Internet connection dropping

Nicki

We have been having a problem for quite some time with our Internet connection, which is very unreliable. It will drop sometimes mid session, sometimes before you even start surfing, and when you click on the router icon properties button it will show there is no Internet connection.

By complete chance, we have replaced all of our computers in the last month as they were outdated, and last week we bought a new router as even when there is a connection, the old one wasn't powerful enough to send the signal upstairs. But the problem is just the same, which I think shows it isn't a hardware issue.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Our Internet service provider is orange, we have a BT broadband line and we live in central London if any of that is relevant.

Many thanks

santer_2

Have you checked the micro filters, and have you got one for each phone?

Nicki

We have one on each phone yes. Sorry to be dim but how would we check they work? We dont get any interference using any of the phones. Is that enough to know they are ok?

takeiteasy77

So the internet is slow via the wireless but what about hardwired in via CAT5 or CAT 6 ?

santer_2

Not sure is 2 is relevant

1. Any item that connects to the phone line must go through a microfilter, eg. Fax Machine, Sky TV Box, Telephones, Analogue dialup modems, burglar alarms.
2. If an extension cable is used from the BT phone socket to the router, then the microfilter must be fitted at the router end of the extension and NOT the BT wall socket end.

http://www.ukfsn.org/support/adsl.html

Also, step 3 here

http://www.freedom2surf.net/online-tutorials/tutorials/11/

http://www.webuser.co.uk/broadband/advice/372354/fix-broadband-connection-faults

If you have a pay monthly orange mobile you can call their tech help, in office hours with 150

GunJack

really could do with seeing the line stats on this one....you will need to log into the router and provide for both upstream and downstream:-

line attenuation (in dB), sync speed and signal to noise margin.

I suspect a line fault from the limited info on here so far.....

Nicki

Sorry for the delay in coming back. I've been trying unsuccessfully to work out how to find the line stats GunJack referred to

I can work out how to log in to the router, but where would I find the data you are asking for? I can't identify it in any of the tabs which come up!

Sorry to ask such simple questions. I am a total novice when it comes to this kind of thing I'm afraid!

GunJack

Well done on logging into it, half the battle Finding the line stats depends on your router - is it one of those awful orange liveboxes ?? Have a look here for a clue:-

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/adsl_line_stats.php

or

http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/frogstats.php

it may point you to the correct page within the router's interface, usually called line statistics, connection details, or similar phrases.

Nicki

Is this what you need?

Connection speed. downstream 4533 kbps upstream 941 kbps
Line Attenuation downstream 32.5db upstream 17.5db
Noise margin downstream 3.6 upstream 6.0

redped

takeiteasy77 wrote: »

So the internet is slow via the wireless but what about hardwired in via CAT5 or CAT 6 ?

As takeiteasy77 says, have you tried turning off wifi on one of your computers, and connecting directly to the router via a cable? If so, do you still experience the dropped connections? That will tell us if the problem is being caused by the wifi connection, e.g. possible interference on the wifi channel you're using.

Nicki

redped wrote: »

As takeiteasy77 says, have you tried turning off wifi on one of your computers, and connecting directly to the router via a cable? If so, do you still experience the dropped connections? That will tell us if the problem is being caused by the wifi connection, e.g. possible interference on the wifi channel you're using.

Thanks for interpreting! I had no idea what takeiteasy's post meant I will try this tomorrow and report back. The connection doesn't drop all the time. For example, it has been fine all evening but was flaky this morning when I tried to log on. Don't know if that is relevant though.