Problem - keep getting an intermittent connection (wired connection)

[zeth07]

For the last few months our internet connection has been completely intermittent. Some days it will work perfectly fine all day long, other days like today it will disconnect / reconnect every 30 seconds - 5 minutes. I tried doing Live Chat several times and most of the times I can't even get through their questions before my net disconnects. One time I did manage to let them take over control of my computer to "fix" the problems, and at that given moment it worked. But literally as soon as the person disconnected from my computer my net died again.

Part of our setup uses Vonage, which means if the internet does not work our phone doesn't work. I hardly think Vonage is the problem because it works perfectly fine other days. Same goes with the Verizon people saying gaming can effect it which shouldn't be a problem either. I've tried to use my cell to call them but as soon as I go downstairs to mess with the modem / router my phone loses service.

It seems like this is a day to day problem. Last night my internet was perfectly fine, today it keeps disconnecting. Power cycles fix the problem for a few seconds to a few minutes, and letting it reset itself does the same thing. As i'm typing this post my internet has disconnected several times. I can't seem to figure out the problem and need some advice.

Information:

Computer connection - Wired

OS - Windows XP

Modem - Actiontec GT704WG

Here is what the system log says:

(GMT-05:00)15:25:19 Fri Jul 03 2009 udhcpd: interface: br0, start : 4001a8c0 end : fe01a8c0 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:23 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.242.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:23 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.242.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.252.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: All DNS servers tried, no response.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.252.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: All DNS servers tried, no response.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=76,srcip=192.168.1.1, url=amedsatxb6130.amed.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:25 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=76,srcip=192.168.1.1, url=amedsatxb6130.amed.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:26 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=138,srcip=4.2.2.2, url=amedsatxb6130.amed.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:30 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.242.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:30 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.242.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=133,srcip=4.2.2.2, url=amedsatxb6130.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=133,srcip=4.2.2.2, url=amedsatxb6130.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.252.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: All DNS servers tried, no response.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.252.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: All DNS servers tried, no response.

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=71,srcip=192.168.1.1, url=amedsatxb6130.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:25:32 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=71,srcip=192.168.1.1, url=amedsatxb6130.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:26:13 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.242.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:26:14 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=138,srcip=4.2.2.2, url=amedsmapgr105.amed.ds.army.mil 

(GMT-05:00)15:26:16 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: No response for DNS request to server 71.252.0.12 yet.

(GMT-05:00)15:26:16 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: All DNS servers tried, no response.

(GMT-05:00)15:26:16 Fri Jul 03 2009 syslog: failed dns request len=76,srcip=192.168.1.1, url=amedsmapgr105.amed.ds.army.mil 

 *All of that repeated SEVERAL times from 15:26 - 15:31*

[ccscholz]

I would like to piggy back this problem.....  I have posted before, and have little or no resolution... PLEASE HELP!!!

[westom]

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@zeth07 wrote:

For the last few months our internet connection has been completely intermittent. Some days it will work perfectly fine all day long, other days like today it will disconnect / reconnect every 30 seconds - 5 minutes.

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Your log says a problem exists on the Verizon side of that modem.  What is posted in "Having problems with my DSL during night " applies to you.  Difference is that is a Westell modem.  Yours is Actiontec.  So locate signal strength numbers (measured in dB) at a different location in that modem.  And then post them for further assistance.

Same problem.  Same solution process.  View numbers.  Compare them to numbers discussed in that thread.  Then move on to a solution; probably do the same 'isolate the problem to their wires or yours' solution.

[zeth07]

SNR Margin (Downstream/Upstream):23/12

Attenuation (Downstream/Upstream):18/12    

I think those are the numbers you are talking about. At this moment in time my internet is working fine today, but that doesn't mean by later today/tonight or tomorrow it will be acting the same. Since it's an ongoing problem I'd like to try and fix whatever may be causing it anyway. 

I'll have to figure out how exactly our lines are configured before describing them, but i'll try and give you the entire setup of our network at least. So here it goes:

Our setup is in the basement:

Modem/Router - Actiontec GT704WG

No filter coming from main phone line to modem (Is this supposed to be filtered?)

