Insight on Internet connection issue?

[simplechamp]

Originally Posted by BrianG

Before you go smashing things, I have a couple questions:

1) Is this wired or wireless? If wireless, how is the signal strength? If low, it will affect your bandwidth. If wired, try another cable. If the cable is old/used the NIC could be thottling back the speed to compensate for collisions.

2) Are you using a router? If so, try connecting directly to the modem.

I have replicated the problem with just about every combination I have: Mac or PC, desktop or laptop, wired or wireless, through router or direct to modem.

Originally Posted by kraegar

Just to check - you haven't run any new electrical cable (new wall outlets, new lights, whatever) lately, or installed any new flourescent bulbs in /on/near where the cable that goes to your DSL modem runs, have you?

I've seen a couple times where people have installed a new electrical outlet, and it's caused interference that resulted in issues like you're describing. (If you do have to cross an electrical cable, do it at right angles. Never run a data line parallel to an electrical cable unless it's very shielded)

It is a cable modem, not DSL, but we did switch recently from an old 20" tube TV to a 42" LCD. The thing is the setup was installed for about a week before the problem started to occur. Might be something to look into though.

[kraegar]

Shouldn't be a problem, unless you ran the electric cord parallel to it. And cable has better shielding, too. (though still not great)