[Hidden-tech] Problems with Comcast connection

[Tom Goldsmith]

Will; 

I use a Cisco pix-something firewall/ 
router, Westel DSL-modem and Verizon DSL.  
For a long time I noticed my DSL service 
breaking down once or twice a week.  
(Not often enough to chart or track, but 
plenty disruptive when I'm out of town 
and not there to re-start things.)  I 
dealt with the problem by automatically 
re-starting my dynamic IP address (DynIP) 
at midnight with chron.  

Maybe my problem and yours are just 
symptoms of the nature of today's "consumer" 
technology?  (Several of the responses I've 
seen to your query look like they might be 
"coincidental" fixes to other things being 
corrected in a network environment.  And I'm 
always astonished at the lack of tracking 
or log information various vendors have to 
fall back on when diagnosing these most-
difficult "intermittent" problems.  

Should our world make a concerted effort to 
track and document these service problems, 
and get them fixed as "tough customers" might?  
Maybe not, because it would be a lot of 
work....  

Tom Goldsmith

-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of Will
Loving
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 10:05 AM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Problems with Comcast connection


I'm writing to check with other Comcast users in the Pioneer Valley area to
see if you are experiencing regular connection interruptions. Both my
neighbor and I are experiencing momentary disconnects generally every 5-10
minutes but sometimes only several hours apart. The loss of connection is
momentary and is quickly re-established.

I am most aware of it because I listen to BroadwayWorldRadio.com streaming
internet radio and the stream is interrupted and needs to be restarted. I
can demonstrate the interruption in any application playing streaming media
- iTunes radio, Windows Media Player, Real Player, etc.

Both my neighbor and I are using routers (I have a D-Link DI-624, he has an
Asante) and NAT to provide access to mixed networks of Macs and PCs. When I
connect my cable modem directly to my main computer (G5 2.5Ghz) the dropped
connections stopped which would seem to indicate a problem with the router.
D-Link replaced the router and we modified settings, but to no avail. My
neighbor has not tested the direct connection.

I think that the problem must be some sort of connection/negotiation issue
between the router and cable modem (a Motorola Surfboard), but I've not had
any luck diagnosing it. We've done all the usual things such as replace
cables, reset the router and cable modem, I've even done a "crash recovery"
on the router which completely reloads the firmware and all settings.

Of course, from Comcast's end, everything looks fine...

Suggestions or insights would be most welcome.

Will Loving

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