Keep losing AOL Broadband Connection - Why?

[rgracin]

We are on AOL wireless broadband at home using the Netgear router provided. Over the last month or so, when on line, we keep losing the connection. sometimes it will re-connect itself with no issues, other times it says it can't find a connection.

I called the helpline, they told me it was my ADSL filters as they should be changed every 6 months!! Really? Why so often? Anyway, bought new filters, connected them up and geuss what? Yep. still got the same fault. They did a line check and could find no faults.

Help. It's possible it could be the router itself, but unless I borrow someone elses, how can I tell?

Just signed up for another 18 months in January, can I get out of it?

Thanks

[rgracin]

Not tried that yet.

Have been monitoring the wireless connection between laptop and router and there are no drops in signal when the internet connection goes.

Would that suggest that the wireless part is ok?

[rgracin]

Thanks for the advice so far. I'll coonect with the ethernet cable tonight.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's this "ping" test? When you say open up a command, do you mean type "ping etc" into the web address line?

Thanks

[rgracin]

lestag said:

what model netgear router?
if you turn the router on and off does it fix it?

You could try upgrading the firmware on the router

http://www.netgear.co.uk/product_support.php

I'm at work at the moment, so can't get the model number. Turning it on and off will allow us to get back on, but will lose connection at some point again.

Filters are on all phone sockets in use. don't have Sky or the like, so nothing else other than phone and internet.

Last silly question I promise. I'm with you on the DOS now, but how do I get into DOS so I can type the ping command? Is it during power up?

[rgracin]

Great. thanks for that. I'll give it a go tonight and report back.

[rgracin]

Right.

I've run the "ping" test with the laptop connected to the router with the yellow cable. There is definitley losses in connection. Over the various time scales I run it for ranging between 20 mins and 2 hours, there was a loss of 2% to 3%. Before I give BT a call (Ipresume it's down to them) I will borrow the in-laws router and connect via that to make sure it's not the router losing the connection.

[rgracin]

Well, Called BT. They did a remote line check. No issues. they said that if phone is working fine then it will be the broadband provider.

Called AOL back. Explained it all...again! The guy from the overseas call centre talked me through and onto the netgear settings site and eventually changed a number in a box from "1492" to "1450". Hey presto, has all been fine since.

WTF is that all about?? I've spent a fortune on their "helpline". I asked him to explain what it was he asked me to change, but as it's not on their script I got nowhere.

Anyone got any ideas what it was?

[rgracin]

Ahh. that explains it a bit more, thanks. So would it be the Router changed the MTU setting by default after being turned off or something? Trying to get my head round why it had been fine for ages, then suddenly started playing up.