Thinkpads Forum

Is anyone else having internet connection issues? I have been having problems lately that my computer suddenly loses the connection. The only way to get it up again is to turn of my DSL modem and then turn it back on again. I don't think it's the DSL modem, since it was working fine until I got the T60.

Rebooting DSL modems is actually a common pratice to repair broken connections, i have to reboot mine occasionally, if you have a linksys search the forums for issues, i read a post right there in the t60 forum about someone who replaced thier linksys and it fixed the problem.

If I have a linksys would I know it? I don't know what that is. I'm having to reboot the DSL modem several times a day. Something must be wrong. It will be working fine one minute, and then the next minute my Outlook will go to retrieve messages and the connection is gone.

You may be plugged directly into the dsl modem some work like that rather than use the router. I'd call the company that installed the modem and tell them also, there may be some known issues with it as well.

What is your service? I have SBC Yahoo DSL and have to power off the modem frequently due to a bad connection or slow speed. Of course I've had the same Speedstream modem for the last 4 or 5 years I've had the service. I just chalk it up to the old modem. I haven't pulled the trigger on getting the 2Wire Gateway they're now offering. Usually when I reset the modem everything is fine for a couple more days.

How old is your modem? I would try to get my hands on another one to try before I considered the T60 as the problem.

I'm also with SBC DSL. I got the modem last October. I didn't have to do anything with it for months with my old computer. It just started happening when I got the T60. My sister comes over and uses her Mac with my ethernet cord and she hasn't had any problems. Which makes me think it's something with the T60/DSL relationship. But I have no clue what.

It could just be a coincidence that the problem started when you got your T60. Did you ever try rebooting the T60 when is occurs? Did it make a difference?
Do you still have the other computer that the DSL was originally hooked up too? If so can it be connected when the problem occurs with the T60? If the other computer is no longer available can you use your sister’s computer to test the connection when it occurs?
If you are able to test and the problem continues with the other computer then you know it must be the DSL. If the other computer works fine it must be the T60.

I may get slammed for this but as a matter of practical troubleshooting if you are using access connections try not using it. I never use access connections on any of my machines and never have anywhere near the connectivity issues i've seen on this forum.

Kyocera wrote:I may get slammed for this but as a matter of practical troubleshooting if you are using access connections try not using it. I never use access connections on any of my machines and never have anywhere near the connectivity issues i've seen on this forum.

That's one possible solution. I've had trouble like this in the past. My solution (which works good at home) is to set the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS Addresses manually in an Access Connection profile. Just look at what the settings are when you have a connection, and put those in manually.

DSL uses a regular phone line. If there is high resistance on the pair / signal to noise then the DSL may drop or have low throughput. This is especially common when it's raining a lot since the conduits sometime become flooded with water. Call your provider for a service check.

The other thought is that you are having a router failure or wireless interference. Trying changing the channel on the wireless router and see if you get better signal.

If you are using wireless trying using longer antenna or changing the location of the wireless router.

Also - with the intel wireless card - there are known issues with power saving mode and some chipsets. Trying going into the driver and setting the power saving mode to off. This will keep your signal high all the time.

Hope this helps.

DSL uses a regular phone line.

Which brings up something I read about the other day, Linksys is making noise filters for these phone lines to help maintain a better connection. The Linksys BA2LF ADSL in line phone filter. Plugs directly into the phone socket.

I have a 2wire router/modem setup in bridge mode so that my Xincom dual wan router can make the DSL connection and I frequently have this password error issue. As mentioned the problem is solved by power cycling the DSL modem.

This issue has nothing to do with your Thinkpad. When this problem is actively occurring even our desktop can not get the router to establish the DSL connection until I reboot the DSL modem. Usually the problem doesn't occur for a while (a few days at least) after rebooting the DSL modem. If it continues I will probably follow up with SBC at some point.

for those that are interested in tweaking your connection check out

http://www.cablenut.com/

There was also a good article about this in Smart Computing magazine. Their web site www.Smartcomputing.com

Kyocera wrote:I may get slammed for this but as a matter of practical troubleshooting if you are using access connections try not using it. I never use access connections on any of my machines and never have anywhere near the connectivity issues i've seen on this forum.

I certainly wouldn't slam you - I found the recent version of Access Connections added at least 20-30 seconds to my boot time, plus caused connectivity issues, so I got rid of it and reverted back to letting Windows manage my connection. No probs after that!