Connection dropping - How can I ?

Question

Hi All
Computer model and OS as below..
I use a SAR-600E single LAN port ADSL Router.
My broadband provider says that it has no network problems
at the moment so I am assuming this problem to be a router
problem.
Everything was OK until yesterday when I started to get connection drops. Everything will be OK but then for no apparent reason the ADSL connection light will go out, it then flickers as the modem tries to reconnect which it does every time.
This is happening every few minutes, it is doing it now as I type this.
How do I prove or check what is causing this problem ?
Thanks.

Answer 1

If your DSL provider is anything like Verizon Business DSL in the office where my wife works, my first thought after reading the statement My broadband provider says that it has no network problems is: they're lying through their teeth. Download speeds there dropped to about 17 kbps the day Verizon had someone working on the phone wiring in that building; it took 10 days of them demanding someone [me] check the PCs in the office for virus infections, spyware, the DSL phone line filter, and the DSL modem before they finally sent someone out to check the wiring, after which surprise, download speed returned to normal. In other words, just because your DSL provider says they have no problems doesn't mean that the problems aren't indeed upstream of you. I'd suggest you keep nagging them to actually send someone out to check the lines in your neighborhood. From your description, it would also be worthwhile to try swapping the DSL line filter ttypically used to split voive from DSL on the same incoming line. (And if your DSL says you should check the DSL line filter yourself, ask them if they'll lend you a phone company line tester.)