Help! DSL modem is dead

Newbie wrote:
If you are adept at testing all parameters...

I think the first test is to disconnect the modem from the computer,
power off the modem, power it on, and see if it will sync in a minute or
two.

I am not adept at all but during the last few weeks, as my connection
was getting weaker and weaker, I learned all these steps. For a while
it did work. But now nothing works: rebooting the modem, disconnecting
and reconnecting, rebooting the computer, some combination of these.
Only lights go on and off forever.

The diagnosis that modem is dead was by AT's tech, although they never
came here.

Dial up does work, thank God I have an older computer so it does have
an internal dialup modem. That's what I am using right now but this is
extremely unpopular with family as it ties up the phone, one reason why
got the dsl in the first place.

Your problem interests me because I'm not very adept either. I need to
find out Bellsouth's dialup numbers in case I, too, have DSL trouble.

Here's one ISP's guide for the Speedstream 5360:
http://www.calweb.com/dsl/en5360-install-guide.pdf

It says the modem runs a self-test when you turn it on.

This page says when the power light stops flickering, the 5360 has
passed its self-test:
http://www2.dslextreme.com/support/K...estionid=10346

Here's a page of advice for someone who had to replace a 5360 that was
acting flaky. He had to reset it frequently, and it could take a long
time to sync:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r187...m-5360-to-4100

Here's a report where someone switched to a 5360. It didn't work. It
took 9 hours on the phone with AT&T to learn that they needed to
reconfigure their line for that modem. So your trouble could be on
their end.
http://www.broadbandreports.com/comment/555/29360

This one says a 5360 may need a firmware patch:
http://text.dslreports.com/shownews/...w-Modems-88088

ISPs used to tell me my GV V.90 modem was faulty. Eventually I gave in
and bought a new one. It didn't help. It could be a mistake to buy a
new modem just because an ISP rep suggested it.

in article , Newbie at wrote
on 10/21/07 1:06 AM:

Forgive me if these are not the right groups but I am trying to squeeze
a post in somehow: my dsl modem is dead and I need a new one.

Problem is, without internet connection, I don't have any of my usual
tools of learning or shopping!

My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
Question: Will they give me a new one

Have you asked them? They can give you the correct answer. Others can only
guess.

or must I buy one myself?

If latter, what will be a good store to buy/order from, what is a best
value brand, and what price can I expect? (Basic ADSL for Mac; not
wireless.)

Thanks.

On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:06:07 -0400, Newbie wrote
(in article ):

Forgive me if these are not the right groups but I am trying to squeeze
a post in somehow: my dsl modem is dead and I need a new one.

Problem is, without internet connection, I don't have any of my usual
tools of learning or shopping!

My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
Question: Will they give me a new one or must I buy one myself?

If latter, what will be a good store to buy/order from, what is a best
value brand, and what price can I expect? (Basic ADSL for Mac; not
wireless.)

Thanks.

You might want to look at this
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/22/zen_ar7_infineon_bt_fault/. It
seems that a lot of DSL modems have a chip problem.

--
email to oshea dot j dot j at gmail dot com.

I appreciate all the replies posted in the thread, I have read them all
very carefully. So much info, all appreciated.

As I said my 5 year old Speedstream 5360 has been dropping conenction
for several weeks. Over the weekend I couldn't regain connection
whatever I did, rebooting the modem, computer, connect/disconnect.

Talked to ATT techs and they said modem seems dead.

Monday morning I called business office to ask for a new modem. They
pass me back to tech (turns out the guys I talked to had advised me
"informally" but made no record of this diagnosis and my trouble ticket
was still alive). They ran some more line test. Said there might be
some cause of concern, so another 24 hours until they check it out.

So, could be line, could be modem, or both.

In the meantime, I tried turning the modem on and this time it
connected. OK, dropped a few times at first but has been stable for
about 4 hours.

I am wondering if I should change the modem anyway, no matter what the
line test shows? Of course, I might have to pay for it if they don't
officially find the modem to be the culprit. (It is so much easier to
buy a new modem on the net, especially eBay, while the old one is still
functioning!)

Inadvertently I posted the above article under my name. The original
handle (Newbie) had emphasized my lack of knowledge about the subject.

Just wanted to avoid any confusion and clarify that I am the same
person.

"RPSinha" wrote in message
...
I appreciate all the replies posted in the thread, I have read them all
very carefully. So much info, all appreciated.

As I said my 5 year old Speedstream 5360 has been dropping conenction
for several weeks. Over the weekend I couldn't regain connection
whatever I did, rebooting the modem, computer, connect/disconnect.

Talked to ATT techs and they said modem seems dead.

Monday morning I called business office to ask for a new modem. They
pass me back to tech (turns out the guys I talked to had advised me
"informally" but made no record of this diagnosis and my trouble ticket
was still alive). They ran some more line test. Said there might be
some cause of concern, so another 24 hours until they check it out.

So, could be line, could be modem, or both.

In the meantime, I tried turning the modem on and this time it
connected. OK, dropped a few times at first but has been stable for
about 4 hours.

