Bad connection with router.. but cheap USB modem fine??

[kalniel]

I just moved house, and have had ADSL connection problems ever since. Roughly every 10 mins the router (3COM office connect) would loose connection (peer terminate) and the fail to connect again for about an hour (timeout in LCP negotiation). The signal quality according to the router was poor - around 6db.

In preparation for a tech support call to Virgin I switched back to the Virgin provided speedtouch 330 USB modem.. only to discover the connection has been rock solid (if a little slow) ever since.

Anyone know what's going on? I've tried resetting the router to factory defaults, upgrading to the latest firmware again etc. but with no improvement - is it on its way out, or is there something about the way it's connecting compared to a USB modem that's inherently unstable? In otherwords, would getting a new router be likely to fix the problem?

Thanks in advance,

[shadowmaster]

http://usertools.plus.net/tutorials/id/12

According to this the signal quality on your line is indeed poor. (I am assuming the 6db value is the SNR value)

If its possible try testing your 3com router at friends house just to check if it has not gone faulty. It may be possible that the line is no good.

I have heard that the speedtouch 330 modems are more robust and can handle poor line quality whereas the some adsl routers for example (my previous belkin router) just cant handle it.

[grizzla]

http://usertools.plus.net/tutorials/id/12

According to this the signal quality on your line is indeed poor. (I am assuming the 6db value is the SNR value)

6dB is a pretty standard SNR ratio for modern ADSL connections, mine and plenty of others on my isp forum post stats that show a 6dB SNR and a rock solid connection, mine is currently at 4dB and still rock steady.

[burble]

Aye, 6dB is fine. Sounds like a duff router to me.

[shadowmaster]

6dB is a pretty standard SNR ratio for modern ADSL connections, mine and plenty of others on my isp forum post stats that show a 6dB SNR and a rock solid connection, mine is currently at 4dB and still rock steady.

Ok thats cool, I'll keep that in mind from now on.

[kalniel]

Cheers guys. New router it'll probably be then - the 3com was several product generations old. For now I've got the joy of a mangled route to hook up the computers

[Internet] -- [USB modem] -- [Laptop] -(ethernet)- [router] -(wireless)- [computers]

[usxhe190]

router problem