Internet timing out

[nedkelly]

I have recently been having a problem with my internet timing out, mIRC drops all my networks, and my IM program also disconnects.
It use to be every few hours but just now I have had it drop off every few minutes which is very annoying for irc when I disconnect from networks and reconnect.
Nothing in my network has physically changed for a while now.
When I can find the diagram of my network I will post it.
Oh forgot, Windows 7 Ultimate sp1 x64

[wainuitech]

When it drops out, do you have to reboot the router/ Modem, or does it come back on its own ?

Have you tried another Router/Modem ?

[nedkelly]

It comes back on its own, I dont have another one, it replaced my old one that died.

[wainuitech]

I assume that when it drops all internet to all devices/computers disappear ? If so then it sounds a little like a router / modem problem, or even the connection at your place ( lines coming in).

Normally if at a customers place I would swap out the router/modem, see if the problem still exists, if it stops the modem/router is the problem, if not then you have to look elsewhere.

Just because the modem/router is new doesn't mean there isn't a fault with it. Seen modem/routers brand new fail / faulty. Have you tried resetting the Modem/router or checked for any firmware upgrades ?

We had a similar problem here with Telstra cable a year or so back, did all the hardware tests and tracked it down to the connection ( Was the only thing left). In the end, after a bit of "friendly" on the phone head banging on the desk - get someone here and check the connections, it was a corroded connection on the phone pole.

[Chilling_Silence]

I'm going to presume its router overheating with this time of year.

Make / model?

[nedkelly]

@Chill: TP-Link WR1043N
@Wainui: Is there a program that I can run to see exactly what happens when it pings out? Maybe have it running on 2 computers?

[Chilling_Silence]

Ummm... That doesn't do DSL does it? The TL-WR1043ND is only an AP. What firmware's on that? But what DSL router are you using in conjunction with it?

[nedkelly]

I have just the N, not the ND and it's stock firmware. I still have my trusty AM300 as my modem

[wainuitech]

Can you do a test please - this is to see if its the Router or the "trusty" modem When the interent drops next time, see if the computers can still talk to one another. (thats assuming you have shared folders etc).

Another quick test you can do, open a command Prompt, type in ipconfig make sure the gateway ( router) is showing and its actually giving you an IP address. If you get 169.254.xxx.xxx then theres no connection to the router.

When the internet drops, can you still access the router ?

What you need to do is find out where the problem actually is. By doing it one device at a time you're not wasting time looking for a problem thats elsewhere.

Re the ping program -- more than likely is, but try the manual method as I suggested, its quicker since its happening more often.

PS: your event logs will tell you when it loses contact as well.

[Chilling_Silence]

I've just replaced my first ever AM300. They've drawing on a bit now, this one was 4 years old, overheating. Replaced with a DV120 and problems went away.

I'm not convinced that being able to ping the router will prove anything, basically the internet is dropping and it doesn't really matter if the router is power cycling or if it's just dropping the DSL link coz it's getting warm or whatever, it's still quite possibly going to need to be replaced.

Here's what I'd do:
Isolate the AM300, have JUST one device plugged in (Yeah it sucks, somebody is gonna be without internet for a bit, they can suck it up as you *need* to fix this) to the router directly and see if the problem persists.
If it does, point to the AM300
If it doesn't, point to the TP-Link

Finally, it's worth double-checking the line stats on the AM300, just in case something has gone funky with your line:
http://www.fixmybroadband.co.nz/disconnecting/