ADSL Modem Down - Help!

[Nicksteroonie]

Please can someone give me their advice - as I am going out of my mind.

Since the weekend's storms, I have been unable to get connected via my ADSL Modem.

It is an Alcatel Speedtouch Home. Obviousely lightning could be a possibility but I am able to connect to the modem with http and ping it without any problems.

I have restored the factory settings on the modem and re-configured it as VPI: 8 VCI: 35 - exactly as it has been for the last couple of years and still no joy.

I've spent hours on the phone with Telkom yesterday and today and they've reset the port at the exchange etc

What I find strange is that the TX and RX lights are flashing constantly on the modem, even when all machines on the network are off!

The machines on the network are using XP with the standard PPPOE client. When we try to connect it just says "Connecting over Wan Miniport (PPPOE)" and then it comes up with error 678.

I had a Telkom technician out here today and his USB modem connected using my line witout a problem??

Help!

 

[titanium]

Your modem's been fried by lightning... time to replace it I'm afraid!

 

[Nicksteroonie]

Oh no! What I done!

Titanium, thanks for your response.

I dont mind going and buying a new modem tomorrow, because I've already lost a day of work today and this baby has served me well for a few years now.

I just wanted to make double sure that I wasnt wasting money to be dramatic. Are these usually the symptoms of a fried modem? I wouldve thought that I wouldnt be able to connect to it at all?

Lastly, are there any ADSL routers which include wireless or at least a hub that you would recommend?

Thanks!

 

[cyberarmy]

Fridays storm took out my dad's printer and a couple of computers at my friends house. Remember to unplug any physical connection which is from outside your house during lightning, those are your power and telephone lines.......

 

[titanium]

Yip, either the lights flicker like you described, or it's stone dead, or it appears to work but is just too flaky to do anything with it. I have a collection of about 7 dial-up modems, all nuked by lightning despite the usual precautions. Now with my adsl router, the minute I see an electrical storm building up, I unplug all the phone lines immediately.

For wireless ADSL routers, check out the Billion 7300G.

Cheers

 

[Nicksteroonie]

Typical, I religously unplug the ADSL modem every time there is the hint of a storm. I have always done so! Even going so far as to wake up at all hours of the night when I hear thunder.

Friday night was the exception because when I left home, all looked clear.

Oh well. What can you do.

Guys, thanks for the help.

 

[Toby]

This is another reason why I cheap a cheap single ethernet port ADSL Modem (+_ R300.00) into a Seperate router.

Normally only the ADSL Circuit will be fried but the ethernet portion and web services etc etc will still run, protecting the router and everything behind it