Subject: A cheap multimeter should do the trick.
Author:
Posted on: 2014-08-26 18:00:00 UTC
Multimeter, as the name says, can measure a lot of electrical things. Including volts.
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OT: Computer/Internet help? by
on 2014-08-26 11:41:00 UTC
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Over the weekend, my house has suffered from sudden and complete loss of internet access. Fair enough, but the details are a bit... weird.
First off, the telephone still works (and yes, it is a landline). Secondly, according to the router, we're still getting ADSL signal(?), with attenuation data and what I think are up and down speeds (which are ludicrously slow, but that's another issue entirely). We're just... not getting internet through it. In terms of the lights on the router, ADSL is green, but Internet is red.
I'm as sure as I can be that it's not an internal wiring issue - I've tested the router plugged directly into the test socket right where the cable comes into the house, with alternate wires for everything, and poked the connections besides. I'm also pretty sure it's not the router itself, having tested an alternate - but we're a tiny bit uncertain as to whether the alternate was ever set up correctly. (I have a third alternate I'll test when I get home)
So... does anyone know what might be causing this? Could the settings on the router have gotten messed up in such a way that would lead to this outcome? Since it's the router lights that show the problem, I'm guessing it can't be the computer.
This site suggests that one of the two cables from outside could be damaged, and says there should be a voltage across them - since I don't have a voltmeter, anyone know how I could check that?
(Needless to say, my provider has been no help at all - they've had me restart the router, done a useless line test, then scheduled an engineer for the 11th September. Because two weeks without internet = my idea of fun!)
hS doesn't know where else to turn -
-Rubs his stubble- by
on 2014-08-26 23:03:00 UTC
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Gaah, router problems. Had enough of those to hate 'em. Two things I can think about are:
a) The router overheats. If it's hot to the touch and/or in a cramped space, it might be the cause of your problem - more probable if the router is a few years old.
b) As you've said, the router's settings are Glauronged. I'd do two things to check that: first, ping both the router, a random website, and that website's IP via cmd. If the router pings but the others don't, the problem is probably in the router. If nothing pings the problem is in the router - it probably means it's either screwed up setting-wise or it's a physical problem. If the IP and the router ping but the site itself doesn't you probably have a DNS problem; resetting your computer's network adapter sometimes helps, but otherwise the problem is on the ISP's side and you should talk to them.
Second, you can check the router's settings directly. To do that, you need to use ipconfig to find your default gateway (which is your router's IP, basically). Once you have that, input that into any browser and you'll probably get a settings page; you also usually get a connection indicator of sorts.
Without more info about your router - namely, its model and some config info - I can't really help, and that's not exactly info you want to post on the Net. -
Does it make any difference... by
on 2014-08-27 09:12:00 UTC
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... that I've now tried three separate routers and gotten nothing through any of them?
Either way, I'll try that. Thanks.
hS -
Yes, it does. by
on 2014-08-27 11:53:00 UTC
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That means the problem isn't in the router. It's either in the computer or at the ISP's side.
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Not the computer. by
on 2014-08-27 12:24:00 UTC
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At least, I'm pretty sure it can't be the computer - neither the PC, nor the laptop, nor my phone can connect through any of the routers. The only way I can see it not being an external problem is if the PC is somehow corrupting each router when I try to connect - but that seems a bit overpowered even for Vista, particularly since at least one of the routers is password-locked.
So it's an outside problem. So I get to wait two weeks for them to send someone round to tell me that, and then wait however much longer for them to actually do something about it. Yippee.
hS -
Ho-hum. by
on 2014-08-27 13:47:00 UTC
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Yes, it's the ISP. When their techie comes, tell him what I've told you here. Also, if any of your neighbours have the same ISP, ask them if they're having Internet problems - that might give you an inkling of the problem's size.
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Well, it... randomly fixed itself? by
on 2014-08-28 09:35:00 UTC
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So we're assuming it was a problem with the hardware, and that BT came and fixed it without our ISP getting that far.
(Note on UKvian telephone networks: British Telecom was formerly a state organisation, and thus still owns most if not all of the telephone networks they laid down. They lease them to other providers. In general, ISPs aren't allowed to physically interfere with the lines - but we're not allowed to talk directly to BT about problems. It's all a bit squiff)
hS -
Maybe ypur router is broken? by
on 2014-08-26 13:40:00 UTC
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Other than that, I got nothin'.
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Hey, an ypur. by
on 2014-08-26 14:24:00 UTC
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I never thought I'd see one in the wild!
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Eheheh, whoops. (nm) by
on 2014-08-26 14:42:00 UTC
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I meant "modem" (nm) by
on 2014-08-26 14:14:00 UTC
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My understanding is... by
on 2014-08-26 14:20:00 UTC
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... that modems these days are integral to the router. So swapping the router out would also swap the modem. I think. Maybe?
hS -
Not really. by
on 2014-08-26 14:35:00 UTC
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At least not with the hardware I'm familiar with.
From my experience, the modem is a separate box that connects to the cable the ISP pipes into your home. It's either connected directly to a computer, or connected to a router. The router's job is to split that signal, giving you around 4 more wired internet connections and Wi-fi.
My own house has two "modems", one splits off signals for the house and signals for a second modem.
Yours may be a lot different, but that's how it's done in Tennessee. -
Gah. By "for the house" I meant "for phones". (nm) by
on 2014-08-26 14:36:00 UTC
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Google is telling me you can use a multimeter. by
on 2014-08-26 13:28:00 UTC
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However, what I've looked up seems to go back and forth - some seem to think it's impossible without a voltmeter, others that you just need a ammeter and ohm resistor. Most of what I'm finding is just about battery testing, but I'll let you know what I track down.
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Don't have one of those, either. by
on 2014-08-26 13:38:00 UTC
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And I suspect they're more expensive than I really want to be spending...
hS -
A cheap multimeter should do the trick. by
on 2014-08-26 18:00:00 UTC
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Multimeter, as the name says, can measure a lot of electrical things. Including volts.
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I think it's brilliant that you'd trust us with this. by
on 2014-08-26 12:18:00 UTC
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:-)
But sorry. I got nothin'.
~Kitty