I am wondering if I should change the modem anyway, no matter what the
line test shows? Of course, I might have to pay for it if they don't
officially find the modem to be the culprit. (It is so much easier to
buy a new modem on the net, especially eBay, while the old one is still
functioning!)

I would replace it if you can. I had a 5360 finally fail on me after
sporadic issues like the above.

Greg
--
Strangeness in the low desert: http://lodesertprotosites.org
Ticketmaster and Ticketweb suck, but everyone knows that:
http://ticketmastersucks.org
Dethink to survive - Mclusky

G.T. wrote:

I would replace it if you can. I had a 5360 finally fail on me after
sporadic issues like the above.

What did you replace it by? ATT is using Siemens Speedstream 4100(?) as
standard dsl modem. Some post suggested they are going to move to
Motorola Netopia 2210 (?) but at least ATT online store has no mention
of it.

Just an update, with all due appreciation to everyone who helped, but
yes one new question too...

So here is what happened. I had enough hints (including from att techs)
that my Speedstream 5360 modem may be dying, but officially they are
doing a line check so can't give me a modem (would have been Siemens
Speedstream 4100)....In the meantime I happen to run into a geeky
colleague who offered me his 2Wire 2701-HG because he is getting into
more complicated stuff! This modem has a router and firewall built in,
maybe that's good but I don't know how to use them.

It wasn't exactly plug and play. ATT techs helped me set it up. It is
up and running and so far functioning beautifully! Good speed and
stable.

There is just one problem...and please give me your thoughts and
guidance as you see fit because I don't know enough to ask the righ
questions...

The 5360 used to work with something called PPPoE. I had an icon in the
toolbar that showed if we were connected or not. From the drop down
menu I could ask to connect/disconnect.

With the 2wire, I had to uncheck PPPoE. Instead I had to select DHCP in
"TCP/IP" pane. Whatever all those letters mean. Of course, the PPoE
icon is useless. The Internet Connect window doesn't even show
Ethernet!

So the connection is there and works, but I miss the information I had,
and control in connecting/disconnecting, which I did as safety feature
if I wasn't planning to use internet for a while.

The tech said it is not a good idea to disconnect the modem, just leave
it on forever. But that way I feel anxious about security. By
disconnecting and then connecting, the IP address changed, which people
had told me contributed to security.

Anyway, please help me understand what is going on, if I should worry,
if I should do something differently.

(Maybe part of the problem is that I don't have the manual for the
2wire 2701-hg, perhaps misplaced by my friend...)

Thanks.

Newbie wrote:
With the 2wire, I had to uncheck PPPoE. Instead I had to select DHCP
in "TCP/IP" pane. Whatever all those letters mean. Of course, the
PPoE icon is useless. The Internet Connect window doesn't even show
Ethernet!

PPPoE = Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet, common for DSL
connections. Basically hooks up your modem to the ISP's network.

TCP/IP = Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The protocol
for the Internet, worldwide. An IP # looks like this xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx,
where xxx may be any number between 0 and 255.

DHCP = Dynamic Host Control Protol, will run on a local/remote server
assigning you an IP # without having you fiddle with it. Also sets your
DNS (domain name system) server, the server that translates the name you
enter [i.e. www.igler.at] into what the system needs [213.235.199.66].

Guessing from what you /seem/ to know, you wouldn't want to bother any
forther, inasmuch as it seems to work now.

So the connection is there and works, but I miss the information I
had, and control in connecting/disconnecting, which I did as safety
feature if I wasn't planning to use internet for a while.

The tech said it is not a good idea to disconnect the modem, just
leave it on forever.
The tech is right. Leave it alone.

But that way I feel anxious about security.
Welcome to The Real World.

By disconnecting and then connecting, the IP address changed, which
people had told me contributed to security.
Not necessarily. Depends. More often than not, you get the same ip
adress again. Don't worry.

Anyway, please help me understand what is going on, if I should
worry, if I should do something differently.
Basically, you shouldn't worry.

(Maybe part of the problem is that I don't have the manual for the
2wire 2701-hg, perhaps misplaced by my friend...)
Search for one on the web. For starters, try this site
http://www.qwest.com/internethelp/mo...701/index.html

A computer is about as complicated as a car. Dou you know exactly how to
replace a camshaft bearing on your engine? But you still know how to
drive, right? For the rest, you have a mechanic. Same with your PC.

André
--
pm to (my first name) at (my last name) dot at
www.igler.at

André Igler wrote:

PPPoE = Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet, common for DSL
connections. Basically hooks up your modem to the ISP's network.

Fair enough but why did this work with 5360 and not with 2701-HG?

DHCP = Dynamic Host Control Protol, will run on a local/remote server
assigning you an IP # without having you fiddle with it. Also sets your
DNS (domain name system) server,

But wasn't the same happening with the 5360 and PPPoE?

Guessing from what you /seem/ to know, you wouldn't want to bother any
forther, inasmuch as it seems to work now.

You may have a point there, but I'd like to get some idea.