Internet Problems. R> Help.

[.Shadow Lord.]

Alright, I've been having some internet troubles lately, and it's getting annoying. Basically, I can't do shit, because I disconnect every three minutes. I know it's not just my RO client, as my IRC disconnects as well. Also, anytime I try to download anything, or even if I'm just watching a video on youtube, it will stop halfway into the download/stop half way through buffering. The weird thing though, is I never, ever disconnect from Teamspeak. Everything, but teamspeak disconnects. Now, I've got Cox Cable, and use an internet router. At first I just figured it was my router, as it's pretty old, so I went and bought a new one. Same thing happens, constant disconnections. I called my ISP to see if I could get any help, and after waiting on the line for two and a half hours, was able to talk to a guy, and he had me delete all internet connections, and make a new one with specific settings, which also failed to make a differance. Now, I'm pretty sure it's not my computer, I've completely reformatted it since having the problems. I've also tried turning all firewalls off, I've tried updating my internet drivers, I've basically tried everything I know of. Now my questions. What do you think is wrong with it? Is there anything I havn't done, that I could that might make a differance? Any and all help is appreciated, thank you.
 

[Denia]

Request that Cox Communications sends someone out to check your lines, there might be a faulty line causing that problem. I had that problem previously with another cable company, they found the faulty line, fixed it, and everything was fine afterwards. Before scheduling for them to come out, test being connected directly to the modem and see how that goes. If that doesn't work, test your own wires (ethernet cables/NIC etc) while connected to the modem. Try using another ethernet cable/nic, you might have one that's old and faulty or something. If it's not the wires, or your NIC, just call them and tell them to come out and check and see what's up with your connection.

[.Shadow Lord.]

Mm, I havn't thought about them checking for faulty wires. As far as ethernet cables go, I've tried several, some new, some used, with no success. I've tried connecting directly to my modem, but I can't. For some reason or another, it requires a username/password that my ISP assigned me, of which I've never recieved.

[jcflyguy]

Are you sharing a connection?  It's possible that if you are, someone else on it is downloading something huge, or otherwise making you slow down.

[Denia]

Mm, I havn't thought about them checking for faulty wires. As far as ethernet cables go, I've tried several, some new, some used, with no success. I've tried connecting directly to my modem, but I can't. For some reason or another, it requires a username/password that my ISP assigned me, of which I've never recieved.

I don't believe cox ever assigns a login and password. What kind of modem do you have? Depending on the modem, the login and password might just be underneath it. Are you connecting to the modem wirelessly or are you hardwired in?

Jcflyguy does make a good point though, if someone else is downloading a lot (and especially when using bittorrent), sometimes it will lag your connection, and "overflow" your router/modem with information, where then the router/modem will disconnect and restart itself.

[.Shadow Lord.]

Are you sharing a connection?  It's possible that if you are, someone else on it is downloading something huge, or otherwise making you slow down.

Nope, not sharing a connection. And It's been going on for a month+ now.

Mm, I havn't thought about them checking for faulty wires. As far as ethernet cables go, I've tried several, some new, some used, with no success. I've tried connecting directly to my modem, but I can't. For some reason or another, it requires a username/password that my ISP assigned me, of which I've never recieved.

I don't believe cox ever assigns a login and password. What kind of modem do you have? Depending on the modem, the login and password might just be underneath it. Are you connecting to the modem wirelessly or are you hardwired in?

That's true, I should take a closer look at that. Normally, I'm connected wirelessly. I'll look at my router, and see if I can find some sort of login.
EDIT: Another thing, I've only manually created one wireless connection, but I've always got an extra one called Linksys, can anyone shed any light on that?

[Denia]

You probably are picking up someone else's wireless router and they never assigned a SSID to it, so the name stayed as Linksys.

[.Shadow Lord.]

Ah, I see. My router is a Wireless G Plus MIMI Router. I believe the brand is Belkin.

[Denia]

What about your modem...? And how are you connecting directly to your modem? Wireless or non?

[.Shadow Lord.]

When I tried to connect directly to my modem, it was non wireless. My modem is a Webstar DPC2100 Series Cable Modem, I believe it's two years old.

[Denia]

Try staying connected like that (hardwired into your modem). Then play for a bit and see how things go. When you disconnect / internet goes haywire, look at your modem to see how the lights are flashing if at all. If they are not flashing and all turn black, then out of no where relights up, it means that your modem just restarted itself and it may be time to get a new modem.

[.Shadow Lord.]

Well, I'm not able to actually connect to the internet through my modem directly, due to the login/password problem stated above, which I looked into and found nothing. However, I think I've actually seen my modem reset itself, as you've just described, so I think I'll get a new modem. Thanks alot for the help Denia, hopefully this will help.