SB4200 Surfboard Cable Modem keeps dropping me.

[Odium]

Hey this is my first time posting on this board, stumbled across it via google.com Anyways, my problem is with my Motorola SB4200 Surfboard Cable Modem. At random times, nothing will work online. Even when I'm in the middle of downloading something, everything will drop, and I get a windows error telling me unable to validate or new ip, something close to that. I am using Windows Server 2003 which I converted into a workstation. I am also using Black Ice Server Protection as my firewall. I called Adelphia's tech line, but of course, I got a hold of another ignorant fellow that just read from a book. I believe it is some problem with renewing the ip lease or something, because if I totally unhook my modem, and hook it back up, a minute later everything works fine, until not too long after, it suddenly stops working, but the activity light, online, send, receive, and power lights are on like normal. Could someone please explain what could be causing it, and a method of fixing it? I didn't have this problem on xp personal, until my grand parents bought me Windows 2003, after installing it I followed some site that told me how to convert it into a workstation. The site is reliable though, and I followed it step by step, so that couldn't cause it. Maybe some settings are wrong in the os? Or maybe my firewall is some how causing this nasty problem? It's not the built in firewall either because that's crap, I don't even use it. It happens even when my black ice firewall is turned off though :( I also don't have any viruses or spyware. Weird thing is Adelphia told me everything looks fine on their end,so what could be causing this? Also, I already know about the ipconfig /renew or whatever, I used it before, but still, I don't want to constantly have to renew it MANUALLY, all because my modem decides it wants to act like a dial up modem. The speed is normal too, I don't recognize any speed difference either. So please, help me out if you can... I read on the board you guys like to solve mysteries haha, well hopefully you'll solve this one! :)

ps: It's sooo annoying when I leave downloads on, and come back a few hours later just to see it dropped me 10 minutes after going AFK. >>>Connected directly, not using a router.<<<

[Shyguy]

Oh, your using a router, check your router settings, & make sure Renew IP forever, or something similar is checked, maybe thats the problem. I was gonna ask if you have Obtain IP Automatically set in windows, but I'm guessing you do. I had a similar problem back several months ago when I got all my PC's networked together, & there was a setting in the router I had to select, but can't remember if that was the one or not (Renew IP Forever). Maybe it was the other option I mentioned in Windows, can't remember, but both are worth a try. I'm still kind of new to all this networking stuff myself, only started to get into it in the last 9 months.

[Odium]

Nah I'm NOT connected to a router, I have the cable modem connected directly into my pc, and into the wall. Sorry for the confusion :D

[Odium]

Yeah it can get confusing sometimes eh? I rarely ever have any computer problems I can't fix by myself, but this is one that's really stumping me. Because theoretically, everything should be working fine :( but it's not lol.

[Shyguy]

I know how that feels, & it really sucks when you do all that searching & scratching your head only to find it was a rather simple solution.

last week I couldn't get web access on either of my machines in my room, but my PC in my brothers room had access just fine, I did everything I could think of, renewed IP of router, released & renewed IP's of the PC's all kinds of stuff, checked to make sure network cables were all connected, yep no probs there, couldn't figure it out cause my PC's (ones in my room) had access to the router & each other but no outside access, then I started to trace all the cables under my brothers desk, to see where they went, & sure enough the cable modems wire went straight into the PC in my brothers room, which explained everything, why I could access the router from the other two PC's yet not get outside access, & yet be able to access the web just fine from "his" PC, he must have been DL MP3's off of WinMX again, he does that once in a while, for some reason the router won't let him do it through it, so he makes a direct connection.

& earlier that week I had to go over to my other brother's house & get his cable connection up again, went through just about everything, was just about ready to reinstall his cable modem & software & everything, then tried one last thing, WINIPCFG, BOOM, in a matter of seconds had his connection up & running like new, I spent 2 & 1/2 hours toying with his PC, checking for spyware & adware, & viruses & all sorts of things, only to find he just needed to renew his IP. Oh well at least I got to spend some time with my nieces afterwards, & actually have a real conversation with my sister-in-law, Ive known her for 4 years & theyve been married for one & this wsa the first time I sat down & actually had a regular conversation with her, so teh whole trip wasn't a total waste of time.

Sorry, sometimes i have a habit of rambling on!!! LOL

[Roadkill]

I use the Motorola SB4100 Surfboard Cable Modem, and had the same problem. Dropping the internet connection 3-4 times a day. I complained to my ISP, they replaced it and I rarely lose connection now. Instead, about once a month, the speed slows down to a crawl, so slow I can't even get a speed reading from DSL Reports.com. I have to unplug the modem for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and the speed goes back to normal. So I would say your problem is probably the modem.

[Odium]

Yeah that happens to me sometime, like the time I thought my old sega cd was broken...and the only thing wrong was two wires were mixed up lol. Haha yeah I ramble a lot too, nothings wrong with that. Hmm the thing is though, I just talked to my friend David, who is on the same cable line as myself (lives not too far away from me), and he's suffering from the same problems. You know what adelphia told him? Whenever it happens, just unplug and replug... argh if they told me that I'd go nuts on em lol. I pay for 24/7 service, which consists of me downloading 24/7 from 7 different file sharing services. I've been doing that for the past 3 months lol. Now I'm angry because I can no longer do that, because I'm disconnected every 10 minutes or less. How convient for Adelphia... the man who drains the most bandwith probably lol...how odd, his cable starts to disconnect and cause him problems. I think they're just trying to get me off their service permentally lol. If it's a modem problem though, what would be the chances of me and my friend having a bad modem at the same exact time? I was going to call Adelphia again today, and demand for an answer and for them to fix it again, but I was gone all day. Monday first thing I'm gonna call em and demand them to fix it for me lol. Either that, or I'll go to some other service. Anything else you think could be causing it? It could be the modem like you said, but hmm I gotta find another cable modem and borrow it, and test it out to see if thats the problem. I still think it's not the modem though, but it could be. I just think it's Adelphia screwing over the big bad bandwith hog lol. Hmm anyone know of any programs that will automatically release and renew the ip when it gets dropped or w/e? It would come in handy so then it wouldn't affect my downloads off of KL, Warez (It's a file sharing program..heh), Lime Wire, Shareaza, Napigator, Overnet, imesh light, Emule, DC,winmx, and all the other programs I use daily lol. Maybe even a macro would do? Something that automatically goes into ms dos and types the command for release and renew or something. Thanks for your help guys.

ps: It feels so odd asking for help, usually people always bug me for help lol.

[mholtum]

I am using the exact same modem. NEVER had a problem