Modem problems?

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furpile

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Hi

I got the D-Link 2750U modem from Telkom when I got ADSL earlier this year. That worked very well, but about 2 weeks ago the power supply blew when i plugged it back into the wall socket...

Anyway, Telkom replaced the modem with a Netgear DGN2200, but since this happened last week I am having a bit of trouble with my internet. My PC and Xbox is connected over Wifi (because there is no easy way to route a cable to the pc, working on it) and it seems like the Wifi drops once or twice an hour. I don't know if its just the modems wifi that goes down for about 10 seconds or if the whole router resets, although that will probably take longer to synch and connect again.

This is causing a lot of problems, because when I am streaming on the Xbox every time the wifi goes down it losees the Xbox live connection and I have to restart the Xbox. This can happen once or twice an episode.

My downloads are also not working. I can usually download 5 GB easily during the night, last night was 450 MB... I think when the wifi drops eithere the PC does not always reconnect or SABNZB does not restart automatically.

TL;DR Is there anything else I can test before getting a replacement modem from Telkom again?

EDIT: I phoned VOX last night to see if they could help (thought it might be an ISP issue), support told me to restart the router and ask Telkom for a port reset because my SNR is only 12 dB. Telkom did reset the port and it made no difference.
 
SNR of 12dB should be alright and stable. If the line had to resync then it would take longer than 10 seconds for everything to come back most likely.

Best bet is that when this happen run to the router and see what exactly is going on - WiFi dropped, line syncing, account syncing etc. Considering everything was fine with the D-Link my guess would be the Netgear router.

Check to see if there is a newer firmware version - if so give that a try.
 
PsyCLown said:
SNR of 12dB should be alright and stable. If the line had to resync then it would take longer than 10 seconds for everything to come back most likely.

Best bet is that when this happen run to the router and see what exactly is going on - WiFi dropped, line syncing, account syncing etc. Considering everything was fine with the D-Link my guess would be the Netgear router.

Check to see if there is a newer firmware version - if so give that a try.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I also think its only the wifi that drops, but sometimes its back in 10 seconds, sometimes it takes a minute. I have not really been able to download since the weekend because I can't monitor it during the night, so its quite frustrating. I have been trying to get hold of Vox support as well to find out if my account stayed connected during the night, but so far no luck. I'll check for the firmware update tonight and see if that helps, otherwise I'm taking the router back and hope for a D-link again.
 
Talked to Vox support now, my connection hasn't been interrupted since Monday apparently (When I did the port reset). So it looks like the Netgear's wifi is not working properly. Will try and get it exchanged for a D-link again.
 
If you do not trust Vox support, get a free WebAfrica account and have it dialed up on your router.

You are able to check the sessions with WebAfrica ;) Nice easy way to monitor how stable your line is yourself without having to monitor it yourself all the time.
 
Yes its Telkom firmware. I got a webafrica account over the weekend to test. Will look at the control panel as well tonight.
 
So it seems the modem has the latest firmware on. Checked the logs, nothing there, so it does not reset. Only the WiFi drops. Also had a laptop on lan cable and it stayed connected while WiFi dropped.

Phoned Telkom to log fault and support lady tells me I need a range extender or WiFi booster... I tried explaining again that the WiFi shuts off completely and she said that's why I need a booster. I just told her no, the router is broken and she eventually logged a fault to send a tech out. Will see what happens.
 
Ok, so after two weeks Telkom closed the ticket without doing anything. Anyway, went to the store (always helpful there) and the lady said I can take the Netgear back to have it replaced. They don't have D-link's anymore but she said she could maybe give me a Pace modem. I am not familiar with it, would this be the VDSL modem? I assume that would work fine for a 2 Mbps ADSL line as well? Would this be a better option than getting another Netgear?
 
That Netgear is a POS! Swapped it out for the DLINK which is a lot better.
 
furpile said:
Would like to but they don't have any more of the D-link. So its a new Netgear or maybe a Pace, not sure which one though.
Click to expand...

I have heard Zyxel's are good routers, you can order one from Axxess, it also supports VDSL, so no need to change the router once your area is cut over to a MSAN/ISAM.....
 
furpile said:
This one is still under warranty from Telkom. So its the netgear or maybe the pace.
Click to expand...

I'd personally rather have the Pace although my opinion is biased due to my dislike towards Netgear.

You could always sell the router and get yourself a new one from somewhere else?
 
Also go into the modem webpage and check the channel that's it on if u have android download a program called wifi analyser u can see all the free wifi channels and change it and see should help
Had the same problems prior
 
sniper786 said:
Also go into the modem webpage and check the channel that's it on if u have android download a program called wifi analyser u can see all the free wifi channels and change it and see should help
Had the same problems prior
Click to expand...

No other WiFi close to me, I have checked. Its not interference, the WiFi disconnects completely.
 
Just FYI, I eventually got the modem replaced at the Telkom store with a new Netgear (same model, was all they had). Set it up and within a few hours the same thing happens, wifi just drops away for a minute or two. After some more googling, I came across another forum (think it was a whirlpool one) where they use the same model Netgear also with their carrier ISP firmware on it. The one guy mentioned it is a problem with the throughput settings of the wifi, where if it is on max the channel resets after a while for some reason (probably crap modem but anyway).

So the Netgear has 3 options, 54 Mbps, 150 Mbps and 300 Mbps. The default is 300 Mbps, and I changed mine down to 54 Mbps, and now two weeks later it hasn't dropped again. I haven't tried it on 150 Mbps, but at this stage 54 Mbps is enough so I am not fiddling with it again. So if anyone else has this problem, try this, hopefully it helps.
 
Not a fan of those Modem-router combo's. - rather separate it with a [ modem > cable > router].

2c.
 
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