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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Internet Connection Keeps Dropping Out
newbie95 - May 3, 2006 - 12:28 am
Hi,
I have not used my powerbook (G4) for a couple of months as I was overseas, and I have found that my internet connection now seems to drop out every 15-30 seconds or so. My setup is as follows:
I currently am connected to the internet via an ethernet connection, which is plugged into a 8 port switcher, which connects my computer to my modem. I have tried to connect the computer directly to the modem, but the problem still persists. I am connected via a DHCP address. When the connection drops out, I can restore it by going into system preferences (under network) and clicking on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button. However the connection will usually drop out. I have replaced the modem, had the phone line checked, made sure I have all the required software updates, reset both the modem and the computer, etc. and I am at a bit of a loss now.
Does anyone have any ideas? It is extremely frustrating to renew the DHCP lease every time I want to load a page.
P.S. I used to connect wirelessly using an airport express, which until yesterday had the same problem as the ethernet connection. However, the airport express unit has gone a bit further, it now does not even show a green light, only a solid or flashing orange one.
I have not used my powerbook (G4) for a couple of months as I was overseas, and I have found that my internet connection now seems to drop out every 15-30 seconds or so. My setup is as follows:
I currently am connected to the internet via an ethernet connection, which is plugged into a 8 port switcher, which connects my computer to my modem. I have tried to connect the computer directly to the modem, but the problem still persists. I am connected via a DHCP address. When the connection drops out, I can restore it by going into system preferences (under network) and clicking on the "Renew DHCP Lease" button. However the connection will usually drop out. I have replaced the modem, had the phone line checked, made sure I have all the required software updates, reset both the modem and the computer, etc. and I am at a bit of a loss now.
Does anyone have any ideas? It is extremely frustrating to renew the DHCP lease every time I want to load a page.
P.S. I used to connect wirelessly using an airport express, which until yesterday had the same problem as the ethernet connection. However, the airport express unit has gone a bit further, it now does not even show a green light, only a solid or flashing orange one.
jackr - May 3, 2006 - 1:54 pm
You refer to one part of your set-up as a "switch." That's actually a technical term in networking land, and the details might be relevant here. Is it really a "switch" (rather rare, in a home configuration)? Or is it actually a "router," "gateway," or "firewall" (all much more common)? If you're not sure, give us the make and model of the device.
Here's the difference: a true "switch" just passes the packets through, the endpoints (your computer, and your ISP) can't tell the switch is there. As a result, your disappearing DHCP address would be coming from your ISP, and its disappearance could be the result of their actions or policies, which you haven't described. For example, I've worked with ISPs that officially forbad using multiple computers on a single link, and would yank the DHCP address periodically if they detected different computers ("MAC addresses")--just what you're seeing.
But if it's a router, then the router gets DHCP from the ISP, and you get DHCP from the router. Your disappearing DHCP might be related to the way the router is configured.
Here's the difference: a true "switch" just passes the packets through, the endpoints (your computer, and your ISP) can't tell the switch is there. As a result, your disappearing DHCP address would be coming from your ISP, and its disappearance could be the result of their actions or policies, which you haven't described. For example, I've worked with ISPs that officially forbad using multiple computers on a single link, and would yank the DHCP address periodically if they detected different computers ("MAC addresses")--just what you're seeing.
But if it's a router, then the router gets DHCP from the ISP, and you get DHCP from the router. Your disappearing DHCP might be related to the way the router is configured.
newbie95 - May 4, 2006 - 5:28 am
Hi,
Today the internet connection seems to be working ok (via the ethernet connection). Here is a little more detail on my setup:
- Modem(DSL): Seimens SpeedStream 4200 (This has been supplied by
Optusnet last week, as my old D-Link modem broke down).
- Switch/Hub: Surecome EP-808SX-C. This is an 8 point ethernet hub that I
have used as my modem does not have enough ethernet ports for both my
computers and my tivo (the tivo is currently not plugged into the power, so
there is no chance that this is interfering with the IP address). Currently,
the ethernet cable that I am using to '
access the internet is running through this hub.
- Wireless Router - Apple Airport Express (I have rescanned the for available
networks, and there does not seem to be any network in range except for
mine).
My internet (via ethernet) is working today however, it is quite unreliable, and could just as easily not be working tomorrow.
My bigger problem at present however (as I have several laptops that require internet access, preferably wirelessly), is that my airport express does not work. It either flashes orange, or when the light is a solid green, it still will not connect to the internet.
I have rebooted the airport (soft reboot) as well as turned it off, left it for a few minutes and then plugged it back in.
When I unplug my ethernet cable to try and connect wirelessly, the network status page (under 'Network' in 'Systems Preferences') shows the Airport with a green light, and under the configuration page, there is an IP address (using DHCP). However, I cannot seem to connect to the internet.
I have run the internet diagnostics tool on my powerbook, which shows green lights for the first 4 steps, and orange for the last 2 steps ('Internet' and 'Server') whilst scanning, then red once it picks up the network. When prompted by the diagnostic tool to select the airport network, the airport device seems to "turn off" once I select the network and hit the 'Continue' button. I know this happens as the airport bands on the taskbar at the top of the screen 'grey out'. Once this happens, the diagnostic tool turns red for all airport settings and says that I cannot connect to the internet.
I have tried this on a brand new ibook as well to ensure that it was not my powerbook at fault, with the exact same result. So, I seem to have two problems with the airport:
1. The light on the airport device is not always green, and is often flashing
orange; and
2. Once the light is green, I still cannot connect to the internet despite my
computer telling me that I have an IP address.
I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do here. Any help would be appreciated!
