First Post - Connection Problem - Cable Light Flashing

[bluelingtong]

Hi
Two times now I've had a problem where I can't get connected to Telewest Broadband through my Webstar Cable Modem. The Cable Light on the front flashes instead of being permenantly on. BY tech support have taken me though the usual checks i.e resetting modem, checking the modem status and checking for any disruption in my area. They couldn't find anything wrong.

Anyway, both times after 12 or so hours after another reset the moden starts to work again.

Any advice about this would be useful for when (or if) it happens again.

Regards

Bluelingtong

[Paul]

I would be asking BY Tech Support what they think is the problem and what they are going to do about it.
Just to check though, what operating system are you running, are you running any firewall or using a router at all?

[bluelingtong]

Thanks Paul

I'll get in touch with tech support again. Something is happening that takes 12 or so hours to reset. For your information I am on WinXP SP2. I initially got the problem using a router with firewall. However the 2nd time it happened I was directly connected to the cable modem using only the standard XP firewall.

Kind regards

[sav112]

Hi as you said the online should be solid. As for checks just make sure the main cable in the modem the coax is securely in and finger tight, do not over tighten this cable just use your fingers.

BY support will never ask you to remove this, its out with the first line scope. They can balance the account ( basically a hit ) to the modem. If there is not a flagged outage in your area and your account in enabled and you have not been soft disconnected then it looks like a problem with the main cable to the modem.


Firewall would not affect the connectivity to the modem from ISP

If you are doing a cold re-boot make sure the pc is off then disconnect the power to the modem and leave it for a bit then reconnect and leave to settle then power up the pc. But the online light should def not be flashing.

From BY they can check the status off the modem, and power levels etc but this will have been checked.

Hope you get it fixed.

[Ignition]

I'm actually suspicious about the modem taking so long to reconnect, it sounds like the modem is losing its' downstream frequency then is cycling through the whole lot again.

They should at least have arranged someone to look at your modem considering the amount of downtime you're seeing, rather than just saying 'there's nothing wrong as far as we can see' - if they are counting the time that your modem is offline then there should be something very clearly wrong.

Give them another call and point out the huge amount of downtime you are seeing, and how long the modem is offline for when it falls offline. They should properly debug this and if required get an engineer to you.

[sav112]

It probably would be more straight forward if the light was off. Flashing does suggest its trying to lock on but failing to get the signal.

Plus it’s probably be best to phone when you are having the problem.