Ethernet 1 -> Vonage -> Motorola VT2542-VD

-Phone line from Vonage goes to "Multi-line" box (I'm not sure if it is a filter itself..)

-From the multi-line 2 separate phone lines coming off with filters

-Those 2 connect into 2 possible filters, that connect into spiltters for the lines through the house.

House Phones:

-1st Floor - Kitchen phone is a regular phone (no filter)

-1st Floor - Living room has a 5.8GHz portable (no filter)

-1st Floor - Sun room has a portable set from the 5.8GHz

-2nd Floor - My room has a portable set from the 5.8GHz

-2nd Floor - Office has a regular phone (no filter)

-2nd Floor - Bedroom has 2 regular phones (no filters)

(I'm guessing the house phones don't need filters directly because they are already filtered?)

Ethernet 2 - My room, connection goes into a Linksys 10/100 5-port workgroup switch (model: EZXS55W). PS3, 360, and PC all wired connections to the switch.

Ethernet 3 - Brother's room, connection goes to his laptop (he doesn't use it wirelessly much in the house)

Ethernet 4 - Office room, connection goes to laptop (not used wirelessly either.)

Besides having an extremely complicated set of lines, I was wondering if the length of ALL the Ethernet and Phone lines matter? Also I read in the other topic that if they don't have Xbox / Playstation they should disable UPnP, and since I do, should i actually ENABLE it? I know that's un-related to my problem but if it makes online gaming connections better i'll do it. I used to have Static IP's for my PS3 / 360 / PC and "rules" setup that supposedly opened the Ports to make them better online but I didn't really notice any increased speeds when downloading off them or playing online.

If I need to provide more info please let me know. Or what should be the next step I take....

[zeth07]

When it just now messed up this is what changed:

DSL Negotiated Mode: Not Trained

Connection Status: Idle

Near End CRC Errors : 84/0

Far End CRC Errors : 153/0

Near End RS FEC : 5576/0

Far End RS FEC : 19/0

SNR Margin (Downstream/Upstream): 2147483645/ 11

Attenuation (Downstream/Upstream): 18/ 12

This is when it's working:

DSL Negotiated Mode: G.DMT

Connection Status: Showtime

Near End CRC Errors : 2 /0

0’s for the others.

SNR Margin (Downstream/Upstream): 23 / 12

Attenuation (Downstream/Upstream): 18 / 12

[westom]

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@zeth07 wrote:

House Phones:

-1st Floor - Kitchen phone is a regular phone (no filter)

-1st Floor - Living room has a 5.8GHz portable (no filter)

-1st Floor - Sun room has a portable set from the 5.8GHz

-2nd Floor - My room has a portable set from the 5.8GHz

-2nd Floor - Office has a regular phone (no filter)

-2nd Floor - Bedroom has 2 regular phones (no filters)

(I'm guessing the house phones don't need filters directly because they are already filtered?)

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Any POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) device eats DSL signals.  Any DSL signal blocked by a filter will not be eaten.  Only DSL filters are the unique devices that only do filtering.   No POTS device will contain a DSL filter.

 Considering the number of unfiltered devices, I am surprised you have any DSL signals.

  DSL modem must connect direct the the Verizon CO only by copper.  Not even a filter must be between the CO's DSLAM and your DSL modem.  And all other devices can only connect to Verizon via a DSL filter.

  Does not matter if a portable phone is 100 Khz, 100Mhz, or 5.8Ghz. To the phone line, it is no different than a 1950 vintage phone. And like all POTS devices, it too will only eat DSL signals; weaken what the modem can see or transmit.

  To avoid current and future problems, I usually run a dedicated wire from the DSL mode direct to the service entrance interface.  Then all other phone lines connect to the same service entrance interface only via a filter.  One filter to keep DSL signals out of all other phone wires and phones.  Then there is no doubt that DSL signals are not being eaten.

Message Edited by westom on 07-05-2009 09:51 PM