DSL/Wireless Router/Modem--dropped connection

OK, I'm having some trouble with my DSL connection. Right now it's working, but it's starting to slow down again which means that I'm soon to be disconnected totally. My provider says that nothing is wrong on their end (which I've confirmed with 2 neighbors) so it must be on my end.

My connection starts to work REALLY slowly and then eventually just quits working altogether. My "status" light on my DSL modem/router is completely black, the other lights are green, however, the LAN light is blinking furiously (I don't really know if it's always been that way or not... )

Anyway, I called the "tech support" people at my provider, and they walked me though some steps that seemed to alleviate the problem for now, but I want it stopped permanently!

I put in the "IP address" (shown on the IPconfig command prompt) into firefox's address bar and it pulled up the Zoom information page and I went to the system status portion like I was told to do, but there was NO IP ADDRESS!! NONE!! So we cycled the modem--nothing. We powered down the computers--nothing. I unplugged the ethernet cable from one port and moved it to another--PRESTO!! The internet works again!

I'm not even sure why this worked the way it did, because my laptop is wirelessly connected....why did changing the port of my desktop do anything? Or was it just chance? And how do I keep this from happening? Ideas?? Suggestions?? Anyone??

 

When the line is experiencing issues, please try this:

Register at DSLReports and run their line quality tests. Post a link to the results here.

 

Hmmm...not sure what all it means, but here it is!

http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/94c8b242c545/2299244

 

If you can enable PING on the router, I'd like to see the line quality test again. What you did get indicates that Sprint is having problems within their network, but I'd like to see the more complete test.

 

OK, I'll run it again when I get home tonight. Sorry it took so long to reply!