Today the internet connection seems to be working ok (via the ethernet connection). Here is a little more detail on my setup:
- Modem(DSL): Seimens SpeedStream 4200 (This has been supplied by
Optusnet last week, as my old D-Link modem broke down).
- Switch/Hub: Surecome EP-808SX-C. This is an 8 point ethernet hub that I
have used as my modem does not have enough ethernet ports for both my
computers and my tivo (the tivo is currently not plugged into the power, so
there is no chance that this is interfering with the IP address). Currently,
the ethernet cable that I am using to '
access the internet is running through this hub.
- Wireless Router - Apple Airport Express (I have rescanned the for available
networks, and there does not seem to be any network in range except for
mine).
My internet (via ethernet) is working today however, it is quite unreliable, and could just as easily not be working tomorrow.
My bigger problem at present however (as I have several laptops that require internet access, preferably wirelessly), is that my airport express does not work. It either flashes orange, or when the light is a solid green, it still will not connect to the internet.
I have rebooted the airport (soft reboot) as well as turned it off, left it for a few minutes and then plugged it back in.
When I unplug my ethernet cable to try and connect wirelessly, the network status page (under 'Network' in 'Systems Preferences') shows the Airport with a green light, and under the configuration page, there is an IP address (using DHCP). However, I cannot seem to connect to the internet.
I have run the internet diagnostics tool on my powerbook, which shows green lights for the first 4 steps, and orange for the last 2 steps ('Internet' and 'Server') whilst scanning, then red once it picks up the network. When prompted by the diagnostic tool to select the airport network, the airport device seems to "turn off" once I select the network and hit the 'Continue' button. I know this happens as the airport bands on the taskbar at the top of the screen 'grey out'. Once this happens, the diagnostic tool turns red for all airport settings and says that I cannot connect to the internet.
I have tried this on a brand new ibook as well to ensure that it was not my powerbook at fault, with the exact same result. So, I seem to have two problems with the airport:
1. The light on the airport device is not always green, and is often flashing
orange; and
2. Once the light is green, I still cannot connect to the internet despite my
computer telling me that I have an IP address.
I am at a bit of a loss as to what to do here. Any help would be appreciated!
jackr - May 12, 2006 - 8:37 pm
Boy, I'm really sorry about the slow response!
OK, your Surecom really is a "switch," in the strict sense. So that means that "the thing behind the switch," whatever that may be, knows the difference between the various computers you connect "in front of the switch."
I think your arrangement is:
Lines outside the building lead to
DSL Model, from which a single ethernet cable leads to
the Surecom, from which an ethernet cable leads to
1. some computers and TiVos, at least sometimes, and also
2. the Airport, from which wireless magic leads to
several computers
And the situation is that the computers can always talk to the Airport just fine (you get a DHCP address from it), but the Airport is inconsistently successful at talking out through the switch, to the modem, and out the DSL lines.
Sound right?
In this configuration, the Airport has to get a DHCP address from your DSL ISP (passing right through the switch). This is not the same as the one your computers get from the Airport. The ISP hands out a DHCP address so that it knows where to send packets to the Airport; the Airport, being a router not merely a switch, doesn't merely pass the packets through, it actually resends them, which involves a new, different DHCP address. The addresses you get from the Airport probably begin "192.168", while the ones dealt out by the ISP probably do not, right?
Now, here's the thing: this sounds a whole lot like exactly the arrangement I mentioned before, that some ISPs do not support. Their equipment, in their office, looks through the wires and the modem and the switch, and sees the Airport and also some other gear, each looking like a separate computer (each has a different "Media Access Controller Address," or "MAC Address" - not related to Macintosh!). To the ISP, it looks like you only have one device connected at a time, and you're frantically plugging and unplugging cables! Some are OK with this, some don't like it.
Here's a way to test my theory, although this is probably not a workable arrangement for your permanent solution. Connect the Airport directly to the DSL modem. In this way, only one device will be seen by the ISP, the Airport, and it won't have to constantly switch identities.
If that works reliably, then you should be able to replace your "switch" with a "router" and be fine.
OK, your Surecom really is a "switch," in the strict sense. So that means that "the thing behind the switch," whatever that may be, knows the difference between the various computers you connect "in front of the switch."
I think your arrangement is:
Lines outside the building lead to
DSL Model, from which a single ethernet cable leads to
the Surecom, from which an ethernet cable leads to
1. some computers and TiVos, at least sometimes, and also
2. the Airport, from which wireless magic leads to
several computers
And the situation is that the computers can always talk to the Airport just fine (you get a DHCP address from it), but the Airport is inconsistently successful at talking out through the switch, to the modem, and out the DSL lines.
Sound right?
In this configuration, the Airport has to get a DHCP address from your DSL ISP (passing right through the switch). This is not the same as the one your computers get from the Airport. The ISP hands out a DHCP address so that it knows where to send packets to the Airport; the Airport, being a router not merely a switch, doesn't merely pass the packets through, it actually resends them, which involves a new, different DHCP address. The addresses you get from the Airport probably begin "192.168", while the ones dealt out by the ISP probably do not, right?
Now, here's the thing: this sounds a whole lot like exactly the arrangement I mentioned before, that some ISPs do not support. Their equipment, in their office, looks through the wires and the modem and the switch, and sees the Airport and also some other gear, each looking like a separate computer (each has a different "Media Access Controller Address," or "MAC Address" - not related to Macintosh!). To the ISP, it looks like you only have one device connected at a time, and you're frantically plugging and unplugging cables! Some are OK with this, some don't like it.
Here's a way to test my theory, although this is probably not a workable arrangement for your permanent solution. Connect the Airport directly to the DSL modem. In this way, only one device will be seen by the ISP, the Airport, and it won't have to constantly switch identities.
If that works reliably, then you should be able to replace your "switch" with a "router" and be fine.
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