Modem slowing down and stopping?

June 27, 2009 2:54 PM

Modem question.

I currently am connected to the Internet via Qwest using DSL, using two Mac computers (one using the modem's wireless signal, one plugged in with an ethernet cord). Over the past few years, our connection has been slowing down and breaking regularly, which can be fixed by turning the modem off and back on, but now it slows down and stops about every few minutes. The modem is almost five years old and Qwest tells me it's probably breaking down.

My question is bipartite: Firstly, does this sound like it is likely the problem? Secondly, if so, what modem do you recommend we purchase. I would want to get a new one tomorrow, so I am not looking to order one from Qwest and have to wait for it to be delivered.

Thanks!

posted by Astro Zombie to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

It probably IS time to get a new modem. I can speculate as to what may cause something like this (full log cache, perhaps? I don't know), but the long story short is that you should just pick up a new one. A modem isn't generally worth any form of diagnostic/repair, nor am I aware of any services for that.

As far as recommendations go, I'm afraid I can't be of any help.
posted by dinx2582 at 3:05 PM on June 27, 2009

Do you actually own the modem? Most service providers rent the units.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:10 PM on June 27, 2009

I don't think those modems have any sort of logging going on (or at least, no logging to nonvolatile storage). If the problem is in fact the modem I can't think of a likely culprit other than a bad capacitor. Hardly anything else in there has a lifetime not measured in decades. As a stopgap, try keeping it cool?

As for buying a new one— I think there are still a few distinct DSL standards out there; you probably need to ask Qwest what models of modem will work on that particular line's equipment (good luck getting an answer other than "just buy one from us!", though).
posted by hattifattener at 3:22 PM on June 27, 2009

We had that problem with an old Qwest modem (Cisco 678 or 675); the connection would drop frequently. It was fixed by installing a replacement router.
posted by singularian at 3:32 PM on June 27, 2009

There are multiple flavors of DSL around, so which one you have will dictate what replacement modem you get. If you want to list the particular model you have now, people might be able to make more specific recommendations.

But DSL isn't just DSL.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:41 PM on June 27, 2009

Response by poster: It's an Actiontec GT701-WG.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:38 PM on June 27, 2009

Huh, apparently the GT701-WG runs Linux. So I could be wrong about the logging thing. I think it's still most likely to be failing hardware, though.
posted by hattifattener at 4:58 PM on June 27, 2009

I had a similar problem with pretty much the same setup (macs, quest, actiontec). We had left Qwest at the point the slowdown was unworkable and our IP gave us a replacement modem. The first didn't work any better (sorry but I can't remember what it was). There was some kind of funky interference on the line so we ended with a Zhone modem that could handle it. It did not have wireless capability so we plugged it into our airport express and that worked until about 2 weeks ago. While we didn't have the drop in speed this time we did lose our connection every few days and the lines tested good. For the last 24 hours we have been using a UTStarcom without a problem. But we could go a week without a problem on the old one....
posted by pointilist at 6:27 PM on June 27, 2009

Best answer: I have a very similar setup. What I've found is that if I keep both computers plugged in, the connection does not bog down. But as soon as I switch one of the Macs to WiFi, the connection slows to a crawl. But I've not yet figured out why this is.
posted by iwhitney at 9:23 PM on June 27, 2009

The Actiontec GT701-WG isn't just a router, it's a modem. And yeah, older routers have all sorts of problems. Particularly with noisy protocols like BitTorrent; all those TCP connections can overwhelm old routers' state tables and the network connection starts to fail, just like you're reporting.

The solution I like right now is a cheap anonymous DSL modem from my ISP paired with a Linksys WRT54GL running Tomato Firmware. The modem does very little; just provides a single ethernet port from the DSL phone line. The router does all the serious work. The Tomato firmware makes for a very stable, capable router; just be sure you buy one of the brands of routers that it supports.
posted by Nelson at 6:59 AM on June 28, 2009

DSL is verysensitive to a noisy phone line. Check all the connections on the phone lines in your house from where they come in (grey box outside) in the basement if you have one, to all the jacks that are hooked up in the house. I usually start by just tightening the brass nuts a touch.

also, make sure all the devices plugged in except the modem have DSL filters on them. Cheap dollar store splitters cause problems sometimes. As a test, unplug everything but the modem and see if it gets any better.

Where are you located? i have a few extra modems i would give away if you have trouble getting a new one.
posted by KenManiac at 8:44 AM on June 28, 2009

Response by poster: iwhitney seems to have nailed the problem. Thanks!
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:42 AM on June 28, 2009

Guessing here, but when you use Wifi your router is now maintaining routes for two different networks. That's more work than just routing a single wired network, and could possibly trigger bugs in the firmware like I was referring to above.
posted by Nelson at 11:39 AM on June 28, 2009