Need advice on high speed internet in an apartment complex

[jobycom]

I've recently moved into an apartment, and signed up for Earthlink Cable, which is basically Time Warner.

It sucks. Most of the time links don't connect when I click on them. When they do, they are slower than dialup. Now and then they snap up like they are supposed to, but it is rare. Often I get an unable to connect box. And some intensive web sites, like ESPN or MSNBC, will just never load. I'll get the basic format, but no content, and pictures may as well just not be there.

I should add that when I use the same computer (laptop) from work or my spouse's house I have no problems.

Is this a common problem with cable in an apartment? Would DSL be different? Or should I waste hours and phone minutes with tech support? Right now dial up would be faster and less frustrating. I'm teaching my cats all kinds of new words.

[theantirobot]

1. are you using a wireless router or is it all wired?

[jobycom]

2. I've tried both

I've tried connecting directly to the modem, then through a router both wireless and wired. Not a lot of difference. The wireless goes out more than the wired, but I expected that, since my computer detects about six other wireless signals.

[GOPisEvil]

3. Wow - I had RoadRunner in my old apartment, and never had a problem.

:shrug:

You might try asking the TW folks to test the lines, or whatever they it is they do...

[jobycom]

4. That's the same connection, basically.

RR and Earthlink both use TW.

I think I'll have the modem tested. Sometimes when it is cutting out (like when I first posted this) the cable light will go out and recycle itself.

[GOPisEvil]

6. I had that problem intermittently here at my house.

I had the modem and TV in my spare bedroom on a splitter. So, I disconnected everything and started over, and I haven't had issues since.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. I have Road Runner through Time Warner, and about once a month,

I have to reset either the modem or the wireless station, but otherwise, it's great.

Oh, yes, I do live in an apartment.

[jayctravis]

7. Possible the cable is daisy-chained...

and you are on the very end. That's my guess.

[southlandshari]

8. Let me tell you

I'm the LAST person you want internet connectivity advice from. I just can't pass up a thread with your name on it without saying...

:loveya:

[jobycom]

9. Not very helpful on my question

But it did make me smile! :-)

[southlandshari]

10. .....

Good. Mission accomplished!

[RoyGBiv]

11. Sounds like a signal problem ...

And, no, it's not common in the sense of an expected problem or one that you should accept.

I know that seems to be the catch-all explanation for situations like this, but there's a reason for that. Bad signal or low signal will result in a bad connection that causes the kinds of issues you are mentioning. You should contact technical support.

Having said that, I don't know the specifics of your situation. I've run into apartment complexes in which Internet service is provided via a VPN (virtual private network). In that situation, all subscribers share a certain amount of bandwidth, and if it is not enough, in the end what this means is that you get slow speeds regardless of it being a broadband connection.

Is this a private account, or is it acquired in some way through the apartment complex itself? If the latter, you're probably routed through a VPN, and this might not be a problem you can fix. If it's a private account you should have whatever bandwidth goes with the level of services you acquired, and if you're not getting that, you need to let the company know about it.

[jobycom]

12. Thanks, Very helpful summary. nt.

[BigMcLargehuge]

13. networking rule #1 - check the physical layer 1st

make sure all of the coaxial connections in your apartment are secure at the splitters, on the cable box, on the back of the modem. Make sure you have a good Ethernet connection between the modem and your computer test this by swapping the cable with a new one and see if the connection improves. Make sure you don't have the coax running over a bunch of electrical wires as this also contributes to attenuatiuon. Check your coax cables for a split in the insulation, RF signals run between the copper wire and the metal mesh cladding, as it's not a wire as much as it is a waveguide, and a split in the insulation will cause signal leakage.