[tony oh]

Will any of this help with someone who has, say, 1 out of every 10 times after a restart (which I do quite often) a failure to connect to the internet?
Another restart always fixes it ... but it gets annoying that when you start up you don't know if you will have an internet connection. I hate those the computer didn't not respond in a timely manner messages.
(uses a usb modem on 8mb line with a dynamic IP address)

[JohnWill]

Maybe getting rid of the USB modem might help. I find that USB is considerably more problematic than Ethernet for network connections.

[tony oh]

I like the usb modem as it allows for an easy change of ip address (disconnect - reconnect)... the quick way to download many files from rapidshare and bypass in part their recognition system.
The ethernet was faster by 1meg but I think it's worth it.

[JohnWill]

Except for all those issues about connecting, no?

[tony oh]

Yeah ... except for those ... err ... a rather important that you actually connect to the net to use it ... issues .. lol.

[mickoz1974]

1. remove every device from the telephone sockets and filters.

2. plug 1 filter in and connect to modem.

3 try connection if it works plug another item in one by one checking the connection to find problematic device/filter

4. if it does not work try another filter.

5. does it work (yes) then the filter you just removed is the problem, (no) try connecting your PC modem to another phone socket, still does not work try another filter.

6. still does not work try a new phone cable between phone socket and modem, try this set up in more than one phone socket,

7. still does not work try another USB modem in the PC and, try the modem in another PC. this will prove if the PC or the modem is the problem.

8. obviously if one works and the other does not there is your problem.

9. if both work on different machines modem on new pc/ new pc on modem then you have an incompatibility problem. (maybe missing/corrupt files)

[JohnWill]

plug 1 filter in and connect to modem.

Well, that's totally incorrect! The modem does NOT have a filter, just all other devices. Of course, we're strictly talking DSL here, filters have no place with cable Internet.

Actually, if you have DSL issues, there are better solutions, here's how I do DSL installations.

Purchase a DSL splitter and install it at the telco service entrance. Run a direct line from the DSL port on the splitter directly to the DSL modem. Connect all of the other phone instruments to the telephone output of the DSL splitter. All of the DSL analog side wiring should be CAT3 or better twisted pair from the telco service entrance to the DSL/ADSL modem. You can use one of the twisted pairs in CAT5 cable if you have that on hand.

This is as good as it gets for DSL installations, and will usually solve in-house wiring issues.

Here's a good detailed description of the process: DSL Wiring Upgrade Tutorial

[mickoz1974]

your on about USA stuff only again, and only cable DSL, and this also applies to other people later on who wish to read this forum from whatever country they live in and whatever phone service they use so its not totally incorrect, this worked for john oh who was talking on this forum earlier. but the rest of us are thinking outside the box. this is NOT! strictly A USA forum for TELCO users iv'e never heard of them BT i use and we dont have cable, and come on "Help me out here, I'm brilliant, not clairvoyant! " we think not.

[JohnWill]

There is no such thing as "cable DSL". DSL or ADSL (for the rest of the world) does NOT have a filter on the modem, only on the other telephone instruments on the line. If you don't believe that, you're thinking way too far "outside the box".

[mickoz1974]

look at the bottom of this website http://www.etradehouse.com/default.aspx in the uk we call these splitters or filters and have to use them for all our broadband connections.
learn something new everyday

[mickoz1974]

we need one of the following to have dsl, http://www.etradehouse.com/prd/1/MS.html , http://www.etradehouse.com/prd/1/S.html or http://www.etradehouse.com/prd/1/PS.html the last one is the most popular for the UK.

[The_Oracle]

well, you (may) need the filters for a telephone but NOT for the DSL router/modem.

How many ADSL filters do I need?
You will need to fit an ADSL filter to every telephone outlet where a telephone is connected.

these filter/splitters you are referring to are only required if you want to use a telephone AND a DSL modem on the SAME socket.

[JohnWill]

Originally Posted by mickoz1974

look at the bottom of this website http://www.etradehouse.com/default.aspx in the uk we call these splitters or filters and have to use them for all our broadband connections.
learn something new everyday

The splitter is just that. The DSL/ADSL connection runs directly UNFILTERED, and the phone connection is filtered. Try reversing the two connections, and you'll see what I mean.

You're right, there is an opportunity for you to learn something new right here today.

Here's one of the many pages on whole house splitters, which is what my earlier post recommends: http://www.homephonewiring.com/dsl.html

[mickoz1974]

and you will need to keep learning to...

[The_Oracle]

that goes for all of us ... without saying