Need Help for Internet Problem (Damn the Cold Weather)

2006-12-11 11:53:46

#1

superfly_cox: soup fly mod; +717|7237

This may sound crazy but here's my situation. When it gets cold outside (approaching freezing) my internet connection (internet through cable modem) goes on the fritz. Symptoms: frequent desynchs, inconsistent pings and slow browser usage...online gaming impossible. I had the exact same problem last year and was out of action from early December through the beginning of March as my player history will show: http://bf2s.com/player/48068731/history/Score/

When I called the internet company to check it out, they verified the signal and said that it was actually stronger than it should be because of the cold weather. This would normally mean better connection but as it turns out when the signal is too strong the modem doesn't handle it so well. At first I didn't believe this explanation but it turns out that they are right, when its cold outside my internet is not good enough for online gaming. unfortuantely they couldn't do anything about it since to lower the signal from their street amplifier may disrupt service to others that are further away than me. Being that I live/work in Romania, customer service isn't what it should be.

Today was the first day of cold weather and again i have same problem. My service provider can't fix it so unless some tech expert out there knows a solution I'll probably be taking a gaming vacation for 3-4 months.

Can I do anything about this in terms of additional hardware to modify the signal strength or maybe settings or maybe some wierd solution which involves neither? Again, I emphasize that I am currently in Romania so don't expect for me to get any sort of cooperation from my internet provider...as far as they are concerned my internet still works and if I can't game then tough luck.

My father is visiting me from the states next week so if there's something I need in terms of hardware then let me know what it is and where I can get it ASAP so he can bring it with him. A link to a site that sells it would also be appreciated.

Any help you guys can offer is appreciated.

Thanks,
Soup

Last edited by superfly_cox (2006-12-11 11:59:12)

2006-12-11 12:20:43

#2

Jenspm: penis; +1,716|7188|St. Andrews / Oslo

Too bad you haven't gotten any answers man

I'll bump it for ya

https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/26774/flickricon.png

2006-12-11 13:27:14

#3

jcurts: Member; +25|6821|Coventry, UK

So, you do have internet and you are able to browse, but you just cant play online games?

2006-12-11 22:36:47

#4

NooBesT: Pizzahitler; +873|6925

jcurts wrote:
So, you do have internet and you are able to browse, but you just cant play online games?

If I understood right, he can play games but his connection is too slow for enjoying them. And browsing is slow also.

2006-12-11 22:40:41

#5

dubbs: Member; +105|7088|Lexington, KY

Seems to me that they may not be using a shielded line. When it gets cold out side you have ESP that may interfer with the line.

It is a strange issue, and one that would be hard to trouble shoot.

2006-12-12 01:15:04

#6

CrazeD: Member; +368|7129|Maine

If the signal is indeed too strong for your modem, you might try getting a better quality modem?

Not sure though, I've never heard of that problem before.

2006-12-12 01:30:20

#7

gvers: Bad at BF:BC2; +109|7128|The Real World

Soup,

Have you got any power and snr figures from your modem? This may help.

2006-12-12 01:35:53

#8

superfly_cox: soup fly mod; +717|7237

jcurts wrote:
So, you do have internet and you are able to browse, but you just cant play online games?

My connection gets really freaky and inconsistent with many desynchronizations. I'll be able to browse but slower and even when my bandwidth is ok i get many hiccups. So when I play online, i'll have like 3-4 minutes of 50 ping and then i'll get like 30 seconds of 600 ping...disconnect.

It really is related to cold weather because last march when the weather warmed up a bit the problem went away...now its back. I guess I'll be rooting for Global Warming

gvers wrote:
Soup,

Have you got any power and snr figures from your modem? This may help.

This looks promising. Will give it a try when I get home. Thanks

2006-12-12 01:47:03

#9

Greenspan: Fed. Chairman (Ret.); +12|6943

You could build a high-frequency signal modulator, to reduce the gain of the signal coming into your house; but that would be kinda complex.

Honestly, I don't think it's possible for there to be too HIGH signal strength, if they boosted it so high that it began to clip nobody would be get a good signal (you or the people far away). Maybe look into causes related to the cold weather, maybe someone is running a generator when the weather gets cold and that's interfering with your signal or something like that.

You might consider asking HOW they are measuring the signal strength. If they are just measuring the "average" voltage across the line, or something simplistic like that it doesn't tell you anything about the acutal internet signal.

