My guess is your DSL modem is rebooting; how old is it?

On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 8:02 PM, Derek Trotter <expat.arizonan@gmail.com>wrote:

>  For several weeks I've had a problem with my earthlink dsl service.
> Anytime I'm doing something that uses all or most of my downstream
> bandwidth, all data coming into or going out of my apartment stops.  At the
> same time I'm downloading something a series of updates for kubuntu and
> listening to streaming audio, both stop.  If I'm using my windows box to
> download something else, that too stops.  After a pause lasting anywhere
> from a second or two to 15 or 20 seconds, the downloads resume.  A few
> seconds later, there's another pause.  This cycle repeats itself until the
> download is complete or I give up.
>
> Each computer has two nics.  The problem persists no matter which one
> either machine is using for it's internet connection.  If I remove the
> router, connect the dsl modem directly to either computer, the problem
> persists.  I even went to the closet and got the modem when I had dsl from
> AT&T.  I set it to work with the earthlink service and the problem persists.
>
> Saturday an AT&T technician was here, checked the line from the cord that
> plugs into the dsl modem and says the line is in excellent shape and noise
> levels are very low.  This is not surprising since I live less than 1/4
> mile from AT&T's local office where all their equipment is.
>
> Since I've tried two computers, 4 nics, two dsl modems and removed the
> router, and the problem still persists, I'm guessing the problem is
> somewhere at earthlink's end.
>
> Tonight at 21:30 EST, an earthlink tech support person from somewhere in
> India called to tell me they had fixed the problem.  While he was on the
> phone I tried downloading something else and guess what.  The problem was
> not fixed.  As near as I can tell, the dsl connection does not go down.
> The earthlink people say it stays up.  The lights on the modem that are on
> when the connection is up never go off or blink.
>
> The man asks me what dns settings I use.  I tell him 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
> He says I should try earthlink's dns servers.  To humor him I changed the
> settings on the windows box and guess what.  The problem did not go  away.
>
> Maybe I'm missing something, but it's my understanding that once the
> download has begun, that dns has already done it's job and has no further
> role to play.  One more thing.  If I use a VPN connection, I have no
> problem with it.
>
> Any idea what's going on?  If you were to venture a guess, would you say
> the problem is at my place, with AT&T or with Earthlink?
>
> Thanks
>
> Derek
>
> --
> "I get my copy of the daily paper, look at the obituaries page, and if I’m not there, I carry on as usual."
>
> Patrick Moore
>
>
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