Losing DSL Sync

[Gulp]

I realize this is not an AHII issue, but I'm looking for ideas.  I lose DSL sync pretty often lately.  From about 10:00AM - 9:00pm it can get really bad.  It may stay connected for a couple hours or it may disco as soon as it resyncs over and over for 3-4 hours, or anything in between.  Weekend days it's worse.  After around 9:00pm, it's solid every day for hours.  After 3 or 4 sorties where you disco just as you reach the fight, it is pretty dang annoying.

I've been on the phone with Earthlink in Techsupportistan about every other day.  They are nice and sorta helpful but hard to understand. They sent the phone guy out who checked the outside line and said it was fine.  

So I figure that leaves internal wiring, electronic interference from something in my house, or ???

Wiring: why would it be bad during the day (heat? nope snow vs sunny make no difference) and good after 9:00pm?

Electronic interference: Maybe, but I have unplugged the regular phone, changed line filters, and went through the whole house to see if there is anything that runs during the day but not at night.  I've even cranked  everything I can find on at night to see if I can make it lose sync - nope.

My theory is that it's the DSL signal and it tested fine but if he could be here when it's discoing every 2 minutes it would not test fine outside the house.  After 9:00pm traffic is very low on the phone systems, so it might explain it being solid.

Any ideas?  My options are switching to cable (yuck, they have their own issues) or wireless which I don't know much about but my neighbor has good luck with it (not a gamer).

[Skuzzy]

Are you sure the filter is installed between your DSL modem and the wall outlet?  Simple thing, but makes a pretty good difference.

[Max]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Are you sure the filter is installed between your DSL modem and the wall outlet?  Simple thing, but makes a pretty good difference.

What is this filter you speak of, Oh Wise One? I'm aware of filters between the phones and the wall jacks but not any filters between the DSL modem and an electrical source.

[Skuzzy]

Some DSL modes do not have a built-in filter as there are several types of DSL signals today and different filters are needed for each.  Your phone company can tell you if the modem needs an external filter.

These filters act like splitters.  One for the modem, one for the phone.

[Gulp]

Yep, one at the jack by the PC, one downstairs for the phone.  Replaced them both and tried running w/o them per Earthlink.    No difference.

Hmmm

[Skuzzy]

Maybe the modem is dieing.

[Wayout]

Has it always done this or did it run fine then recently start acting up?  Do you live where it's warm and humid during the day and cooler and dryer at night? Do you have any idea how far it is to the telco centeral office?  Have you considered that maybe you have a defective router.

Things to try.

 Where is the router located?  It should be as far away from the computer and monitor as possible.  

 Shut down the computer and powered down the router.  Power should be off the router for no less than 2 minutes, 5 minuter is better.  Turn on the router and wait for sync before turning on the computer.  If it's a problem with the router talking to the centeral office equipment this should help.

 If possible plug the router directly to the telephone interface at the back/side of the house and see if it holds sync.  Make sure the router is the only thing connected, disconnect all other lines going into the house. If it holds sync then the problem is in the house, if not the problem is outside.

 Are you located near any business' that might have a T1 line?  A T1 line will, under certain conditions, interfer with a DSL signal.  (the 10am to 9pm window almost sounds like business hours but the weekends are worse doesn't add up)

 I've found that 90% of the time that a DSL has trouble making or holding a sync it's because of electrical field induction.  Telco cables have to be properly bonded and grounded to prevent this.  Inside the house your router should have it's own cable run directly from the interface and when you install the cable try to stay as far away from any electrical source as possible (fluorescent lights are the worse).  Use a shielded cable if possible and ground the shield at both ends (sometimes not possible so make sure it is grounded at the interface).

 See if any of these make any difference.  If you can go from resyncing 10 times a day to only once or twice then you'll know you've started to solve the problem and you'll have an idea what to do next.

[REP0MAN]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Maybe the modem is dieing.

This is my first concern. I would upgrade your modem to a new one and see if that makes a difference.

Another thing I can think of is distance to the telco central office and the population of the areas around you. Seems the connection is falling out during peak usage times. I can't see where electrical interference plays much into the problem as most homes built within the last 40 years use lines designed to prevent such interference. However, that doesn't mean there could be a short in the lines of your house caused by an animal chew, poor installation or incompetent telephone repair person. It happens.

I would start with a new modem and then investigate a distance problem. When you do get online, try to run some ping plots to various websites and game servers to see if you are also dealing with a packet-loss issue. That could tell you if the problem is in your telco's service lines somewhere.

Oh yeah, switch to cable.