Assistance Required, in the Computer's Internet Deparment

[crystalklear64]

I asked this in the OTT but I think its better suited for this section:

Alright fellows. I seem to have a pretty serious problem as far as the internet is concerned. Whenever I connect to anything for a certain length of time, it seems as though my connection is cut off half way through doing... whatever is it I'm trying to do. For example:
I'm downloading a large file via "normal" downloading (not bittorrent or using an accelerator). A couple minutes into the file (this usually means about 70mbs or so) it just stops and never get any further.

Another example is playing games online. If I play games on a company's server such as on Guild Wars etc., I'm usually ok. However, if I play using P2P connections ala Titan Quest etc. I will get dropped from the game at a set time. Roughly every 15 minutes or so.

This is pretty annoying and makes downloads larger than a few mb and online gaming a hassle. This only seems to happen on the two computers that I own which happen to use wireless connections at my home. However, at college, I use their network and plug straight in via ethernet. The same thing happens.

Does anyone have any idea what could be up? Is it just bad luck with networks, bad device drivers, or something much more sinister....

[SOSTrooper]

You need to list what router you have for ease of solving problem if it turns out to be a router issue.

Here are a few questions:
- When your download stops, or when your game drops, can you still access websites? (ie, is your internet still up)
- You didnt mention what happens when you use bittorrent; does bittorrent have the same problem?
- When the download stops, if you look at the broadband modem or router, are all the lights lit up normally? This question determines if your devices are resetting by themselves.

Have you tried connecting either computer via ethernet cable? I assume you have a laptop based on your description, try connecting the laptop to the router via cable and disable the wireless on the laptop. Download something to see if the problem occurs. If it doesn't occur, then it may be a wireless problem, if it occurs again, then it could either be the router, your broadband modem, or the broadband connection.

Try figuring out what is NOT the cause of the problem first.

Edit* Actually reading your post again, I see that you also experience the same problem at school via ethernet cable. Another thing you can try is do a sweep of spyware and virus. If possible, have a friend bring in his/her laptop and use your home connection to download something. This will determine if your computers are actually made out of rabbits and turtles.

:)

[crystalklear64]

When my downloads and such stop, the entire internet goes down. Your mention of the router or wireless adaptor constantly power cycling may be the case. I will test the ethernet connections around the house with my laptop and see whats up.

[sweeetja713]

Make sure wireless is disabled when you plug into the ethernet ports at school. A lot of times wireless will automaticly detect and connect to a wireless signal and you could be using that without even realizing it.

[Michaellvortega]

What kind of computer? Laptop?

[crystalklear64]

Yea its a laptop.

Ok, I formatted my laptop. Tested the connection at home and the wired connections work great. Wireless fails every 10 minutes or so, but its not due to power cycling. I'll sort that one out later. As for school, I've been using the wired connection, and thus far everything appears to be working fine. I've downloaded a 900mb file with just IE's default downloader thing and it completed without any problems.

A couple of things that still kinda suck as far as gaming goes. First off Counter Strike is horribly laggy no matter what server I use, unless its a LAN game. I think thats just the schools router/port settings that causes this. Secondly, certain games such as Gunz Online are unable to patch themselves. Again, I think this is the school's router settings and nothing can be done about it as far as I know.

To SOS and others who gave me advice thus far, thanks :)