NTL broadband problems (long post - sorry)

[Alec]

Has anyone had any problems with NTL 600k(through seperate USB modem) broadband recently?

Mine has been degrading gradually over the past few months and recently it's become almost unusable.

Originally had the "Correct Connect" NTL application installed but I recently got frequent errors that said something like "No Ethernet Adapter Detected" from the NTL Correct Connect application. If I opened Task Manager and looked at Networking the NTL connection was "Operational". If I looked at Networking in Control Panel it listed the Cable Modem as operational and connected at 10mbps. Within Networking if I looked at Support it sometimes says that the IP is invalid. Although, sometimes when is isn't Invalid I could not access the internet through IE. When clicking on Repair approx 50% of time it refreshes the IP address and IE may work for a short while until the dreaded Page Cannot Be Displayed in IE. The rest of the time Repair threw up error saying something like "could not repair - contact network admin" and the IP remained Invalid IP. Even in this case I'm pretty sure that in Task Manager>Networking the connection still showed as Operational.

Called NTL and they said it could be problem with Firewall(Zone Alarm Free 5x) and I should also uninstall Correct Connect and install their new Broadband Medic. So uninstalled firewall after reading there had been problems with updated 5x version and installed 4x as well as Broadband Medic. Didn't solve any of the problems even when firewall off. BTW have Norton AV which I also tried disabling with no improvement.

I have a dual boot system. The other OS is also XP Pro with GRIsoft/Zone Alarm running Netscape. This also has the same problem when trying to use the browser.

Anyone any ideas whats going on here?

[Draven]

have you had much in the way of spyware lately?

could be something has bodged your ip stack screwing up your dhcp client?

have you tried running the modem from a powered usb hub? has the xp firewall decided to turn itself on?

[Abaddon]

If I was you mate I would just call NTL and tell them your not happy and you want someone out to fix it NOW. Don't be fobbed off by some stupid little monkey working there call centres, these people know next to nothing about networking (the 1st line support) - when I lived in Grimsby I had similar problems, they tried to tell me it was my machine (I'm a network engineer) and quickly put them in their place. Turned out the router we were connecting too was faulty - it was revoking the leases on the IP and failing to assign a new one via DHCP.

The best way to check your IP settings is to drop to command (Start > Run > type CMD)

then do

Ipconfig / all - this will show you your current settings, it will give you your IP and DHCP server address.

You can then try (be warned if you do this and their DHCP IS faulty - you may not get an IP)

Ipconfig /release > this will clear your IP
Ipconfig /renew > this will try and get a new IP from DHCP.

It could be a faulty modem....you say your using a USB one? I would be curious as to why it's searching for an Ethernet adaptor.

Otherwise mate if your happy you have done all you can do and turned off what they have reccomended (although strange I'm sure if it worked before no hassles) call them up and give them hell.

[Alec]

Called NTL and they specified a number of Proxy Server addresses to try. I'm using one now and I'll see how it goes....... :indiff:

[Alec]

Had an engineer out yesterday and he had it sorted in 10 minutes. Turned out to be the signal strength needed increasing :)

[ATrull]

I recommend avoiding ntl in general ;) if possible..

[alfa23]

I recommend avoiding ntl in general ;) if possible..

im still waiting for my 500k increase, wasnt it meant to happen last week???

[Nicely]

I recommend avoiding ntl in general ;) if possible..I disagree. Yes, their customer service leave a lot to be desired sometimes. However, I've had their 1MB link for over a year and only had two problems. One related to their proxy servers not recognising my Domains; this resolved itself over time. The other was the modem continually dropping out. After several visits and adjusting the signal, one engineer was lucky enough to be checking something at the main junction box around the corner and discovered a faulty board and replaced it. Sorted.

I do agree about their call centre though. Their is no simple way to tell the agent you're speaking to that you're a 3rd line support engineer and you've tried all of their clever fixes before picking the phone up and you just want to book an engineer! :rolleyes:

[archenemy.co.uk]

I have NTL 150K

Started off as 64, free upgrade to 125, free upgrade to 150.

When I first had it installed it was nothing but problems and the help line was a joke, they'd test this and try that - nothing wrong, and even had an engineer out twice because the service was unusable, he replaced the cable modem (out of desperation I think) and it made no difference.

What was particularly funny was that the engineers were nothing to do with NTL, so it goes

Eng "you need a new modem"
Me "Ok do you have one"
Eng "no you've got to phone support"
Me "no not again, takes me 45 mins to get through"
Eng "sorry mate we don't carry them, they'll have to courier one out"
Me "Ok can you give me your details for the support staff"
Eng "sure.........."

1 hour hanging on the phone later
Me "Hi just had engineer 543321 out and he says I need a new modem can you send me one please"
Sup "Well whats your problem"
Me "I 've been through this 10 times before with you, can you pull up my history/details"
Sup "No we can't do that, whats the problem"
Me "I don't know what the problem is but I need a new modem, I'm not an engineer he's just left AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH"

They are a complete joke

All my problems were down to the fact that their network is inadequate, or was in this area, just one hub serving the whole town or something. Daythime its fine but come early evening and its so slow, I don't bother with it.

They did uopgrade it locally, then 10,000 students moved in 5 miles down the road, internet gaming and downloading Porn all day and its back to where it was now

You get what you pay for

Pay a bit more, get something better if you want it to be reliable.

Have you seen how they run the cables to your house? Mine are about 1/2 inch under my lawn, there are stories of people cutting themselves off my mowing the grass FFS

[Gary]

*hachi tries to hide the fact that he is an NTL engineer* :rolleyes:

[archenemy.co.uk]

*hachi tries to hide the fact that he is an NTL engineer* :rolleyes:

:rant: :D