Packet loss -- what's the cause??

[curlz]

I've been getting HORRIBlE speeds with my new Shaw@Home in Thunder Bay, but, I am in a new area where very few people have cable internet yet.
Anyhow, I attributed (through much testing and even more testing) that I am getting packet loss between my computer and my node.

Check out results at:
HERE (http://www.dslreports.com/quality/nil/297139) and HERE (http://www.dslreports.com/quality/nil/296064)

What are the possible causes of packet loss? I am running windows 2000, an AOpen AON-201T PCI network card, Terayon Terapro modem, Celeron 566 w/ 256 MB ram, new cable lines from the main splitter to my modem.

I have a friend (donald_k) who is getting amazing speeds, although he's on a different node altogether. Could the modem, NIC, old lines (24 years old -- underground type) all cause packet loss like that?

I'm having huge toubles loading webpages due to stalling, although I can download at over 900kB/sec consistently if I download from over 20 people on Napster. That's what leaves me to believe that packet loss is affecting my single-source downloads but not affecting my multi-source ones due to higher line saturation or something of the like.

PLEASE let me know what I can do, as tech support is basically shyte. (they're sending me a new modem Monday -- if they show up -- they missed the last 2 appointments altogether)

Thanks for the help.

Eric


[This message has been edited by curlz (edited 01-07-2001).]

[blebs99]

I've been going through the same thing right up until I got another modem! Sorry to say that there are no easy answers, as it can be one thing or a combination of things causing the problem. Have you tried pinging your gateway, DNS server, mail server etc.?
What time were the tests run on DSL reports site? I find that between 5 and 7a.m. I get about the same results and after pinging the above mentioned items, it turns out to be my local area and routers-almost every single time that early. I haven't got an answer from the cable company as to why but, I suspect maintenance as a cause for me.

From what your saying, I take it that this happens continuously? Might be worth getting the cable people out to check your signal and line conditions. I can't give you the answer because to much comes into play.

Any of you line people out here have any answers?

[Kip Patterson]

ONe easy thing to try is to call the TV support side of your provider and ask them what cable channels to look at for ingress. Every single customer service person should know the answer. Look at those channels to see id you get a good picture. If you don't call the cable company and tell them you have ingress on channels x, y, etc. This they know how to fix, and it can be a factor in modem performance.

Beyond that, you clearly have a problem between you and your headend, which they will have to troubleshoot. Not necessarily easy to fix.

I can't help but be amazed at the routings that you and Donald_k have posted. From Vancouver, to Montreal, to Winnipeg, then Thunder Bay? Granted Thunder Bay is not a metropolis, but why do they give you the grand tour of Canada? Any idea how many modem subscribers in Thunder Bay?

Best regards,

Kip Patterson

[curlz]

Not sure how many subscribers in Thunder Bay, but there are a lot of people on the waiting list. Installs are pumping out at the rate of about 3 a day (the techs/installers here are waaaaay overworked)..

blebs99 -- you say that the new modem fixed our problems? Wow, I hope it works for me!