Bobinovich
07-Nov-09, 14:56
Just thought I'd share this. During the last week I've had to examine two systems both experiencing intermittent Internet problems, though strangely not with all websites.
One ISP was Virgin (through a 3COM router), the other was AOL (through a Speedtouch router), and when I took them from their owners to my own workshop they miraculously worked on all websites thrown at them (and using multiple browsers where installed). When taken back to their owners the intermittent problems were there once again, despite resetting routers & replacing ADSL filters. This indicates to me that the PCs themselves were fine, and it was their respective Internet connections which were the problem. Both customers were advised to call their ISP with the details of what work had been carried out.
I've also had numerous calls having very similar problems and, it must be said, they were mostly from AOL customers, as well as having read many posters on the Org reporting it too. Although without seeing them all I cannot generalise, but the coincidence of so many experiencing this phenomenon leads me to believe there is something wrong somewhere.
Unfortunately I cannot explain why this is happening, just that before you go spending money on getting your PCs checked out, consider it may be something other than the computer itself. It seems strange that BT (as an ISP) doesn't appear to be AS affected - it only seems to be 3rd party ISPs using our local BT lines.
Sorry I can't give a 'one-for-all' solution - if you can test your system on another connection and it works fine then the chances are it's your connection that's at fault, in which case complain to your ISP (don't take any rubbish about it must be your PC - you've tested it on another connection and it's fine!) - once they've checked their system and, if they find nothing, they should notify BT - the more who report it the better the chance of BT looking into it if it is a widespread fault.
One ISP was Virgin (through a 3COM router), the other was AOL (through a Speedtouch router), and when I took them from their owners to my own workshop they miraculously worked on all websites thrown at them (and using multiple browsers where installed). When taken back to their owners the intermittent problems were there once again, despite resetting routers & replacing ADSL filters. This indicates to me that the PCs themselves were fine, and it was their respective Internet connections which were the problem. Both customers were advised to call their ISP with the details of what work had been carried out.
I've also had numerous calls having very similar problems and, it must be said, they were mostly from AOL customers, as well as having read many posters on the Org reporting it too. Although without seeing them all I cannot generalise, but the coincidence of so many experiencing this phenomenon leads me to believe there is something wrong somewhere.
Unfortunately I cannot explain why this is happening, just that before you go spending money on getting your PCs checked out, consider it may be something other than the computer itself. It seems strange that BT (as an ISP) doesn't appear to be AS affected - it only seems to be 3rd party ISPs using our local BT lines.
Sorry I can't give a 'one-for-all' solution - if you can test your system on another connection and it works fine then the chances are it's your connection that's at fault, in which case complain to your ISP (don't take any rubbish about it must be your PC - you've tested it on another connection and it's fine!) - once they've checked their system and, if they find nothing, they should notify BT - the more who report it the better the chance of BT looking into it if it is a widespread fault.