1

Gaah! So I’m trying to sit in on a webinar this morning (which I got up early for - thankfully I work from home). Connection is dropping left and right. Okay, fine. Drop off the webinar and start troubleshooting.

Unplug all network devices except for my computer. Still massive packet loss.

Reboot my computer (yeah, I know). Still no change.

Reboot all networking hardware and powercycle my docking station. Still no change, still seeing ~25% packet loss when pinging the first hop upstream from me. Great.

Unplug from my firewall and plug directly in to the DSL modem. No change.

Call my ISP (CenturyLink - hey, I live out in the sticks, it’s the only game in town, literally, for me). Of course, there’s no reported issues in the area and the tech doesn’t see anything wrong. Need to dispatch a tech. Oh, but MY name isn’t on the account. It’s in my wife’s name, who happens to be driving in to her office. Great.

Get the case number so I can have her call in and authorize me to talk to a tech, order the dispatch if needed, etc.

Then, magically, about 2 minutes after getting off the phone with the tech I spoke with, my packet loss drops to 0 and my connection is humming along better than it’s been for the last week. Hmmmm. Gaaaaaaah!

17 Spice ups
2

Magic?

1 Spice up
3

Sounds a lot like Comcrap!

2 Spice ups
4

That’s just how it goes when you live out in BFE. At one time where I live TWC was the only game in town but now there are 3 others to choose from and I don’t have all the issues I used to.

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5

I’d just do a pathping once every few minutes and send them the details.

6

I WISH I could have Comcast. They actually run on the other side of the highway from me, but there’s this little obstacle in the form of a train track that they’d have to cross to get over to where I’m located. Last estimate, about a year ago, was an outlay of around $15-20k to get service. No thanks.

7

That or the voodoo doll I was sticking pins in during and after the call…

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8

This is something you might want to look into. It’s a 24 hour line test.

1 Spice up
9

Interesting. I’ll have to save that link for future use.

10

Yep, that sounds about right for every US based ISP.

2 Spice ups
11

I’ve had the same issues with CLink and Cox and AT&T and Charter and…

3 Spice ups
12

Fifty bucks says he reset your port. I usually just ask them to do it as soon as I call, of course in your case you couldn’t because you’re not on the LIST!

3 Spice ups
13

Yeah had these miraculous fixes myself from Fairpoint. same with the phones, not strange for them to say its in the house that’s why i always plug into outside jack and test before i even call.