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General discussion

Verizon DSL is stalling often, modem issue?

Oct 11, 2008 5:34AM PDT

Hi, I've had Verizon DSL for a few years and it has worked fine until recently. Now my internet connection will stall several times a day and I need to flip the power off and on to reconnect. By stalling, I mean I'll start loading a webpage and it'll just load indefinitely until I restart the modem. After I do that, the page loads right away. I have an older modem, a Westell 2200, and I'm wondering if that may be the problem. Also, do newer or better modems have the ability to recognize that the connection isn't working on their own and auto-restart? That'd be a nice feature.

Is there something Verizon can do about this? Should I complain to Verizon and ask for a never modem? Should I buy a different modem if they won't replace it?

I have an Apple Powerbook and I use an Apple Airport Express router. My DSL service through Verizon is the 3Mbps speed.

Thanks a lot,
Scott

Discussion is locked

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Did you ask verizon?
Oct 11, 2008 5:38AM PDT

When you call in, they run a diagnostic that you can't do.

And if you are restarting the modem, that's a sign. Call them and report it.
Bob

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Yes, I did call Verizon.
Oct 11, 2008 5:58AM PDT

Thanks for your note. I called tech support a couple weeks ago and the Verizon guy said "Did you try restarting the modem?" And I said "Yes, and that always works, but I'm tired of doing it three times a day or more." Verizon guy then said, basically, "Well, it's working now, what more do you want? Thanks for calling Verizon, goodbye."

I was going to call them back and insist that they send me a newer modem, but figured I'd try this forum first to see if that would even fix the problem. I certainly don't want to make things worse.

The reason this is more than just a minor inconvenience for me, by the way, is that I share the internet with my housemates and if the internet goes down while I'm not home, they can't come into my place and reset the modem. And I'd rather not give them a key.
Thanks again,
Scott

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DSL just stalled again...
Oct 11, 2008 7:04AM PDT

... and I noticed something odd. The internet radio station I was listening to kept playing even though I couldn't load a web page and had to restart the modem.

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That could be buffered.
Oct 11, 2008 7:43AM PDT

Such things are best buffered so they fetch ahead so interruptions don't stop the music.

Sadly your choices are limited to trying another modem.
Bob

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Do you think a better modem would solve my problem?
Oct 11, 2008 8:20AM PDT

Or are you saying that switching the modem is worth a shot, but you don't really know if that would help?
Thanks a lot, Scott

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Look at the symptoms.
Oct 11, 2008 8:21AM PDT

Rebooting the modem fixes it. So I would beg, borrow another modem fast.

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Thanks. If Verizon won't send me a new one...
Oct 11, 2008 8:39AM PDT

...can you please recommend a make and model of modem I should buy? Thanks again, Scott

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For me, anything.
Oct 11, 2008 8:46AM PDT

When they work they work. I have yet to find anything I prefer. Be sure you try FREECYCLE (see google) to see if someone has one they need to dispose of.
Bob