Anyone run into this ISP problem before?

[monty1945]

I'm trying to help a relative with XP pro. He recently switched to
cable from DSL, and he's getting disconnected a lot, whereas he never
used to. His computer also "freezes up" for a few seconds if he has a
couple of programs running at the same time, whereas he used to be
able to do this with DSL. I told him it sounds like the cable modem
is using up more of his RAM. Is this likely, or is it likely to be
something else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm trying to help a relative with XP pro. He recently switched to
cable from DSL, and he's getting disconnected a lot, whereas he never
used to. His computer also "freezes up" for a few seconds if he has a
couple of programs running at the same time, whereas he used to be
able to do this with DSL. I told him it sounds like the cable modem
is using up more of his RAM. Is this likely, or is it likely to be
something else?

Not only is it not likely, it's impossible. Modems, cable or
otherwise, don't use any RAM at all.

 

[Poprivet]

Not only is it not likely, it's impossible. Modems, cable or
otherwise, don't use any RAM at all.

How about cpu time? That's more likely to cause stutters and waits, right?

Pop`

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

How about cpu time? That's more likely to cause stutters and waits, right?

The modem itself doesn't use any CPU time either.

*Applications* using the modem use both RAM and CPU time, but the
point is that, since it's presumably the same applications being run
with the cable modem as the DSL modem, neither is a factor.

 

[monty1945]

What's interesting is that he had cable modem years ago and had the
same problem with a real-time program that tracked stocks.

Is there any reason why the stutters/waits and disconnects would
occur? His wife has a Celeron M with a gig of RAM,. and he has a PII,
450 MMX with over 300 megs of RAM.

 

[Paul Randall]

I'm trying to help a relative with XP pro. He recently switched to
cable from DSL, and he's getting disconnected a lot, whereas he never
used to. His computer also "freezes up" for a few seconds if he has a
couple of programs running at the same time, whereas he used to be
able to do this with DSL. I told him it sounds like the cable modem
is using up more of his RAM. Is this likely, or is it likely to be
something else?

How is the cable modem connected to the computer? Direct USB? Direct Cat5?
Cat5 to router to computer? Was the DSL modem connected the same way to the
same computer port? I'm just throwing out possibilities that someone might
be able to comment on.

-Paul Randall

 

[monty1945]

Same wireless adapter, but different router. The DSL modem had a
built-in router. Keep in mind that his wife's computer also has a
wireless adapter, and there is no problem on that one.

 

[Bogey Man]

I'm trying to help a relative with XP pro. He recently switched to
cable from DSL, and he's getting disconnected a lot, whereas he never
used to. His computer also "freezes up" for a few seconds if he has a
couple of programs running at the same time, whereas he used to be
able to do this with DSL. I told him it sounds like the cable modem
is using up more of his RAM. Is this likely, or is it likely to be
something else?

Thanks in advance.

Try going to the Control Panel, Device Manager, Network adapters and see if
there are listings for the previous DSL set-up as well as the now Cable
set-up. There could be a conflict set-up there if there are two. If only the
Cable modem is there, right click on it and look for any reported conflicts.

If that is clear, I would suspect that there is a problem with the cable
itself. If the cable installation came with software that automatically
connects you to the ISP's home page there could be a problem with that
software installation.

Good luck.

 

[John]

I'm trying to help a relative with XP pro. He recently switched to
cable from DSL, and he's getting disconnected a lot, whereas he never
used to.

How many times has the cable been split before it gets to the
cable modem? Is the splitter bi-directional and rated to 1 GHZ?
As a test connect the cable modem directly to the incoming
cable (i.e. no splits) and see if that improves the situation.

 

[Jim]

What's interesting is that he had cable modem years ago and had the
same problem with a real-time program that tracked stocks.

Is there any reason why the stutters/waits and disconnects would
occur? His wife has a Celeron M with a gig of RAM,. and he has a PII,
450 MMX with over 300 megs of RAM.

It seems to me that his ancient P2 operating at the high speed of 450 mhz
and with a whole 300 MB of Ram (a suspicious number because it isn't a power
of 2) has trouble keeping up with the cable modem. On the other hand, the
Celeron M has a GB of Ram and works fine.
The Celeron has no trouble keeping up with the modem.

Jim