Question about DSL modems

[BobT]

I normally leave our desktop running 24/7 with a task scheduled to shut down my PC once a week so it can be rebooted. I have my PC configured to go to sleep when not in use and when it does, my DSL modem also shuts down the internet connection. When the PC wakes up the DSL automatically reconnects. This has been working out quite well.

A week ago, I ran my normal monthly maintenance (spyware scans and such). To prevent my PC from going to sleep during these scans I usually change our power scheme to an always on scheme that I've configured. This time I forgot to reset the power scheme back to normal when I got done running my scans. For the past couple days I noticed that our internet connection had been getting slower and slower. We only have a 512K connection and today I ran a speed test and it came back at less than 1K.

On a whim, I decided to try and shut down the modem for a while and restart it again. My connection speed went back up to 500K and everything seems back to normal. Is this normal? Is it best to shutdown a DSL modem occasionally and reboot them so they can renegotiate the connection with the service provider or is my modem on its way out?

[Jim Almquist]

Bob

When I had DSL it was on 24x7. I would keep track of my speed because there was a couple of times things were messed up with Qwest and 1 other time the problem was at my end ( corrosion in the jack ). The first thing they would always have you do when trouble shooting was reboot the modem so it will help fix some problems. The other thing to watch out for is anything that has a phone line running into it can screw things up like your Dish or DirectTV box.

I know this did not really answer your question but if it needs to be rebooted too often it more then likely going bad. During my time with Qwest we went through 3 modems.

[upnorth]

The DSL modem (more of router) is like any other computer type device, they need to be rebooted every so often. But like Jim stated if it gets to be real frequent it is having problems and more than likely needs replacing.

One thing that happens in that ISPs change their network schemes every so often and it can change what IP address than modem/router would get. You can get to point where it is sluggish to just won't work. How often they do that? Who knows, but if you find yourself having to restart more than once or so per month I would open up trouble call with your ISP.

[BobT]

Thanks for the information. This is actually the first time I recall experiencing this with our modem in the 2-3 years we've been using it so at this time it hasn't been a recurring problem. I just wasn't sure if I was getting a warning or if this is more or less a normal situation.

[Jim Almquist]

Bob

There is a site called speakeasy were it will give you your up and download speeds. I keep a sticky with my speeds to remind me what I should be running at in case something starts acting weird I have a reference point.

[BobT]

Thanks. The site I use is Speedtest dot net. They report ping speed, upload speed, and download speed. I just ran a test to Grand Forks and another one to Winnipeg and returned

Ping = 72ms, 155ms

Download = 1.29, 1.29 Mb/s

Upload = .520, .519 Mb/s

[Jim Almquist]

Those are decent speeds for DSL. When I used Qwest mine were 1.23 down and .451 to .761 upload. Now with cable it is roughly 10 times fast on download and just a little faster on upload.

[spearchucker]

DSL doesn't always have to equate to slower. There is 9 Mb/s DSL available here.

[Jim Almquist]

I really should have said for 1.5 Mbps service. That was the best speed I could get so I switched to cable. Love the cable speeds but hate the DVR that they use. What a POS

[spearchucker]

I have since switched to cable, but not because of the internet. I switched companies to get HDTV. The company that offered the DSL service didn't provide HDTV. My cable internet is faster, but a little less reliable. My DSL was out once or twice in about 7 years that I had it.