Landline Internet Connection

Sometimes when I login the taskbar icon shows not connected so I need to restart or unplug the modem from the wall outlet for a few seconds and replug.

This signifies a modem issue that can't make new connections cause the NAT table is full. My modem/router can handle up to 30k connections on 30,0001 it will die.

dan: You're a power user, clearly the OP is not. If you can prove me wrong, do so by filling up the NAT table artificially by some means. How can we do that quickly? BT, perhaps?

 

OP: What kind of things do you do on the Internet?

Edited by Shplad, 22 August 2023 - 10:48 AM.

I had a router / modem that 8k nat table, firing up steam always killed it. It was later updated and patched to allow 30k connections.

Doesn't take a power user.

The OP is very unlikely to be using Steam. That's my whole point.

 

Here is the manual for the 5072-2,

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/782375/Comtrend-Corporation-Ct-5072t.html

 

Default LAN IP is 192.168.1.1

255.255.255.0

 

It has a web interface, so why don't we just look through before assuming NAT table is filling up.

 

Now, I just realized, since this is ADSL, unless there's a separate jack for Internet on the wall, you're going to need ADSL filters for your non-modem devices, such as phones, fax machines, or anything else that connects to the phone line. Do you have an ADSL filter attached between the device and the wall jack on all other devices? If not, those devices might interfere with the ADSL signal and drop the connection.

Edited by Shplad, 22 August 2023 - 11:01 AM.

Other people in his house might be doing other internet activity remember that NAT table is for the entire modem and the connections are for all devices connected to it.

Him unplugging it clears the NAT table and allows him to connect.

The dhcp error is also an issue that arises when the nat table fills up.

The modem only has one Ethernet port, so no one is sharing unless they're constantly unplugging/replugging cables (in the same room)?

The modem is not like most current ones, as it has no WiFi.

 

What have we got to lose by just testing the IP configuration? She can always choose to get a new modem if that fails.

My technological skills are not the best and easily challenged.  I need to figure out how to find some of the info you require.  But I'm trying. 

 

You could certainly be right the problem is with IP config not modem, though modem is a cheap one as you correctly said, it's old and isn't functioning top-notch.  

 

Btw  my current package is very modest, 12 mbps download and only 1 mbps upload.  But since I'm not into much downloading & uploading, I'm ok with this package though I may need to upgrade in the near future if I want IP tv.

Modems depend on electronics, mostly semiconductor ICs ("chips"). Those tend to either work normally, or not at all. They don't slow down or wear out partially with age. They tend to either work or not work.

 

Also, if the problem only started recently, and your Internet usage habits haven't changed, then the problem is not likely to be modem type/classification/defect.

 

DSL filters are little plastic things. You can Google for types. When usin ADSL, if you plug in a phone, you need to plug the phone cord from the phone into the DSL filter, and the DSL filter cable into the wall phone jack. That way, the filter is "in between" the phone and the telephone line electronically. Doing that filters out interference that can be caused by any device which could interfere with your modem's signalling. Please check to see if you have filters plugged connected to any device that plus into the phone jacks that isn't your modem.

Edited by Shplad, 22 August 2023 - 11:21 AM.

Download and install Speccy - https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

Run it, and then go to File and Publish Snapshot. Post the resulting link in your next reply.

That will provide the ip configuration and other info.

Also are there any other users of internet in the house?

Edited by cryptodan, 22 August 2023 - 11:30 AM.

My technological skills are not the best and easily challenged.  I need to figure out how to find some of the info you require.  But I'm trying. 

 

You're in good hands. Between Dan and me, there's about 40 years of IT experience, in various roles. We're both good at what we do.

Of course I trust you guys to the fullest.   I'm lacking in confidence about my own scant skills .. 

I had DSL before and had to deal with problems regarding loss of connection and drops in connection speed.

When the problem was at the modem, I found it quickest to restore lost connections by unplugging the phone cord (not the thicker Ethernet cord) from the modem, wait about twenty seconds, and then plug it back in. Then after several seconds of handshaking, the connection would be restored. If you try this and it works for you, you may have an interference issue on your phone line.

It sounds like your DSL modem is just that, a modem. There's no router between the modem and your computer and thus no hardware firewall between your computer and the Internet. PCs these days have software firewalls running on them, but many of us would consider that insufficient for the security of your computer.

The model acc. to the user manual, also includes router features, as described on page 4.

 

The CT-5072T (TR-069 compliant) ADSL2+ Ethernet Router pro

 

 

Please do your (rather easy) homework before misinforming the OP.

I had DSL before and had to deal with problems regarding loss of connection and drops in connection speed.

When the problem was at the modem, I found it quickest to restore lost connections by unplugging the phone cord (not the thicker Ethernet cord) from the modem, wait about twenty seconds, and then plug it back in. Then after several seconds of handshaking, the connection would be restored. If you try this and it works for you, you may have an interference issue on your phone line.

 

 

Why should unplugging the phone cord for 20 seconds cause interference issue on phone line?  What type of interference issue can there be on a landline phone line?

Why should unplugging the phone cord for 20 seconds cause interference issue on phone line?  What type of interference issue can there be on a landline phone line?

I'm not sure how you took my words to mean unplugging the phone cord for 20 seconds causes interference. All I was saying was that successfully resetting the connection in this fashion could mean that interference on the phone line may have led to loss of connection in the first place.

Electromagnetic fields, phone cable breaches, corrosion, shorts, malfunctioning telco equipment, etc. can cause interference on a phone line which can corrupt analog and digital signals flowing over it. Such interference has historically caused performance and reliability issues with dial-up modems, fax machines, and other tech which operate over a phone line. With a DSL modem, interference can cause a modem to downgrade its connection speed to maintain reliability; and if it gets bad enough, the connection could be dropped altogether.

Years ago in another house I lived in, the signal on my phone line had become very weak. Not only was my DSL service very slow (dial-up, too), but phone calls were extremely quiet with me having trouble hearing the person on the other end. The phone company refused to repair the worn infrastructure which was causing my issue. I switched to cable.

The model acc. to the user manual, also includes router features, as described on page 4.
Please do your (rather easy) homework before misinforming the OP.

Apologies, totally missed it!

Edited by BeigeBochs, 22 August 2023 - 09:22 PM.