Basic Internet Connectivity And Modem Help

[abqgram]

This is SO very helpful and informative - and encouraging. I may actually call comcast once more!

In fact, it sounds exactly like what Comcast was going to do for my computer once upon a time and then for some reason backed out, and I gave up.

ANd my problem so often occurs when the weather is bad - snow and or wind and freezing.

But I wonder about BethKatz comment about the router/splitter definfition.  Isn't the splitter in the line that comes into the house then to the TV and computer? and a router is a device that is IN the house and which plugs into your computer and the modem line? 

I cannot get wireless from where Comcast comes into the house up to the front of the house.  I even bought the highest power  "booster" but it is useless.  it searches ALL the time for a signal which it gets about one day a year. And I even I paid some comcast moonlighting guy $100. to do all this hook up and it still doesn't work wirelessly - and my computer is still very slow.

 Comcast came out to put a cable into the middle of the house , and did put a splitter (that what they called it) on my one TV ( but at the far end of the house), then came back out and took out the splitter. The TV, the farthest from the pole is OK.  It is my computer, closest to the pole and where the line comes into the house, which is the problem.

I am at the end of the line. Over the years many more computer users as well as TVs have been installed. I do not think Comcast has installed their own "booster" or upgraded since they first installed the lines. 

 I am back where I started.  The techs invariably blame it on my computer.  but I even got a new one. No diff - it is my fault cuz i have  Mac.  I now have a modem, two routers and a "booster" from Netgear. The reason the "cable" did not get put into the middle of my house is a mystery but I got so tired of calling and checking and having guys come out and do nothig  there seems to be no (ZERO) communication from one step of a  "job" to the next step. When I tell them the last guy said or did soemthing it seems to go in one ear and out the other. The job description itself seems to lack specifics. 

[BethKatz]

I split out your issue from the solved thread so that someone might notice that it isn't solved. Someone had locked that other thread.

Just as in the original problem, this is probably a home networking issue rather than a Mac issue.

The splitters are the connectors on the cables that split the signal so that it can go to multiple places in your house. Routers are devices that can allow your various computers/devices to connect to the internet. I believe most homes have only one router but may have a variety of splitters.

One of your cables will go into a modem. The modem will be connected to a router. The modem and router may be combined in a single device. 

I'm guessing you have a computer near the modem as well as want wireless access elsewhere in the house.

Could you further describe the model of the modem and what computer is near it? How is it connected to it? What model router do you have there? 

Please post what you see when you access your modem's statistics page by typing http://192.168.100.1 into your browser window’s address field. EG would also suggest "calling Comcast and inquiring what your uSNR (upstream SNR) figure is. He notes that this can't be read at the modem level. Post that as well."

If you can do that during bad weather, that would be even better. If you have weather-affected service, the problem is likely outside your home.

[abqgram]

Please dont' go away!  This is encouraging. I will get info and get back - not today though. 

Thank you !

Ginny 

[abqgram]

Today is a bad weather day following two days of bad weather - wind, dust and cold.  I did all that you requested, I think.

Here is the info:

Mac version 10.4.11, processor 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo, memory 2GB 667 MHzDDR2 SDRAM.

The line coming into my house is on the last pole at the city limits.  I believe there are at least four users of comcast coming from this pole.

at (3/1/2012 11:41 am)  the uSNR was 44.2 . Comcast tech said something about green and that everyone in my area is on line.

True – maybe that is why it is running so slow.  My Airport internet connect shows 4 people on line when it most often shows two.  Today the computer is so slow as to be dead.  Whatever, my connection is not very fast and way too often even more slow – and there are many days like today when it takes more than 5 minutes to receive my Xfinity email and for instance the  http://192.168.100.1  has never loaded.   Just got a message that this connection cannot be downloaded.

I did get some info about diagnostics that I will go back and study.

http://192.168.100.1   has not loaded in ten minutes. I tried again – still not loading.

My modem is Motorola sb5120.

Next in line is a Netgear RangeMax wireless  N gigbite router WNR 3500U/3500L,

and then a Belkin Repeater 2.4 Gghz  802.11g. 

The modem and the router usually show a green light, but the third (a second repeater, also Belkin Repeater 2.4 Gghz  802.11g) always shows a red light – searching.

