things:

1. You have a problem with the signal, and it's attenuation. The fix for this is for a Virgin engineer to come round, screw something in to your modem, then leave. This is free.

2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. Ring Virgin (151 from a Virgin phone) and ask them to check your modem. New one takes 2-3 days and is also free.

Also, if you are on wireless internet, consider the following:

1. Your signal is dropping, but more likely:

2. Somebody else is on your network and nicking your bandwidth.

 

[blue47766]

It is going to be either one of two things:

1. You have a problem with the signal, and it's attenuation. The fix for this is for a Virgin engineer to come round, screw something in to your modem, then leave. This is free.

2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. Ring Virgin (151 from a Virgin phone) and ask them to check your modem. New one takes 2-3 days and is also free.

Also, if you are on wireless internet, consider the following:

1. Your signal is dropping, but more likely:

2. Somebody else is on your network and nicking your bandwidth.

Thanks mate. Number 2 looks good. Problem started after I was 'upgraded' to a faster speed. Will give them a ring tomorrow.

 

[auction294]

It is going to be either one of two things:
1. You have a problem with the signal, and it's attenuation. The fix for this is for a Virgin engineer to come round, screw something in to your modem, then leave. This is free.
2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. Ring Virgin (151 from a Virgin phone) and ask them to check your modem. New one takes 2-3 days and is also free.
Also, if you are on wireless internet, consider the following:
1. Your signal is dropping, but more likely:
2. Somebody else is on your network and nicking your bandwidth.

1. No. If the router is faulty a Virgin Engineer will not perform an onsite repair. They will not come and screw something into the modem! More than likely you have a Netgear RP614 Cable Router. This is manufactured by Netgear and as such no repairs will be undertaken by Virgin. Their engineers are not trained to carry out hardware repairs on these routers. Virgin should do line tests and if the router is deemed to be faulty they will replace it free of charge. It is not an attenuation issue as this is the deteroration of the ADSL signal over the copper wire. Virgin do not use ADSL technology, they connect us using DSL signal over fibre optic.
2. The firmware may need updating but this shouldn't affect the performance. Although on occasion I have updated firmware onsite and resolved issues the same as yours.
--------------
Can you provide details if you are connecting wired, (LAN cable), or wirleless. We are looking at two difference scenarios for each problem.

If it's wireless we need to eliminate intereferance on the same frequency 2.4GHz, faulty wireless network card or the Channel broadcasting ranging from 1 - 13.

If it's wired it could be the cable, the network port or the Virgin Connection.

Lastly it could be software related, but from what you have already said I doubt it.

 

[Damocles]

[
1. No. If the router is faulty a Virgin Engineer will not perform an onsite repair. They will not come and screw something into the modem!

1. Nobody was talking about routers, I was referring to the modem. If it has a router built in, it is possibly the worst router ever, as it only has a single Ethernet port. What exactly is the power booster that they come and screw in between the cable modem, and the line then?
Also, Virgin run a hybrid Fibre/Coaxial network. There is coaxial used from the exchange to the home. Also, as I connect from a cable in the modem to the main trunk outside, bypassing any phone line, and my upload and download sped are vastly different, I'm betting ADSL. DSL is just the name of a family of technologies used, including ADSL.

2. Old hardware/firmware does affect the quality of the internet connection. The reason I know this, is because I had the issue myself not three days ago. For all you know, he could have an old Ambit modem.

I presume you are a Virgin Engineer?

 

[blue47766]

It is going to be either one of two things:
1. You have a problem with the signal, and it's attenuation. The fix for this is for a Virgin engineer to come round, screw something in to your modem, then leave. This is free.
2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. Ring Virgin (151 from a Virgin phone) and ask them to check your modem. New one takes 2-3 days and is also free.
Also, if you are on wireless internet, consider the following:
1. Your signal is dropping, but more likely:
2. Somebody else is on your network and nicking your bandwidth.

1. No. If the router is faulty a Virgin Engineer will not perform an onsite repair. They will not come and screw something into the modem! More than likely you have a Netgear RP614 Cable Router. This is manufactured by Netgear and as such no repairs will be undertaken by Virgin. Their engineers are not trained to carry out hardware repairs on these routers. Virgin should do line tests and if the router is deemed to be faulty they will replace it free of charge. It is not an attenuation issue as this is the deteroration of the ADSL signal over the copper wire. Virgin do not use ADSL technology, they connect us using DSL signal over fibre optic.
2. The firmware may need updating but this shouldn't affect the performance. Although on occasion I have updated firmware onsite and resolved issues the same as yours.
--------------
Can you provide details if you are connecting wired, (LAN cable), or wirleless. We are looking at two difference scenarios for each problem.

If it's wireless we need to eliminate intereferance on the same frequency 2.4GHz, faulty wireless network card or the Channel broadcasting ranging from 1 - 13.

If it's wired it could be the cable, the network port or the Virgin Connection.

Lastly it could be software related, but from what you have already said I doubt it.

Its a wired connection

 

[auction294]

Sorry Damocles, you're talking shite mate.

No I am not a Virgin Engineer, but I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE in Server 2003), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) & Microsoft Desktop Support Technician (MDST).

