kimw
join:2008-12-21
Brooklyn, NY
| The Continuing Saga of the New DSL
So.
I got DSL a month and a half ago, and it's always been a little hinky.
It seemed to take a little while to get going when I installed it -- I had a friend help me set it up, and he was on the phone with the Install support, who told them my cordless phone itself may be causing a conflict. But then it started working, and that was fine. However, my DSL would disconnect whenever I used the phone.
Then a couple weeks ago, the connection deteriorated steadily -- I'd have to disconnect and reconnect the power cord three times just to get an Internet signal -- and then about a week ago, it stopped working entirely.
I called a phone tech out to check the line, and he confirmed that the line was fine (he could hear my DSL on the phone line). He advised me to call AT&T DSL and speak with them, but I've never been able to get anyone on the phone.
But this morning, I simply tried switching the filter you put on your phone line before you plug it into the router -- and now it works. ...Sort of. My LAN light is blinking, and ocasionally my connection drops.
So here's my setup.
* There is one single phone jack in this apartment that works. The DSL cord is connected to that jack.
* The other end of the DSL cord is connected to a BritePort modem.
* I have a GE cordless phone that is 4 years old connected to a filter, and that filter is also connected to the BritePort unit. The phone tech confirmed that even though this unit is old, it is not causing the problems -- we removed the phone from the system entirely and still tried to connect, but there was no joy there.
* I also have a Netgear Wireless router, and for a while my Ethernet cable was connected to that instead of my computer. I need to have a Wireless router becuase my roommate also uses this connection.
* Today, when things suddenly started working again, I tried connecting the Ethernet cable to my computer at first, and disconnecting the wireless router. It worked fine. I then reconnected my ethernet to the wireless router, and it worked for a while -- but then the LAN light on my briteport started blinking, and the connection dropped. I reconnected the ethernet directly to the computer, and after a few minutes, it started working again.
So.
* How can I get a steady connection on my wireless router? AM I able to use a wireless router on this damn thing?
* Is this system fixed REALLY?
* Is the fact that the LAN light is blinking an indication of a problem?
Please advise, and fair warning that while I can follow basic directions, I don't really know much about programming - you don't have to dumb it down to the point that I'm six, but maybe pretend I'm....twelve. (I may not know what a particular thing is, but if you describe where to find it, I'll be able to follow instructions.)
Help.
Kim W. |
