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General discussion

Internet suddenly slow...

Sep 24, 2009 4:15AM PDT

I've lived at my place for over a year without a single problem with my internet. I use a Linksys router hooked directly to a Dell desktop and then my laptop is a MacBook Pro is wireless. A few weeks ago the internet suddenly stopped working, not finding an IP address for DHCP or the DNS servers. I tried everything possible that I found on the internet but went away for the weekend and came back and it was working on it's own again.

It was fine for a week but now it's running extremely slowly.

I used speedtest.net on both computer and on the Dell I got:
Download 6.81Mb/s
Upload 0.48Mb/s
Ping 83ms

The Mac I got:
Download: 5.96Mb/s
Upload: 0.44Mb/s
Ping: 136ms

Any insight on what could have possibly happened or how I could fix it?

Discussion is locked

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How slow is slow?
Sep 24, 2009 9:22AM PDT

Since you didn't tell us what your broadband is . . . Around 6 Meg is good.

Have you tried testing connected directly to the modem?

Is the router's firmware up to date?

Have you complained to your ISP?

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More changes...
Sep 25, 2009 1:14PM PDT

Not sure what type of broadband I have? I go through my cable if that's what you mean.

It was slow when I connected it directly also.

It was fine after I posted this and then an hour or so ago started to slow down again and finally stopped working on both computers completely. Tried release/renew didn't work. The IP address on the desktop was reading .111 and the laptop was .100. I unplugged the router and modem and when they started up again everything went back to normal.

I checked for firmware updates, and there aren't any.

Since its being sporadic maybe I should ask my cable company if they've gotten other complaints?

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Cable . . .
Sep 25, 2009 9:56PM PDT

What speed does your cable advertise? You really need to get more involved with what you're paying for. Who is the provider? What do they advertise for speed?

Since it happened on both PCs, there are two options. Either the router is getting flaky (again, does it have the latest firmware), or the cable is flaky. Before you complain you need to prove/isolate the problem. Connect one PC directly to the modem and get the router out of the picture. If it runs for a few days with no problem, back to the router and my above question.