[NTLUG:Discuss] What is the problem? router or cable?

[Kevin E. Ivey]

Stephen Davidson wrote:
  > m m wrote:
>> All,
>> I have TimeWannerCable internet.
>> Recently (well, couple months) my internet connection will lost connection  from seconds to minutes.
>> It happens day and night at any time, no predictable.
>> I check with the cable modem, it looks as it should be. 
>> I use the Balkin N router, All the indicate lights (include the modem light) are blue,
>> except internet light which turned to yellow and blinking.
>> yesterday I replaced a brand new Linksys router, it is even worse.
>> The indicate light for internet connection is blanking and is never able to get the internet connection. 
>> I have check the IP and it got external IP.
>> check modem again and it works fine. 
>>  
>> Anyone has an idea why? 
>>  
>> p.s. The distance between cable modem and router is about 50 feet. doest it matter?
>>    
>> Thanks.
> 
> Greetings.
> 
> If possible, check for packet flooding or packet storms on the internet
> side of the connection.  TWC has been known to misconfigure their
> backends, or have undetected failures (or both).  Wireshark is
> apparently a good tool for checking this. (I was reading a ZDnet article
> the other day about this issue -- the journalist used Wireshark to
> figure out a packet flood was taking place, then starting blogging about
> it, got the TWC VP himself to send a crew out and fix).  Since one is
> not a journalist, other than a support call, either requesting a refund
> for the month, or threatening to drop service and go with a competitor
> would probably be the best options.
> 
> Good luck.
> 
> Regards,
> Steve

I concur with the network misconfiguration diagnosis.  I was the very 
first customer on my node when Time-Warner moved into my neighborhood. 
They had all, yes _ALL_ of their upstream pipeline on a single IP!

I had a bad modem after two years and they came out and replaced it with 
a new Motorola DOCSIS II SurfBoard.  The old modem was still functional, 
but used the older DOCSIS protocol.  All has been well ever since 
(almost).  There are some fishy goings on between the Waco (Heart O' 
Texas) and Austin (Austin) TWC networks, but overall, the service has 
been 99.999...

...So, check your modem and maybe call them for a replacement.  It does 
not cost you, so there is no risk there.  They will also check your coax 
for reflection and filter losses, etc.

Oh yeah, I got two free months for complaining about the super-slow 
speed, too!

keVIn