Need help---I lose cable internet connection multiple times per day. Called the cable company and told me to change my ethernet card which I did but see no change. I can make connection but need to unplug and replugged my modem several times a day to regain connection. They gave me some number to call Microsoft---saying that Windows 98 could not handle some of the high speed cable connections---this sounded a little bogus to me--never had problems with Windowns 98 and internet connection before. Can you help? The only solution that I can see is to have the cable guy come check my connection which they indicate looks good from their remote site. Hate to pay for a service visit if there is another solution. Thanks

I think what I would do, is ask if you can bring the modem in and swap it for another one.

Do yourself a favor BACKUP!

I had a problem like that and it turned out to be the cable supplied with the cable modem was iffy. When I changed it the problem disappeared.

Basic I know but... have you reset the modem; occasionally seems to resolve this one. Firmware updates for the modem? Can you borrow another modem and see if problem persists; even better as "ham" suggests... exchange it for another (presumably from the cable company)?

>> They gave me some number to call Microsoft---saying that Windows 98 could not handle some of the high speed cable connections <<

Typical - if you can't solve the problem, blame someone else.

If Windows98 can handle 30-40 MBs from the hard disk, 8 Mbs from the Internet shouldn't present much of a problem especialy when you consider and NIC is capable of handling 100 Mbs, way faster than any Internet speed

Even the fastest Internet speed is crawling compared to the speed that some data is speeding around the system.

Stuart

Nothing to add but just to say that over the last six months I've been having almost exactly the same symptoms on ADSL (USB modem), so I'll be watching this post.

Not sure about cable but servers are very reluctant to dish out replacement USB modems. They about have to catch fire before they believe they are dud. I'm very suspicious of mine.

DerekW

I too don't have any solutions but will say that my broadband provider T---- W----- has the same problems. I can go months without any problem at all then suddenly it will go off line for a couple days or a couple hours. After a couple days I schedule a service call and by the time they show up the problem goes away and everything works fine. It has nothing to do with Windows 98 or any of my equipment. I've switched out modems with them a couple times which didn't help. The problem has to be with one of their underground cables or a nearby switching station but they won't admit it.

Thanks for all the information---I am reluctant to go out and buy another modem and then learn that the problem is not the modem. I have bought a Motorola surf board modem (the same type that the cable company rents to you) and have not had issues. It gets very frustrating having to repower the mode multiple times per day to re establish connection---perhaps I will have the cable company come out and look---I have not proceeded with that option as I felt the problem had to do with my computer, modem or software and not theirs. They contend (over the phone) that their signal to my computer is strong. Is there any good way to test a modem to determine whether is is defective? Or does anyone have other solutions? Thanks

You will need to determine where the fault is occurring. There are several way of doing this.

First of all, is the "online" light lit? If not, then the problem is with the modem of the service provider.

Can your computer see the modem? Is the ethernet card link light on? From a dos prompt try entering the command "ping 192.168.100.1". You should receive 4 responses. You can also enter the above IP address into your web browser. This should return some information if your connection to the modem is ok.

Disclaimer: The above IP address is correct for Motorola modems. Other brands use different addresses.

I dunno what technical problem may be, but experienced the same two months ago. Each firm pointed the finger at the other. One day while talking on the telephone to a friend the mentioned "the line was dirty, I'll call back" Well I could hear them just fine, and thinking everything was fine too, but they could not hear me very well. It had been going on for three months. My neighbor a retired telephone worker said before spending $75 to have telephone company come out and investigate, do it my self.

Opened up the box on side of my house which all telephone wires came into, and began tightening the screw terminals. It had not been opened up in about five years. One nut was loose. Went inside and the computer worked fine and faster. Never got a strange disconnect, and noticed the baud speed went back up.

Take a minute or two and check the terminals and then begin pointing the finger some place, for I was blaming the ISP, Microsoft and everyone.

Wm.

It's nice to find simple fixes like that one. You proved that it was the telephone companies fault. They should have fixed it without charge.

I can't give a global opinion on this as laws may be different in other parts of the world. Here in Australia, it is illegal to undertake any work on the junction box as this is the property of the telephone company.

>> Here in Australia, it is illegal to undertake any work on the junction box as this is the property of the telephone company. <<

Same in the UK, even down to the socket on the wall. The socket is in two parts. The top bit with the BT logo on it belongs to BT and is not to be touched. The bottom half with the screws in can be used by the customer but there is nothing in there except terminals for installing extnsion cables.

Stuart

StuartS

I'm ex-BT. What you are describing is the current UK Master Socket. Unfortunately, computers are often connected to Extension Sockets.

How can I put this.....if you were to tighten all the line wires (B & A in, and 2 & 5 on internal wiring), then nobody would know unless you broke something.

If a computer works through those rotten UK insulation displacement connectors then you do well to get a connection at all LOL.

DerekW