This second repeater was added to help me get wireless access to the front half of my house. It fails. Currently I have unplugged it.

Today the Airport Internet Connect shows 10 of the 15 signal level bars as “live”.  Since I called Comcast and asked about the uSNR the speed has picked up.

Yet my TV  – at the front of the house (where I’d like to have wireless also)  is adequate.  Ever since they added HD and then DVR the changing between channels is very slow – so slow in fact that when I think I have turned off my TV  (and the screen goes black) in a few minutes I see that the TV is still on – a channel # show on the screen.  And now that the DVR has been added the sound control is bizarre. There is absolutely no consistency in volume control from one channel to the next.   

     1.  My guess is that the problem is more than one thing. The line is old - never been replaceed. in many years.  Comcast has not added the boosters or whatever they are called to keep up with the number of computers being added to the line.

      2. I think the reason I cannot get WIRELESS to the front half of my house is because the house is so long and the pole is such a long way away from the house. 

The reason the service is so slow is due to what I sais in paragraph 1 above.

I do do a lot of searching etc so I empty the cache fairly often.

I do not do a lot of email or downloading. I dont' play games etc or watch TV on my computer.

I do feel that comcast has techs who are lazy and maybe not well trained - on Macs especially - there is so little to know!!  I think they also feel that any woman, especially over the age of 20, is a klutz who can be fooled - and I have to admit that I have failed to argue with them - how can I change thier mindset? I know they are wrong but I don't talk the high tech lingo so they have me stumped!

What I do NOT understand tho is that if they are as smart as they want me to think they are why can't they just fix the problem?  and if it is because the line is overloaded, why wont' comcast do what they should be doing?  This is a problem that has existed at least ten years!!! 

[abqgram]

PS _ NOWI see that the modem (motorola SB5120( has been discointiuned - would that add to the problem? Comcast was out to the house and saw it about three years ago. Don't know if they replaced it or not.

[BethKatz]

With a Motorola modem, http://192.168.100.1/ should work to get to it and see your signal levels.

I'm concerned that you are seeing multiple people logged in to your network. I don't understand that. Is it possible that other people are using your wireless connection and slowing things down?

You need to narrow down what part is having a problem.

If you go to the modem and connect directly to it (turn off modem and router, unplug router, plug in computer, turn on modem and let it settle, turn on computer, let it settle, log in and get totally signed in, then open Safari). Go to http://192.168.100.1/

[BethKatz]

abqgram, you didn't answer the questions I asked about connecting directly to the modem and speed. 

I really don't think this is a Mac question. Hopefully someone else here can help you if you report on what happens when connected directly to the modem. That will help narrow down whether it is a problem inside or outside your house.

[abqgram]

Hi! So SORRY!

THANKS!

Couldn't find where the post got moved to until tonight.

Will follow your suggestions - intersting about seeing the other people  - I sort of thought the guy I paid to try to get the wireless to work saw them also so thought it was OK - but maybe not.

Tallked with CC today - about billing,  but also the lady said the signal might be degraded and her idea is that it can only be one of two things - the modem is outdated (but it wasn't always) - or the signal is degraded and I need to call tech. 

But will try your suggestions first and get back in the next couple of days. 

[abqgram]

FYI - just got the chance to visit little Great GD out of town so will not be able to try this til week of 24.

but am still interested in trying this!!

[ntnuku]

Alright to the best of my knowledge here are given pointers that should attest of exactly why, you shouldn't lose speed if you follow my instructions herein. This guide is based upon usage of a wireless network card via pc (OS windows 7). Lets start.1.Open network and sharing center, on the far left of the window click (change adapter settings).2.Right-click wireless network connection, click properties,highlight internet protocol version 4, from there click properties.3.Hit advanced tab, scroll over to dns, input these figures 75.75.75.75 as your primary dns and 75.75.76.76 as your secondary dns.4. Activate append these dns suffixes, click add, type (dns101.comcast.net). As for dns suffix you want to use dns101. Be sure to check if last two boxes are enabled if not, Please enable it. If you ask me how I came accross dns suffix for comcast. It all happened this morning running test with compatibilty of google's newly released public DNS, which in my opinion is 2nd best if information aboves fail which i highly doubt. 

[EG]

N.M.