Here is a tough problem I really need help on. I see a lot of people have this problem, but of course there are almost infinite variations.
My DSL internet comes and goes—either on or off—several times a day. This has been going on for two weeks.
Here is the background (it’s long, but I’m trying to give all necessary information):
Since the mid-1990s we’ve always had two computers (Macintosh). One upstairs, one downstairs, connected with Ethernet cable. About the same time we set up internet access. When we switched from dial-up to DSL (a long time ago), I ran a telephone wire from an outlet in the basement to another basement room where we kept the computer (10-15 ft., and yes, I’m aware of a “14-foot” maximum rule). There were no telephone jacks in the computer room. I split the telephone wire, and ran the 2nd wire to the upstairs computer, which is directly above the one in the basement. Currently I have a G4 in the basement and a Mac Pro desktop (2012) upstairs.
DSL is through Verizon. I use their modem, Actiontec Model GT784WNV. I got a new modem from them in March 2014 and they gave me another one (same model) last week. Both computers are wired into the modem with Ethernet cables, as is the Blu-ray player on the TV.
So the point is that everything (DSL setup) worked just fine for 5+ years. There have been no changes in wiring, connectors, etc. The only change has been the new Mac Pro two years ago and new modems every few years, and the Actiontec has been there for about 5 years—the last model since March 2014.
The problem: The internet will just disappear at all hours (I’ve kept a log of when I notice it off). Sometimes it comes back on on its own. If I turn the modem on and off, it comes back immediately. When the internet is off, the “internet” light on the modem goes off, but the DSL light is still always on. The phones all work fine.
Solution so far: I’ve had two Verizon guys out here to check the connection, wires, etc. outside. Apparently the box on the outside of my house goes to a hub in my backyard (about 150 feet) which in turn goes to another hub about 1000 ft away, which in turn goes to a major hub on a main road. One technician put me on a pair of new copper wires from the main road hub to the hub 1,000 ft. away. So the wiring between the 1,000 ft. away hub to my back yard hub to my house is 40 years old. It’s underground. Both guys tested the signal at the box on my house, and it’s good. (Of course if my internet comes and goes, they could have simply tested it when it was good!)
After that was done, I still had problems. So I waited until the internet was off (I’m keeping my “network status” window from “systems preferences” open so I can see if the “internet” and “server” buttons turn red). I sat my wife in front of the computer to make sure the internet button stayed red, and connected my 2nd modem (remember, same model…) to the box on the outside of the house. The 2nd modem had a green internet light—at the same time as the one inside the house was red.
So I’m making the assumption that the problem is not the wiring outside the house. Does that make sense?
If it’s inside the house, it seems to me there are three possibilities: 1) the wiring from the outside box to the various telephone jacks 2) the wire I strung years ago from the phone jack in the basement to the modem in the basement 3) the modem.
Since I switched the modems last week and had the same problem, it can’t be (in a rational world) the modem itself. But maybe it could be the modem settings. I had a 40-minute phone call with a Verizon technician in India. He took control of my computer and changed only one setting—the wireless (?!) setting from “auto” to “11.”
In a previous phone call, a Verizon person said the DSL signal was being “blocked.” The 2nd guy in India said the same thing, but then ran the test again after he made his change and said the “blockage” was gone. The modem default for firewalls is “off” and the firewall has never been activated. I’ve done several speed tests when the internet was working, and the speed is always pretty much what it should be (3 mps).
And yes, I’ve done (multiple times) the exercise of unplugging all the wires from the modem, “resetting,” etc. Doesn’t fix the problem.
And yes, the problem affects both computers and all browsers. The connection is lost at the modem.
And yes, every phone has a filter. There is no filter on the DSL line to the modem.
Any thoughts???
My DSL internet comes and goes—either on or off—several times a day. This has been going on for two weeks.
Here is the background (it’s long, but I’m trying to give all necessary information):
Since the mid-1990s we’ve always had two computers (Macintosh). One upstairs, one downstairs, connected with Ethernet cable. About the same time we set up internet access. When we switched from dial-up to DSL (a long time ago), I ran a telephone wire from an outlet in the basement to another basement room where we kept the computer (10-15 ft., and yes, I’m aware of a “14-foot” maximum rule). There were no telephone jacks in the computer room. I split the telephone wire, and ran the 2nd wire to the upstairs computer, which is directly above the one in the basement. Currently I have a G4 in the basement and a Mac Pro desktop (2012) upstairs.
DSL is through Verizon. I use their modem, Actiontec Model GT784WNV. I got a new modem from them in March 2014 and they gave me another one (same model) last week. Both computers are wired into the modem with Ethernet cables, as is the Blu-ray player on the TV.
So the point is that everything (DSL setup) worked just fine for 5+ years. There have been no changes in wiring, connectors, etc. The only change has been the new Mac Pro two years ago and new modems every few years, and the Actiontec has been there for about 5 years—the last model since March 2014.
The problem: The internet will just disappear at all hours (I’ve kept a log of when I notice it off). Sometimes it comes back on on its own. If I turn the modem on and off, it comes back immediately. When the internet is off, the “internet” light on the modem goes off, but the DSL light is still always on. The phones all work fine.
Solution so far: I’ve had two Verizon guys out here to check the connection, wires, etc. outside. Apparently the box on the outside of my house goes to a hub in my backyard (about 150 feet) which in turn goes to another hub about 1000 ft away, which in turn goes to a major hub on a main road. One technician put me on a pair of new copper wires from the main road hub to the hub 1,000 ft. away. So the wiring between the 1,000 ft. away hub to my back yard hub to my house is 40 years old. It’s underground. Both guys tested the signal at the box on my house, and it’s good. (Of course if my internet comes and goes, they could have simply tested it when it was good!)
After that was done, I still had problems. So I waited until the internet was off (I’m keeping my “network status” window from “systems preferences” open so I can see if the “internet” and “server” buttons turn red). I sat my wife in front of the computer to make sure the internet button stayed red, and connected my 2nd modem (remember, same model…) to the box on the outside of the house. The 2nd modem had a green internet light—at the same time as the one inside the house was red.
So I’m making the assumption that the problem is not the wiring outside the house. Does that make sense?
If it’s inside the house, it seems to me there are three possibilities: 1) the wiring from the outside box to the various telephone jacks 2) the wire I strung years ago from the phone jack in the basement to the modem in the basement 3) the modem.
Since I switched the modems last week and had the same problem, it can’t be (in a rational world) the modem itself. But maybe it could be the modem settings. I had a 40-minute phone call with a Verizon technician in India. He took control of my computer and changed only one setting—the wireless (?!) setting from “auto” to “11.”
In a previous phone call, a Verizon person said the DSL signal was being “blocked.” The 2nd guy in India said the same thing, but then ran the test again after he made his change and said the “blockage” was gone. The modem default for firewalls is “off” and the firewall has never been activated. I’ve done several speed tests when the internet was working, and the speed is always pretty much what it should be (3 mps).
And yes, I’ve done (multiple times) the exercise of unplugging all the wires from the modem, “resetting,” etc. Doesn’t fix the problem.
And yes, the problem affects both computers and all browsers. The connection is lost at the modem.
And yes, every phone has a filter. There is no filter on the DSL line to the modem.
Any thoughts???
