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Hardware Modems

Discussion in 'General' started by ozone73, May 25, 2012.

  1. ozone73

    ozone73 Member

    My girlfriend and I have been using AT&T DSL for the past three years. We have this ongoing issue with our modem randomly disconnecting. Sometimes it will reconnect on it's own. Other times I have to unplug it or reboot it. I've been on the phone with AT&T so many times I've lost count. They've sent numerous "technicians" out and they test our phone lines but they say they are fine. It's odd because sometimes we can go months without any problems. But then out of nowhere it will disconnect up to 20 times a day for weeks on end.

    I went on to AT&T's Facebook page recently and voiced my complaints. Someone from AT&T asked if my modem was plugged into a surge protector. I told him yes. He said to plug the modem directly to the wall outlet. He said something about their modems resetting themselves when plugged into surge protectors. So I plugged it into the wall outlet and for three days it worked great. Well now it's back to disconnecting all the time.

    My question is ... would it be best to buy my own modem? Right now we are using a Gateway 2 Wire. It's the third modem we've been through with AT&T. I just don't know if it's a modem issue or not. I'm grasping at straws here cuz it's so annoying to see that stupid internet light flashing when I'm trying to do stuff online. I wouldn't mind using a different internet provider but we don't have many options here. And don't get me wrong, when it's actually working, we love AT&T DSL.

    Would it be worth it to buy a different modem? And if so, any suggestions?

    Thanks!
     
    ozone73, May 25, 2012
    #1
  2. ishkey

    ishkey Moderator, Logos, Sports Crests Staff Member Verified Member

    The AT&T 2 Wire Fraud problem has been going on for 2 - 3 years.
    AT&T is great - the modem they use not.
    I could give you several setting suggestions, none of which would help the 2-wire junk.
    Having worked on countless number of home setups the problem has always gotten down to the cheap 2-wire.
    Maybe AT&T makes use of this branded router to shape and limit network traffic!
    My thoughts dump it and move on to a unit which will make you forget you have to connect up to do anything on the internet.
    I would look into NETGEAR N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit ADSL2+ Modem Router.
    You will be able to run the xbox on a mass player on line game while someone else is downloading coupons/ printing on the laptop and Netflix is running on the Roku all at the same time and then some,
    Netgear deliverers great quality at a medium price with longevity. It has full control settings on the back-end or just run the setup disk and forget it is there.
    My son for three months has had the same AT&T problem as you, I would have fixed it sooner but he didn't ask...
     
    ishkey, May 26, 2012
    #2
  3. ozone73

    ozone73 Member

    @ishkey: Thanks for your reply. Sorry that your son has had the same problem but I admit it's nice to know it's not only us having this problem. I swear if we didn't have bad luck we wouldn't have any luck. So judging from what you said, it's probably a modem issue and not an AT&T DSL issue. I was so desperate to figure this out that I even thought maybe it had something to do with my ancient computer I was using before I bought my new one like a month and a half ago. I will definitly look into getting that Netgear you suggested. Just need something that can handle me being on my desktop and my girlfriend being on her laptop at the same time. There's no Xbox-Netflix stuff going on ... just her buying country decor stuff. LoL!

    I appreciate your advice.
     
    ozone73, May 26, 2012
    #3
  4. ishkey

    ishkey Moderator, Logos, Sports Crests Staff Member Verified Member

    The point is that most use wireless which is still nowhere up to speed as wired hence the better unit as suggested above to maximize your throughput even when your ADSL line acts up with noise like during a rain storm or heavy loads.
    The 2-wire is 802.11g modem - meaning it's an older slower technology with far less throughput, whereas nowadays when 802.11n has been official since September, 2009, and widely available since summer, 2007?
    Another consideration for a better router is your distance from the central office switch, the junction where you tap off of. "COS's" are about 1 1/4 mile apart and need to be amplified to re-generate the signal creating noise, the better the modem the cleaner the signal. Being able to run everything is a benefit and a figurative way of saying better is good.
    Having tired various brands over the years I have become a Netgear fan.
    Maybe you can borrow a friends modem to try out.
    Keep use informed.
    Almost forgot look at your network specs, being a new pc it most likely will say 10/100/1000 which mean you can use a 802.11n, might as well use the max throughput and modem/routers are backward compatible.

    country decor stuff !!!:) bogs down those modems everytime
     
    ishkey, May 26, 2012
    #4
  5. navyfalcon

    navyfalcon Well-Known Member Verified Member

    Check your system with Network Stumbler. It will display SN or signal to noise level.
    Usually problems occur when SN is not high enough. That is the phone company or
    the cable companies fault. I had to show the phone company technician to get them
    to correct the problem.
    . . Network Stumbler
    http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/
    -
    intro to Net Stumbler
    http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3589131
    -
    How to check wireless w/net stumbler
    http://www.ehow.com/how_2209873_check-wireless-connection-netstumbler.html
    -
    Wireless LAN survey
    http://www.zdnetasia.com/learn-to-do-a-wireless-lan-site-survey-39361120.htm
    -
    Alternatives to NetStumbler
    http://alternativeto.net/software/network-stumbler/?platform=
    -
    hope this helps
    falcon
     
    navyfalcon, Jun 1, 2012
    #5
  6. navyfalcon

    navyfalcon Well-Known Member Verified Member

    You should check your signal strength. It changes with position of the antenna or input device. I use an extension on mine so I can change the position of the unit. I can get about a 50% change in signal strength because I am distant from the router. Also homemade antennas can increase the signal a great deal.
    http://www.ehow.com/way_5422973_homemade-wifi-antenna.html
    -
    hope this helps
    falcon
     
    navyfalcon, Feb 7, 2013
    #6