Frequent disconnecting. Need to find the source.

So for months now I've been disconnecting at least 10 times per day, sometimes for hours at a time. I have my cable split with a 2-way splitter between my cable box and my cable modem. When I disconnect, all the lights on the modem go off, then they start lighting up, but stop with only at only 2 lights (Power and Receive) It seems like I get my connection back if I mess around with the cable plugins on the splitter. It also may be my freakishly unnecessarily long cable cord. Don't know if I need a new cord, a new splitter, a new modem, or one of those amplifier things. If I need an amplifier, post a link to where I can get one, not having much luck finding many.

 

Have you talked to your provider? I'm certain they would have a suggestion on how things should be configured.

Have you removed the splitter and connected the cable to the modem, and then tested for disconnects? If you have no disconnects with the splitter removed, the splitter is the problem.

 

Tech support just takes me through the steps to reset my modem every time I call them. T.T I don't have a wall outlet for cable, I just have a cable cord sticking out of my wall, and it's really short. My modem is on the other side of the room, and I don't have an extension adapter, so I can't reach the cable to my modem without using a splitter. I could go ahead and buy the extension adapter before trying anything else, but I don't have a car, and my parents don't go to electronics stores much, so it would be best to be able to get what I need the first time.

 

Move the modem to the wall (even if it means moving your computer, too), remove the splitter and connect directly to the modem. Test for disconnects.

 

Can't move the modem or computer, crazy wiring situation. I tried another splitter (3-way), and I still disconnected, so I don't think it's the splitter..

 

In order to eliminate the splitter as the cause, you need to remove the splitter and connect the modem to the cable outlet. I can't imagine any wiring situation that would prevent moving the computer closer to the modem, unless you only have one outlet in the room and no extension cords. Besides, since this is the Notebook Review forum, it should be easy to move your notebook, right?

Have you cleaned the modem? Are the vents clogged with dirt and dust? Have you done a hard reset on the modem (or unplugged it for about an hour)? Have you observed the modem with the computer off, to see if the modem loses connection with the ISP? Has this always been a problem? If not, exactly when did the problem start - after moving equipment, a storm, etc?

 

Actually, it's a desktop. <.< DesktopReview.com isn't as active at Notebook Review, and I didn't really think it would make any difference posting this here. I don't see any dust in the modem vents. I've done a hard reset, and that didn't fix the problem. The modem's only around a year old, and I don't remember when this wasn't a problem, but I'm not sure it's always been this way. It's just been a long time. Is there anything that could be interfering with the cable signal or something?

 

How long is the "freakishly unnecessarily long" cable? I doubt if the splitter is the source of your troubles, particularly since you've tried several; it's more likely that either (i) your cable is so long that the signal is not really strong enough and the modem loses contact with the computer, which could cause it to reset, (ii) the modem itself is having troubles, or (iii) there's a problem with your NIC (the ethernet card you're plugging into).

Ethernet cable really cannot go for very long distances before it loses too much of the signal. At this point your best bet would be to get a long length of coaxial wire, and run that from the splitter to the modem, which should be placed near your computer, and then a short length of ethernet cable used to connect the modem to your ethernet card.

Alternatively, you could leave the modem where it is, use a short bit of ethernet cable to plug it into a wireless router, and then install a wireless card in the computer so that you can bridge the distance using wireless instead of ethernet cable.

Also, make sure you've got ethernet cable that's cat5e or cat6 - the best you can lay your hands on, because if you're using cheap or low-grade cable, that in and of itself could be the source of the problem; in other words, a long length of cat6 might be able to go the distance, while an equal length of cheapo cat5e might not.

 

On cable setups your only allowed 3 spiters max before it reaches the modem. After that the signal degrades to the point of unstability, where your at now. Also on splitters, if you do not use all the ports you must use a terminating resister on the unused connections to get the proper impedence. Every splitter has a 3-7 loss, and are tuned for freq. I would connect the modem at wall and use a long cat5e cable. Other wise I would also call the cable company and tell them you are not getting a signal to the modem from the wall. They need to come out and put a meter on the line to locate where the power loss is.

 

I believe the OP has a standard coax splitter, with coax going to the modem. I haven't seen a coax to ethernet splitter.

I disagree with your ethernet signal statement. Ethernet cable can go for a very long distance with little signal loss. I have Cisco managed switches at work, with runs of up to 250 feet from the switch to the various LAN jacks, plus up to 15 feet from each jack to the an actual computer or network component, and have no signal issues.

As blue stated, multiple splitters cause signal loss. I don't think replacing your switch with an amplified splitter would have much effect. Do as blue suggested, and ask the cable company to come out and test the line.

 

Which is why I had asked what the OP meant by "freakishly long" cable - if he's got more cable than that, and he's using cheap cable, he's going to have signal loss just on the ethernet cable.

I had no doubt that the splitter in question split the cable coax, with one part going to the TV box, and the other to the cable modem, so I don't have any idea why the idea of a coax to ethernet splitter came up. I believe the concept was to run a longer bit of coax between the splitter and the modem, so the modem could be placed closer to the computer in question. If one's trying to wire distance, it seems to be that it'd be better to run that distance using cable coax than standard ethernet cable.

 

Re: coax to ethernet splitter - The way I read your original post, I wrongly interpreted your ethernet cable paragraph.

Cable is cable. Copper coax doesn't hold signal any better than copper ethernet. The location of the modem does not matter, since good quality coax and ethernet will perform equally well. I have over 60 separate CAT-5e lines run all over my office building, with many of them over 200 feet long, over the top of power lines, phone lines, and near florescent light fixtures. I have no signal problems.

Connecting the coax from the wall to the modem, eliminating the splitter, will let the OP know if his splitter is contributing to the problem. If the drops stop, the splitter is the issue. If they don't, the cable company has some work to do.