If too high signal strength is really the problem, I'd look into getting a new modem, they should be able to handle a stronger signal than the line.

I don't know what the ISP situation in Romaina is but, if nothing else, demand they lower the signal strength or get a new internet provider. It's bogus that they would boost your signal to unaccpetable levels for people too far away. Forget the people far away, they need to build more hubs to service those people if this is actually a problem.

Last edited by Greenspan (2006-12-12 01:54:47)

2006-12-12 01:48:52

#10

superfly_cox: soup fly mod; +717|7237

This explains my problem (from Motorola Trouble shooting):

My cable modem stopped working after the installation of the SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier what could be the problem?

Some cable modems that are sensitive to input level and the SIGNAL BOOSTER amplifier could have improved the signal above the modem threshold. Place a splitter in front of the SIGNAL BOOSTER and attach one output to the modem output and one to the amplifier input.

How can I attenuate my signal so that I don't exceed my modem threshold? I can't understand what they mean through their solution with the splitter.

2006-12-12 01:51:56

#11

Katash: Member; +4|7015

I had a similar problem but it was all the time when I was back on cable - My ISP came and fitted an attenuator to the incomming coax directly as it plugs into the modem.

Found this paragraph here :- # Did you remove a splitter. The signal can easily get too strong for your cable modem. Ask your cable company for a attenuator to reduce the signal strength. Usually it is best to have a professional install the attenuator. It takes special equipment to measure the signal strength.

The thing was about 1" long and just screwed onto the end of the cable - should be reasonably cheap but I dont know if you will need to work out the rating of it, maybe check your SNR in summer and then in winter and work out how much of a reduction you will need in winter.

Attenuator Pad Signal Strength Attenuator Pad RF

Attenuator Pad, RF Attenuators, Screw in-line with coax cable and reduce signal strength by rated amount. Try different combinations until you get the best picture quality. Use to balance signal strength from different sources.

Hope that helps

Kat

P.S. I also had a cable TV box and nothing was fitted to that, not sure what a splitter is that some links are mentioning but the attenuator was the only piece of equipment fitted and it worked a treat.

Last edited by Katash (2006-12-12 02:07:57)

2006-12-12 01:54:44

#12

gvers: Bad at BF:BC2; +109|7128|The Real World

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/cabletech/4._Splitters

2006-12-12 02:40:06

#13

superfly_cox: soup fly mod; +717|7237

Katash wrote:
Attenuator Pad Signal Strength Attenuator Pad RF

http://www.dbs-online.com/images/pad.bmp

Just ordered a bunch of these (different strengths). Hope that it works!!

2006-12-12 02:57:03

#14

Katash: Member; +4|7015

superfly_cox wrote:
Katash wrote:
Attenuator Pad Signal Strength Attenuator Pad RF

http://www.dbs-online.com/images/pad.bmp
Just ordered a bunch of these (different strengths). Hope that it works!!

Ahh they are cheaper than I thought - I would imagine you can series-connect them to get more accurate values

Hope it works for you

2006-12-12 03:42:09

#15

jcurts: Member; +25|6821|Coventry, UK

hope it works mate, if not, buy loads of books!!! lol

2006-12-12 05:05:00

#16

danCer: teh m0nsta; +314|7171|Germany

Those answers here sound all promising. But what disturbs me still on your problem is that it is only through the winter. The strong signal might be an issue but there gotta be something else!
The cable might be an issue as well:

dubbs wrote:
Seems to me that they may not be using a shielded line. When it gets cold out side you have ESP that may interfer with the line.

I assume ESP stands for electronic stability problem. May be it, but the coldness could also harm your cables since for example: it freezes in the night and at daytime the tension releases back of the cable.
That may give your cable a hard time.

Gime, can you check an verify whether you have those problems during (which) tempreature periods.
p.s This problem may also refer to the box on the street where your connection comes from.

2006-12-13 02:11:47

#17

jamesb: Joined BF2s in November 2005; +133|7180|Doncaster, England

My friend had this on his cable connection because the signal was too strong all the time.
He couldn't connect to anything, not even get email.
You can get something to bring it down, I'll try to find out what he did.

BF2S Forums Need Help for Internet Problem (Damn the Cold Weather)

jcurts wrote:

jcurts wrote:

gvers wrote:

Katash wrote:

superfly_cox wrote:

Katash wrote:

dubbs wrote:

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