I have installed enterprise level networks, SMBs and domestic installations. I have probably built and installed more pcs than there are away fans in CoMs, my day to day role is installing networks and resolving hardware faults, I have over 12 practicle onsite experience, , oh and I have a big dick and my Dad is really hard.

What exactly is the power booster that they come and screw in between the cable modem, and the line then?

- yes what it is it?

Also, Virgin run a hybrid Fibre/Coaxial network

- correct yes they do. blue47766 can you post if you are connecting direclty to Virgin (DLS), or through the phone line (ADSL)

For all you know, he could have an old Ambit modem.

- in which case it's USB, that contradicts your original statement 2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. as I'm sure that you know a USB modem needs the software (drivers) installed on the PC. It's a router that would need a firmware update , which if you like to think of it is a software update. This was exactly why I mentioned a router.

1. Nobody was talking about routers, I was referring to the modem. If it has a router built in, it is possibly the worst router ever, as it only has a single Ethernet port

- mate this makes no sense at all. A USB modem does NOT have a router built in . A combined modem\router would of course have dual functionality, but certainly not the USB modems that Virgin provide. This is why I mentioned a router


In so far as the Netgear RP614 it is a quality piece of hardware that I would rate over Belkin & DLink anyday. Only other I would recommend for a Virgin Media Connection is the Linksys WRT54G. Again, quality kit.

you wanna take it from here feel free.

 

[blue47766]

Through the phone line. Been on line now for a couple of hours , no probs

 

[sweep]

[
1. No. If the router is faulty a Virgin Engineer will not perform an onsite repair. They will not come and screw something into the modem!

1. Nobody was talking about routers, I was referring to the modem. If it has a router built in, it is possibly the worst router ever, as it only has a single Ethernet port. What exactly is the power booster that they come and screw in between the cable modem, and the line then?
It is an attenuator and it isn't always fitted, depends on distance from the breakout to your house.

Also, Virgin run a hybrid Fibre/Coaxial network. There is coaxial used from the exchange to the home. Also, as I connect from a cable in the modem to the main trunk outside, bypassing any phone line, and my upload and download sped are vastly different, I'm betting ADSL. DSL is just the name of a family of technologies used, including ADSL.
Correct ADSL is a subset of DSL

2. Old hardware/firmware does affect the quality of the internet connection. The reason I know this, is because I had the issue myself not three days ago. For all you know, he could have an old Ambit modem.
I can confirm that to as I also had to have a new modem after a speed upgrade, the old one wasn't up to 20MB/s (hardware not firmware).

 

[auction294]

No. If the router is faulty a Virgin Engineer will not perform an onsite repair

no Cable engineer will take apart a router , diagnose and repair the device onsite. Especially if the hardware wasn't provided by the provider.

Damocles, I take back my comment;

1. You have a problem with the signal, and it's attenuation. The fix for this is for a Virgin engineer to come round, screw something in to your modem, then leave. This is free.

I've never seen or heard any of the Cable providers doing this. Fair point if they do.

 

[Damocles]

No I am not a Virgin Engineer, but I am a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE in Server 2003), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) & Microsoft Desktop Support Technician (MDST).

I have installed enterprise level networks, SMBs and domestic installations. I have probably built and installed more pcs than there are away fans in CoMs, my day to day role is installing networks and resolving hardware faults, I have over 12 practicle onsite experience, , oh and I have a big dick and my Dad is really hard.

I imagine you mean 12 years practical experience. Anyway, lets not get into a pissing contest over qualifications. As you will well know, there are many highly qualified people in the world that have absolutely no clue what they are talking about. As an engineer yourself, you must have come across hundreds of network admins who have all the right papers, yet no fucking clue. Oh, and with the exception of the MDST, we have the same (though I've also got a BSc, so ner ner!).

Both of our qualifications and experience are irrelevant for what is a simple issue here. By the way, if you ever want a chat about why the 7 layer is bollocks, I'm your man!

- yes what it is it?

The poster above answered that question. The point I was making is that engineers DO come out and attach it.

- in which case it's USB, that contradicts your original statement 2. Your problem is that your modem is too old, and has outdated software upon it. as I'm sure that you know a USB modem needs the software (drivers) installed on the PC. It's a router that would need a firmware update , which if you like to think of it is a software update. This was exactly why I mentioned a router.

The old Ambit modem could refer to any model, and was used to illustrate that you don't know about his hardware, and saying that a modem probably isn't the problem is short-sighted. By the way, there were many, many old Ambit modems which supported both Ethernet and USB like this one. And yes, modems do have firmware, although I'm not sure if you were disputing this or not :S

- mate this makes no sense at all. A USB modem does NOT have a router built in . A combined modem\router would of course have dual functionality, but certainly not the USB modems that Virgin provide. This is why I mentioned a router

Again, I fail to see why the router is relevant to the problem when I was suggesting that maybe the modem was outdated. The comment about it being the worst router ever was alluding to the fact that it wasn't a router, if you follow me. Also, Virgin now provide exclusively Ethernet modems to any new subscribers/updating customers.

Anyway, I'm enjoying this chat as I love a good debate and think I'll probably learn something. There is no denying that I'm a software guy in front of hardware, though I do have the relevant papers/exp. in hardware. Knowledge is the bomb.

 

[Speedy1000]

Have you tried switching it off and then on again at the wall?