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Question

Why does my connection drop several times an hour

May 7, 2013 2:59AM PDT

My wired RR internet connection drops aboout 2-4 minutes several times an hour. I've:

had 4 techs out , they say the signal/noise is perfect
swapped the cable modem,
tried another router,
connected without a router,
reconfigged router,
removed everything from the LAN except 1 system
tried alternate computers
called RR like 5 times
published it on DSL reports
sent ping logs to RR national help desk

..and nothing helps at all.

Here is a typical ping -t , dropped in the middleto google from today. It does this 24 x 7 and no one has been able to assist. I'm not doing anything on my net while this is happening except pinging google:


Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=40ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=47ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=36ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=50
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 50.89.224.136: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 50.89.224.136: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 50.89.224.136: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 50.89.224.136: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 50.89.224.136: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=30ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=37ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=31ms TTL=50
Reply from 173.194.37.4: bytes=32 time=29ms TTL=50

Discussion is locked

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Answer
connected without a router, is pretty good along with
May 7, 2013 3:03AM PDT

But a continuous ping is not an acceptable test or proof as I have for years set ping responses to the last thing to take care of in my embedded systems. All other traffic has priority so it's proper for ping to fail. It is not proof the connection has dropped.

Even with that out of the way, you did the usual and it's up to the ISP to fix this.
Bob

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Ping not priority
May 7, 2013 5:27AM PDT

I understand what you say, but at the precise moment that ping starts reporting timeouts- I can't browse anywhere (except 192.168.1.1), until it resumes with a pingtime. So every few minutes, I have no ability to browse; I sip coffee, watch the ping screen, and when it stops timing out I resume browsing..

So ping isn't the only metric, http traffic is also interrupted. I'm just using it to demonstrate that I have no connectivity. Same with tracert- during the dropping pings, tracert can't get outside my LAN.

The ISP is doing nothing on this as far as I know. If I call a tech will come out, measure the S/N, say its fine, and leave. National help desk got the ticket and never replied.

BTW- this has the *smell* of being an IP conflict to me. That's why I've tried to segregate the nodes.

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Does not sound like an IP conflict.
May 7, 2013 5:34AM PDT

I fear you may have to keep calling until they fix it. The fact you see this with a direct connect to the cable modem and multiple PCs is my clue that your gear is fine. It's on their end.
Bob

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Thanks Bob
May 7, 2013 9:54AM PDT

You're probasbly right.. I'll call them again and see whaT I can do. I just HATE that 1st hour with the person in India leading me thru their script for the 20th time!

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Answer
Why does my connection drop several times an hour
May 21, 2013 5:52AM PDT

sounds like youre doing everything to test it properly,
its on youre isp end...

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Answer
Try power-save feature
Jun 4, 2013 2:13AM PDT

We had this issue for MONTHS with TWC, 2 routers, 5 techs, 10 calls to India - finally someone figured out that there is a power save feature that was enabled. Turning it off solved the problem.