Cable Modem Blues

[Damelon]

I'll throw up this question to those more computer savvy than I.

At home I have a wireless connection. When it works it's great. I can use my laptop sitting on the comfortable couch rather than the hard bench by my computer desk.

A recurring problem I'm having with this setup is that I often lose my connection. This forces me to reset my cable modem. It's reset by unplugging the modem for 60 - 90 seconds. At times I don't have to reset the thing for two weeks. Other times though I might have to do it every 20 minutes.

My question is:

Is this a setting problem on my end?

Or is it one with the ISP?

[The Laughing Man]

So you have a cable modem and a wireless router correct? the cable from outside goes into the cable modem, and then a network cable goes from the cable modem to the wireless router?

problems with your connection should be focused on the router first, then the cable modem. thats what we try first. many wireless networks suffer from interference from cordless phones and other wireless or cordless devices, as well as other types of interferences like microwaves and such. rare enough but common enough to mention.

do you have any computers that aren't wireless connected to the network/internet in your home? for example I have a wireless laptop and a desktop that is wired to my router. if my wireless disconnects, I check my desktop to see if I still have connection to internet to rule out an interference problem. If both are down I reset the ROUTER. If that fails THEN I reset the cable modem.

I'll stop there to avoid confusion...

[Damelon]

So you have a cable modem and a wireless router correct? the cable from outside goes into the cable modem, and then a network cable goes from the cable modem to the wireless router?

That's correct. I have an Airport Base Station wired as you describe

do you have any computers that aren't wireless connected to the network/internet in your home? for example I have a wireless laptop and a desktop that is wired to my router. if my wireless disconnects, I check my desktop to see if I still have connection to internet to rule out an interference problem. If both are down I reset the ROUTER. If that fails THEN I reset the cable modem.

Not at the current time. My imac is on the fritz - needs a logic board. Maybe Santa will bring one. Right now I'm only using a laptop at home.

I don't have an interference problem, at least that I'm aware of. If I get the gist of this right, next time I should try to reset the router first.

Thanks. I'll probably have a chance to test this out by the end of the weekend.