Broadband disconnection.

[W2kuser]

I recently joined with Telewest's Blueyonder broadband service.

Whenever I restart the PC and Windows 2000 has loaded I can be sure the connection is on and working. However, after a while the connection will drop and then I will have to restart the computer to bring it back.

Sometimes the connection goes after 20 minutes, other times it is after many hours. The point is it shouldn't go at all, and if I'm in the middle of something on-line it can be frustrating and information can be lost.

The broadband is connected via a USB port to a Webstar unit, if that is any help.

I'd be grateful for any advice on how to reconnect without restarting or how to prevent the disconnection in the first place.

 

[wolluf]

First port of call - Telewest - ring their tech support.

 

[dgyde]

Is Telewest Blueyonder broadband -- DSL? If so....

Linksys's BEFSR41 cable/DSL router can reconnect your DSL connection if it drops. (set it to redial after 20 seconds) then you won't have to deal with needing to reboot.
However, the cable/DSL modem would need to connect to the router using a Cat5 ethernet cable. (Not USB) Many of the modems have both a USB prot, and Ethernet. You would need to have a network card in your PC (runs around $5-10 on sale)
You may want to look for a different forum, though... because it looks like this problem isn't really related to Win2k.
Ask Telewest why you're getting dropped all of the time.

Good luck!
- dgyde

 

[sladewilson]

I am having the same problems in Win2K Pro. We have a T-1 connection with 12 computers accessing the web. 9 computers NEVER loose their connection but I have 3 others that loose their web connection (SMTP too) about once an hour. Why would this be happening? Sounds like a network card problem but I don't know if that's possible.

We connect to the T-1 through a hub connected to the T-1 Router. All computers connect in the exact same manner. We use a 192.168.0.xxx internal IP schema.

 

[dgyde]

You could try swapping two PCs, if that is possible in your situation. (disconnect the patch cable from one nic, and plug it into the other PCs nic. This will narrow down the problem to a network cabling thing, or if it is specifically with the PC.

Most NIC manufacturers have diagnostic programs that can be run to see if the problem is with the NIC itself. ( YES, the problems CAN be intermittant.) It is always nice to have a spare nic to swap out, if that is the problem.

But, what are the odds that you have 3 bad Nics? All with the same problems?

The problem could be router related.

Or.... could be EMI. (Electo-magnetic Interference) Do all three network cable run over the top of flourescent lights, or next to a microwave, or other EMI source (transformers/etc..)?

I have also heard that setting your nic to "Auto" for Full/Half duplex, and 10 / 100mbps can cause problem negotiating with the switch.

I hope this can give you some ideas.