Internet Issues

[Anonymous]

Looking for some advice from anyone with some good knowledge of the internet.

My internet connection keeps 'locking' up for periods of time, often over 30 seconds at a time. When this happens it seems that no internet traffic is able to get through at all.

I can't load webpages and TT just locks up (this isn't anything to do with TT not working).

Does anyone have any idea as to why this might be happening and what can be done about it?

When it 'unlocks' the internet goes back to full speed then works as expected then a few minutes later or maybe just a few seconds later it 'locks' up again?

[jibiko]

sounds like your internet provider (ISP) is giving you problems.

[Anonymous]

Cheers for the reply but I don't think it is the ISP to be honest. I think it is something more local. I recently reinstalled windows on my PC, not sure if that has caused the issue or that the problems arising at the same time were just a coincidence?

Does anyone know any settings you can change on your router or PC to help improve things at all? I assume everything was reset to factory presets when I reinstalled. My ISP in the past did have me change things so perhaps I have lost those settings?

Also do routers deteriorate with age? I have decent Netgear DG834N which was top spec when I bought it some years ago but will have been superseeded a long time ago - perhaps an upgrade is needed? Do you have to update the software on routers at all?

[nigelbleddfa]

I think it's possible that you are exceeding your bandwidth allowance. Which ISP do you use ? Do you have a fixed allowance per month ? If not, does your provider apply a fair usage policy ?

[Anonymous]

I think it's possible that you are exceeding your bandwidth allowance. Which ISP do you use ? Do you have a fixed allowance per month ? If not, does your provider apply a fair usage policy ?

I am well within my allowance - I have a 50GB allowance and have never used over 40GB in any month period and it resets on the 1st of each month so no way I am over my 50GB for Jan.

My ISP is Zen - They do not traffic shape at all - you are supposed to get your full speed all of the time.

[jibiko]

I recently reinstalled windows on my PC, not sure if that has caused the issue or that the problems arising at the same time were just a coincidence?

maybe yes, maybe no

any settings you can change on your router

try 192.168.1.1 as an adress in your browser

I assume everything was reset to factory presets when I reinstalled.

If you didn't reset your router (they have some buttons in the back of them)
then your router possibly is not reset and should be working fine.

My ISP in the past did have me change things so perhaps I have lost those settings?

it depends on where those changes were made. On the OS of PC, or in the router? Maybe new changes have applied? Need to recheck with ISP?

Do you have to update the software on routers at all?

There are firmware updates for many models.
But I think that if it ain't broken don't fix it.
Now yours maybe is broken but I think again
that it sounds to me as an ISP problem still.

For the old thing mentioned mine is 5 years old but still works ok.

p.s. I still think that contacting ISP is a good option.

[Goboldly]

I find things much better when I close all unneeded programs google mail/desktop/any scanning programs etc.

[Quo]

I find things much better when I close all unneeded programs google mail/desktop/any scanning programs etc.

Very good advice, if I see what most people have running in the taskbar, what they just leave in the startup folder to run in the background, it's no surprise most PC's are running slow.

Just 'Run', type msconfig, go to the startup tab and uncheck all unnecessary startup items. Also some virusproggy's eat a lot of your resources, Norton is one hungry app. Not to be recommended when running on a NOT top notch PC.

[Anonymous]

Any need for Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager and Google Update to be running at start up? I am guessing not?

Im using AVG as opposed to any other AV.

Going to try another router tomorrow and see how that goes. Problem is it seems to come in spurts, it can be fine for 20mins or more so you think all is okay then the problem rears its head all over again.

[jibiko]

Just 'Run', type msconfig, go to the startup tab and uncheck all unnecessary startup items.

The same can be done with a free software called ccleaner slim.
Good tool.
Startup manager, registry cleaner, free up hard drive space.

download link

[jibiko]

Any need for Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager and Google Update to be running at start up? I am guessing not?

Not a serious need to be in start up.
You can invoke them whenever you want.

[Quo]

Any need for Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader and Acrobat Manager and Google Update to be running at start up? I am guessing not?

I, personnaly, throw everything out what I didn't put there myself, I hate installed programs polling to their HQ URL without my permission, installing their stuff and restarting my system when I am in the middle of something. I can decide myself when i need and want their updates!

Im using AVG as opposed to any other AV.

AVG has no resource issues that I know off, so you're safe there.

Going to try another router tomorrow and see how that goes. Problem is it seems to come in spurts, it can be fine for 20mins or more so you think all is okay then the problem rears its head all over again.

Resetting your router would do no harm, if you remember your original settings.
Is there anyone else using your I-net connection? Kids playing online games, downloading torrents etc..? Or a neighbour using your connection to down the daily T&A

What OS are you using? Got enough RAM? Is your HDD defragmented and has enough free space left?

[nigelbleddfa]

I am well within my allowance - I have a 50GB allowance and have never used over 40GB in any month period and it resets on the 1st of each month so no way I am over my 50GB for Jan.

My ISP is Zen - They do not traffic shape at all - you are supposed to get your full speed all of the time.

I am with Zen as well. They are excellent, so it's not that for sure.

[TheSurgeon]

Here's one that might be worth a try. Get the ISP to do a 'line check', sometimes there are issues at the exchange that can affect performance. I did a while ago when I had intermittent access, they confirmed a problem with the line and sorted it a few days later.

[Anonymous]

After having to suffer many times this tonight I decided to bring forward my trial of a different router and I am currently seeing my best response times on the toy and they are very consistent - early signs are pointing to the router!

Will keep an eye on it and let you know how it goes!