OT, but HELP! Computer Techies! I am Desperate.

[elemusing]

I was just about to post that I found the addressing strange. I am a big fan of using OpenDNS and there instructions there on how to manually set the DNS for your computer instead of getting it through DHCP (Yeah, I know, we love our acronyms).

For those of you unaware you can set up a free OpenDNS account and do parental filtering. Of course that takes away the fun of updating the firmware on your router to run more advanced software but how much fun can one person really have in a lifetime?

LOL!!!!!

 

[WaltD4Me]

Sigh......still having issues. I called AT&T this morning and they are coming Monday to do line tests. They didn't want to, but I told them we would just switch to cable DSL service if they didn't want to send out a service guy.

I noticed on the modem that the Activity light goes out. When trying to bring up a webpage when it gets "stuck" the light just completely goes out, then it might blink very very slowly. I was able to get on okay a couple times and when that happened the Activity light was blinking rapidly. I'm guessing, hoping this must indicate a problem with the connections. Any thoughts though? The Activity light is the only one that goes out, all the other lights are solid green.

I'm pretty confident now that there isn't anything wrong with the computer or it's settings.

Again, I thank you ALL so much for you help and advice. If it turns out to be an AT&T connection problem, I'll let you know!

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

You never did say what brand modem it was, but given your location, and the mention of an 'activity' light, it sounds like you have the Speedstream 5100 modem that SBC/Ameritech used prior to becoming AT&T.

The unlit activity light only means the comp and modem are not currently transmitting or receiving data. Since the other lights are green, it still can be several things:

• your computer or NIC card
• bad or improperly plugged in DSL line filters in the house.
• defective modem or power supply
• line quality issues, or
• corrupted user account on ATT's access server.

Before the tech arrives, visit all of the wall jacks in your house. Ensure no one plugged a phone directly into the jack with no filter. You can also unplug all the phones in the house, and see if the surf problem clears. This will isolate a defective filter. Ensure the modem is plugged into the proper side (DSL/HPNA) side of its filter.

When the tech comes by, in addition to checking the line, ensure he plugs in his workstation (essentially a Panasonic Toughbook laptop) into your modem and attempt to surf. This will verify or eliminate your comp as the source of the problems.

Unless you are paying monthly for your modem, they may try to bill you for a replacement if yours is out of warranty. Just a word of caution.

 

[WaltD4Me]

You never did say what brand modem it was, but given your location, and the mention of an 'activity' light, it sounds like you have the Speedstream 5100 modem that SBC/Ameritech used prior to becoming AT&T.

The unlit activity light only means the comp and modem are not currently transmitting or receiving data. Since the other lights are green, it still can be several things:

• your computer or NIC card
• bad or improperly plugged in DSL line filters in the house.
• defective modem or power supply
• line quality issues, or
• corrupted user account on ATT's access server.

Before the tech arrives, visit all of the wall jacks in your house. Ensure no one plugged a phone directly into the jack with no filter. You can also unplug all the phones in the house, and see if the surf problem clears. This will isolate a defective filter. Ensure the modem is plugged into the proper side (DSL/HPNA) side of its filter.

When the tech comes by, in addition to checking the line, ensure he plugs in his workstation (essentially a Panasonic Toughbook laptop) into your modem and attempt to surf. This will verify or eliminate your comp as the source of the problems.

Unless you are paying monthly for your modem, they may try to bill you for a replacement if yours is out of warranty. Just a word of caution.

Yes, I'm sorry, you are right is it a Speedstream modem, but a 4100, not 5100
I did check all the checks and filters ect....everything is connected correctly as far as I could tell. I also unplugged everything (radio, fax, lamp) including the phone in the room the computer is in and that didn't help, but I didn't unplug all the phones in the whole house though.

Yesterday my mom and dad stopped by an AT&T store, told the salesguy their problem and he told them their modem is bad. He sold them a new one for $75 dollars...I don't know what kind it is, when my modem died a couple months ago I got a new one at the same store for $50. Anyway, I will be going over there today after work to hook up the new modem and see what happens. It will be going back if it doesn't solve the problem.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Yesterday my mom and dad stopped by an AT&T store, told the salesguy their problem and he told them their modem is bad. He sold them a new one for $75 dollars...I don't know what kind it is, when my modem died a couple months ago I got a new one at the same store for $50. Anyway, I will be going over there today after work to hook up the new modem and see what happens. It will be going back if it doesn't solve the problem.

Hopefully they got a 2Wire 2701, since it has a wireless router built-in. It's a good, reliable modem.

Let us know how it works out for you.