[sweetcat]

I've had my internet for over a year and suddenly last week, my internet began working only at night, starts from around 8 or 9 pm, and lasts until around 7am or so... It's not my wireless routers, because I've tried plugging the modem directly into each computer. I've also tried all 3 jacks in my house. The DSL light is blinking green and the internet light is completely out. I called CenturyLink and the tech was unable to find the box that connects from my house to the pole; he said it was working fine at the pole.. but, every night, like clockwork, my internet comes back on again! what the heck???

[etaf]

so connected directly to the modem only with any PC - its the same issue and timing
also this is the status of the lights on the modem when not working

The DSL light is blinking green and the internet light is completely out.

is that all correct

whats the make and model of the modem - it may have QoS on it and actually be a router
lets see an ipconfig /all and the following ping tests from the modem when working and then repeat the tests when the internet is off

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ipconfig /all
If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to paste the results into something like notepad and then copy onto a machine that can access the internet and post the results in a reply here.
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file and paste here.

We would like to see the results from an ipconfig /all - post back the results in a reply here.

Hold the Windows key and press R, then type CMD then press Enter to open a command prompt box
(A new dialogue box - black with white font, will appear on screen ):

In the command prompt window that opens, type the following command:

Note that there is a space before the /ALL, but there is NOT a space after the / in the following command.

ipconfig /all > network.txt & network.txt

It will export the results into notepad and then automatically open the notepad and display on your screen.

Now all you need to do is copy and paste those results into a reply here
to do that:
From the notepad menu - choose Edit - Select all
all the text will now be highlighted
Next
From the notepad menu - choose Edit - Copy

Now go back to the forum - goto the reply and then right click in the reply box and paste the results.
The results from the notepad should now appear in the forum reply.
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Ping Tests
If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to paste the results into something like notepad and then copy onto a machine that can access the internet and post the results in a reply here.
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file and paste here.

Start> Run {search bar in Vista/W7}> type CMD to open a command prompt box
(A new dialogue box - black with white font, will appear on screen ):

Type the following command
Ping {then a space and then add the number that is shown against the item labelled "default gateway" shown in the results from the ipconfig /all}
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste

Type the following command
Ping google.com
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste

Type the following command
Ping 209.183.226.152
Post back the results in a reply here
right click in the command prompt box
select all
enter
control key + C key - to copy
then reply here and
control key + V to paste

For your information only
these tests will check various stages of the connection, the first ping test, ping default gateway checks to see if you still have a connection to the router.
The next two Ping google.com & Ping 209.183.226.152 tests the connection to internet. google is to test by name and the ping test using a number is checking that a connection exists without DNS.
these tests then confirm if there is a dns issue on the connection.

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[TerryNet]

the tech was unable to find the box that connects from my house to the pole

That's not very encouraging. Can you find it? Maybe a new tech is needed. Or maybe somebody is stealing your box and service every day?

Probably something in the interface box or the line or a device between it and pole that is sensitive to the heat or light of day.