packets

[lward1]

Alright guys I need some help. I have been doing computer repair work on the side for a couple of years now and I can usually fix just about anything that I come accross. Fortunatly I have not had to deal with much networking and LAN'S or WAN's. I can install network cards, routers, modems, etc. and pretty much get on the internet, but I am having some trouble with my own setup and need some suggestions.

What I have is Wild Blue Satelitte internet service, can't get DSL in my area,
connected to a Linksys wireless G Router. My desk top Is a wired connection, and I have two desktops in other rooms that connect wirelessly.
I can connect most of the time but the longer we try and stay on the slower my connection gets until it stops altogether. some times if i ipconfig I can reconnect other times nothing.
I have been using this setup with no problems for about 2 years, this started about 3 weeks ago.

1. what are packets? sent and recieved? should the show equal amounts? I know I should know, but I have never really paid it much attention.
2. When I open IE it will say wetecting proxy settings usually takes 5-10 mins. for that, then webite found waiting for reply which gets about 1/2 way thru then times out. or I get ticked off waiting and close the browser.
I can open Local Area Connection Status and it shows I'm connected and speed shows 100.0 Mbps

Sorry this is so long but im about to pull my hare out on this one, Ive done what I can and need some fresh eyes to see if they can point me in the right direction.
Thanks,
Les

 

[Crgky127]

Packets are just blocks of information being sent. No they shouldn't be the same, that would be a huge coincidence. I am assuming you are seeing this after clicking a connection from network connections, if so, what is more important is that you have any received at all, and whether you have errors.

In IE try turning off the automatically detect proxy settings option.

And once you get it working download Firefox!

 

[NYJimbo]

Is it that ALL machines are having trouble or just the wireless?. If just the wireless can you tell what the quality is per machine (bars or percent). Do all the wireless machines do the same thing or just one.

Assuming that the sat dish feeds to the G-router and the desktop is wired to the g-router but the others are wireless to the g-router, are you having issues detecting the router and getting a signal or is the signal good but you are having tcp/ip issues on one or both machines ?

I might be wrong but I dont think you put in enough specific info to diagnose this better.

 

[Simmy]

I think we need a how-to section on troubleshooting wireless network as we get alot of questions about them. Perhaps we could all contribute to one and sticky it to the top of the Network section.

As for the OPs problem, please provide more info. I assume the wireless connections are working fine and it's just the wired desktop that you're having problems with? Do what Crgky127 suggested, but try firefox first. Try pinging your router and then pinging www.google.co.uk to see what response times you're getting. Is your PC set to obtain an IP and DNS settings automatically? Could the comptuer be using an out of date primary dns server?

 

[lward1]

NYJimbo- the 2 wireless computers will connect better than the wired one. the Sat. dish feeds to its modem then that connects to G-router via cat5e cable. The sat. dish runs 2 seperate coax cables, one to send one to recieve signal. It has 4 lightd on front panel 1-power stays solid, 2- sending (arrow pointing to dish) stays solid, 3-receive flashes constantly, and 4- lan (which connects to router) flashes constantly. Also on the G-router the lan light flashes constantly, I think it is supposed to be solid.
When I open Local area connections tab And I open IE and go to any website I can watch the progress bytes sent and received increase as the website is located and starts to load but 1/2 way thru loading the page they stop and the page stops loading and times out.
I will try Crgky127 suggestion tonight when I get home and also try pinging and see what happens.
Simmy, yes they are all set to obtain an IP and DNS settings automatically.
Thanks to everyone, I will let you know what happens tonight.

Les

 

[lward1]

update:
I could get online last night for about an hour then started having problems again. The first time I pinged Google I got 4 packets sent, 4 packets received, none lost, average 29ms round trip. then as my connection problems started I started loosing received packets most times only 2 but sometimes all 4 until I just gave up and called it a night. Im thinking I need to call Wild Blue to see if they can shed some light on this matter.
Thanks again for everyones input.

Les

 

[thecoldone06]

Since it was working for a long time then started having issues and it now works and then all of a sudden you have 50% + packet loss, i would definitely call your ISP. See if they are having problems or maybe something happened to the satellite dish itself. Could have moved which would cause packet loss. I have worked with satellite internet once and he was getting around 75% packet loss. I told him to call his ISP and they sent someone out and got it fixed. Anyway, see what they say and let us know!

 

[Phishie]

Hmm... some of these symptoms might suggest a DNS issue. Others would suggest a problem with the dish itself. Try setting your DNS to OpenDNS IPs. If that gives you no improvement, try taking the router out of the equation. Plug the ethernet cable from your modem straight into your computer and see if you get improvement. This will tell you if the problem lies with your ISP or your equipment. Unless the cable from the modem to the computer is bad, then it won't tell you anything.

If that doesn't give you any improvement, I might contact the ISP.

I wrote a basic network troubleshooting guide that will walk you through testing your ethernet controller, cables, router, default gateway, and DNS. It might help. You can check it out here.

 

[Checkmate]

Unfortunately it sounds like your standard Satellite connection. They have regulations on the amount of bandwith that is allowed per customer. I have a client that has Hughes Net ( similar to Wild Blue), they get placed on "restricted" usage all the time for going over their "alloted" bandwith.

If it's only happening sometimes and after periods of being online, then I would contact Wild Blue and ask them if they have a similar situation.

 

[NYJimbo]

Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't most sat internet connections just DOWNLINK, your outbound is via some terrestrial circuit (POTS copper) ?. I can't imagine you are doing an uplink to the satellite. But maybe I am wrong.

If I am right then you have ALOT of variables at play here and either we need more info or you need to break it ALL down, component by component.

 

[lward1]

Checkmate, Im at 72% of my allotted bandwidth, usually I dont get the restrictions until I get to areoun 80% or higher. Last night I bypassed the router and connected, or tryed to anyways, directly to the Wild Blue modem. Nothing wouldnt connect, couldnt ping, nothing.I tried 3 different cat 5 cables incase the first on had a problem, still nothing. Thaks to every one for their help, Im calling Wild Blue today to see What they have to say.

Les

 

[lward1]

Still having connection problems, but I did speak to Wild Blue, what a joke. I'm down to 68% of my allotted bandwidth, and still nothing. They are supposed to have someone come out and look at my dish as I may have a problem with alignment or TRIA or something along those lines. I'll keep youall posted, and thanks again for eveyones input and help.

Les