House of ZAN Forum

Ravage · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: Tech Help

Okay, so I'm getting terrible wireless service right now. I'm on Time Warner, and I'm using all wireless, all linksys products, but now my networking sucks on both computers.

Basically, I'm noticing horrible lag and hiccuping whenever I'm gaming online, downloading, or using streaming audio/video. It's a constant stream of intermittent lag.

So, I'm wondering what all I should consider trying. I'm in the process of upgrading the firmware for my router (which I've never done before, and is proving to be a real beyotch). If that fails, I'm going to try a hardline connection to the router. Barring that, I can't imagine anything else I can do besides calling the cable company to have my modem checked out. Of course, I'm never here on days when they can come - so I'm hoping to avoid that.

Any ideas?

Ravage · Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:46 pm Post subject:

Damnit...the firmware will only download in .bin format, and the only program I can find to unpack it is power archiver, of which my trial has expired. Gah, I hate doing this stuff.

Ravage · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:55 am Post subject:

The Firmware upgrade didn't help.
Connecting via hardline I still got the same lag...so it's probably not my wireless router, or if it is, it's the way it's processing data overall, not just in wireless form.

Ravage · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

Now I'm just confused...I tinkered w/the security settings, totally fouled up my own wireless access, finally got everything reset by using a hardline...now my internet is working 100% again. This is just plain weird.

Dana · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:15 am Post subject:

Is your wireless network password protected?

For future reference, Stuffit Expander for Windows will decompress .bin files, and it's free. http://www.stuffit.com/win/expander/download.html

Try connecting the cable modem directly to your computer and restart both -- if you still get lag, then it's either the modem or the connection itself.
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Ravage · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:29 am Post subject:

If I run into it again, I will try that.

My network isn't password protected, but it is MAC filtered to only accept my 2 computers, and I think Alex's.

To be (regrettfully) honest, I can't figure out how to set an access password for the network. My router is pw'd, obviously, but I can't find a setting in the router config for a password.

Plague · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:43 am Post subject:

Sometime resetting the router back to defaults and setting it back up, works the best. I have had it happen twice with my newest Linksys router. Trust me it is a BH, because of all the MAC addresses I have in my router.

the only password you need to change is the admin password for the router. WEP security is crap. MAC address security FTW!!!
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"Never fear, I is here!"
Jared Sellars (a.k.a. Plague)

Ravage · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:02 am Post subject:

Okay, tried Jared's suggestion and it worked...for a couple days.
I'm sure not going to go resetting my router every week, so I'm going to look into other things.

Another question though: In general, how should the lights on the cable modem display, or is it even common for most cable modems to display the same amount of "blinkage"?

The PC light blinks very rapidly, the Cable light blinks only now and then, The data sent and data recieved lights blink like Tinkerbell on crack when I'm using the internet, but pretty much shut off when I'm not. The Power light is pretty much the only consistent one.

I just wondered if I could derive anything from this display. I don't recall our modem at the DDT ever blinking to this extent, and I don't remember mine doing so before a few weeks ago (although I may just have never paid much attention to it). Any thoughts?

Plague · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:41 am Post subject:

It really depends on the modem... Most of the modems I have had the only lights that blink are the Cable activity and the PC activity. The power, upload, and download, usually are solid. BUT like I said, it depends on the modem.
_________________
"Never fear, I is here!"
Jared Sellars (a.k.a. Plague)

Dana · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:05 am Post subject:

WOW had to replace our cable modem yesterday (the white one). For a few days, the cable light wasn't on. On Wednesday it came back on, but we still couldn't get a connection to teh intarwebz.

Todd said the technician noted that it looked like the modem was getting more power than it was built to handle (whatever that means). Everything is running thru surge protectors, so I dunno how that could happen. He installed a new black modem (which looks like a little hub instead of the big white one we had), and everything's working just fine so far.

If this one goes kablooey, then we'll have to examine the surge protector.

Damin, I would just call Time-Warner or whoever you're using right now and have them come look at it. They have diagnostic tools that will tell them a lot more than the little LEDs.
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Admiral Trell · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject:

I have issues with my wireless all the time... it will just stop downloading in the middle of a movie trailer, update, whatever.... I hate it.

I will try resetting my router.