Odd connection issue with Comcast.

[Poppa_Meth]

Everyday this past week I turn my computer on at about 6AM and I have no internet connection. I leave it for 5 - 10 minutes and the connection finally picks up. Sunday I turned it on for the first time at 11:30AM and the same problem occurred. I turned other PCs on at the same time and they also have no connection so I know it isn't a specific computer. Once the connection picks up it's fine the rest of the day as long as a computer is on. When I turn all computers off for an extended period (a few hours) the connection problem occurs again. I have a Scientific Atlanta modem from Comcast and a hardwired SMC router with another wireless Linksys WRT54GL chained to that. Tonight I plan to pull the routers out of the array and connect the modem directly to my computer so I can see if the problem still occurs tomorrow morning. If it does then I can rule out the routers. Does this sound like a modem/router issue or an ISP issue?

[ranchhand]

Scientific Atlanta modem from Comcast

That's interesting... for years Comcast has used Motorola Surfboard modems in the Chicago area, in fact I was renting one (I forgot that I was!) and dumped it last month and purchased one of my own. How old is that modem you have?

[Poppa_Meth]

Yeah I know. Most of the people I know with Comcast have the Motorola. I have my own Motorola that had issues right from the start. The Comcast technician finally brought this Scientific Atlanta modem out to me about 7 years ago and it immediately fixed the problem. I've never had any issues with it since then. I can't recall for certain but this might date back to the Adelphia era before Comcast bought them out in this area.

[aedipuss]

your area might be moving to docsis 3 modems. comcast should exchange your old docsis 2 for the newer one at one of their offices for free. docsis 3 allows up to 300mbps, docsis 2 was 40mbps max and comcast is moving to 50-60mpps in most areas so the v3s are required. they aren't really good at informing customers about it, no surprise there.

[Poppa_Meth]

I was just reading about that when I started looking at a Motorola modem to buy. I may go ahead with the rental though. I have a Motorola before that was junk right from the start. There are plenty of good reviews on the new Motorolas but also quite a few talking about problems within a few months.

[redwudz]

Take a look at your router log and you may find some info there. Most times the router renews the connection lease every day or so. You should see that info somewhere in the router settings. Try renewing it manually and see if that does anything.

And the most basic and something I do every few months or if I have connection problems is to unplug the power from the router and the modem, wait ten minutes, then plug in the modem, let it configure, then do the same with the router. That sometimes resets things when the ISP sends out some new updates to the modem. (They rarely ever inform you of this. )

EDIT: If Comcast will let you use your own modem, it usually pays for itself fairly quickly. My rental was $10US a month and I got a aftermarket modem for about $50 and used it for about 5 years.

[Poppa_Meth]

I've definitely done the modem/router resets. Also one of the first things I try. No luck with that. If this weren't happening every day I wouldn't be too concerned.

[aedipuss]

i've had a motorola sb6120 for about a year now and it's performed fine. the only problems i've had have been loss of signal sync from comcast occasionally. peak d/l speed is about 60mbps here.

[ranchhand]

Redwudz said:

If Comcast will let you use your own modem

They will; I just bought my own and they are sending me a shipping box to return theirs. I expected some flack but there was no problem. After 8 years of $5 a month. Then they notify me that the rental is going up to $8 (for an 8 year old modem, right?). Like I said earlier, I forgot I was renting the stupid thing. All-American consumer.

[redwudz]

My old cable internet provider, Suddenlink, had a list of compatible modems on their site, and I used that to select one. I think it was a D-Link. I see the Motorola Surfboard modem is about $52US at NewEgg. All those suckers seem to run hot, so I recommend vertical use.

[Poppa_Meth]

Same issues this morning directly to the modem. I might get them to swap it out to make sure that is the problem before I buy my own. The connection stayed out even longer this morning. Last night I turned it on after 10 hours of no internet usage and it worked just fine. The odd part is that when I get a connection, it's solid. There are no sporadic drops. When I've had modem problems in the past the connection would cut out periodically. In this case, it's just in the morning and seems to work fine once the connection is established. I'm betting it's service related.

[ranchhand]

Well, if your modem is 7 years old it is nearing end-of-life anyway. It's living on borrowed time...

[Poppa_Meth]

Yeah I'll get it swapped and I might remove the SMC from the chain and run everything through the Linksys now. The SMC is about the same age.

[Poppa_Meth]

Tonight I had no connection at all again. I also had no luck logging in to the routers. Finally, I uninstalled Comodo, just to be safe, then I swapped out my routers. The Linksys is fully configured as the only router now. All my settings are back in place. Now all seems smooth for the moment so I'll wait and see how things go for the next few days. Then I'll think about getting my own DOCSIS 3.0 Modem and ditching the lease fee from Comcast.

[ranchhand]

Sure... it makes sense. I had this stupid Comcast modem for 8 yrs X 12 months = 96 months @ $5 = $480. For an $80 modem??? Then they have the nerve to want to up the rental fee to $8 a month. For an 8 yr old modem??? The only good thing about that was that they reminded me that I was renting the thing, so I ditched it.

[lenti_75]

I've had my own Motorola with them since 2002. works like new the age is not important.

something in your config is bad, might be any of them. just have to eliminate 1 at a time.

the lease is a very stupid nonsense

[Poppa_Meth]

The only advantage to a lease is that any problem with the modem they just have to replace it. If lightning fries it for example, they just replace it. After over 7 years of service with them though, lightening has never fried it so I can probably just get my own. Of course as soon as I do, lightning will fry it!