Internet connection diagnostics

Hello,
I am trying to figure out what machine I am having problems with -- is it my computer (if so, hardware? software?), my router, etc.
Lately, my internet seems to be cutting out fairly regularly... for every 25 minutes of connection I get, there's about 5-10 minutes of non-connection. I'll be working in Safari 4, for example, and when I click a link, it will take a long time to load and finally the error page will appear. In Mail, the same thing. In iChat, though, I don't necessarily get an error message. Usually my buddy lists stay open and it just looks like people aren't responding to my IMs (however, on the other side, my buddies say that it looks like I've signed off).
The Airport icon does not change at all between the periods of connection and non-connection... it always shows 4 bars. It does switch between "Airport: On" and "Airport: Scanning..." -- I don't know if that is normal.
Please help me diagnose the problem! Thank you.

I am having the same problem and it is really driving me nuts. I have updated the firmware on my D-Link router, I have purchased the Little Snitch program because I had heard it would help, I have turned off IPv6, and still nothing.
I just purchased this computer about a month ago and it seems like I am running the network diagnostics every 15 minutes to repair my wireless connection. I can't figure out why this is happening.
I am open to any and all suggestions. I have read in other forums that people are having similar problems. I switched from a PC to a Mac in hopes of having the best machine possible yet something as vital as an internet connection keeps failing.
Please help.

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    Basic troubleshooting techniques for any problem
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    ÇÇÇ

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    Laptop Command Prompt IPCONFIG /ALL with Sprint Data Card inserted in laptop computer slot: 
    IP Address    = 174.158.XX.XXX (Sprint)
    Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.255
    DNS Servers = 68.28.90.91
                               68.28.82.91
    Laptop Command Prompt IPCONFIG /ALL with Sprint Data Card inserted in router: 
    IP Address    = 192.168.1.1XX
    Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.0
    Default Gateway = 192.168.1.1
    DHCP Server      = 192.168.1.1
    DNS Servers      = 192.168.1.1
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    Annoying 2nd "update" of sorts, apologies for length, as allways:  I've been so focused on the trojan/broadband killing that I've cluelessly largely forgot that I have dial-up with AOL.  Trying AOL dial-up also does not work, the insanity thickens...  AOL software tells me to check my connection, but all phone cords are plugged in as should be.  I plugged a phone directly into the wall outlet and I get a dial tone, I can call out OK, and the phone rings and gets calls OK.  Device Manager-Modems-Properties-Device Status says the modem is working properly, and Resources Tab shows no conflicts.  Diagnostics Tab's Query Modem looks OK to me, as does the log, but as allways I'm definitely no expert.  I didn't change any settings anywhere. 
       I have noticed off and on that checking IPCONFIG it says my IP Address is 192.168.1.100   It lasts maybe a day (then goes back to 169.254.X.X), maybe longer, I don't know - I don't check that often to pin it down (Should I?).  During this time neither my broadband, nor my dial-up works.  I can PING 192.168.1.100, but nothing else.  I'm convinced the evil trojan killed both my broadband and dial-up - I've never had a problem with my Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem prior.  Also, I'm not convinced the trojan is not still lurking everywhere on my computer, I think it is... 
    Any and all help in restoring my broadband/dial-up is greatly appreciated, please...  Thank you! 
    Solved!
    Go to Solution.

    Hello.  It's been entirely too long since I've replied, I'm sorry.  There's no excuse, and it's terribly rude of me...  You took the time to read and reply to me, and I endlessly appreciate that indeed.  I apologize for my long delay, I'm sorry... 
    After I left my message I downloaded many virus/spyware scanners, etc. from my laptop onto my flash drive, then my other computer for some needed thorough deep scans.  One that I downloaded was Network Magic, which somehow, someway fixed both my broadband/dial-up internet on my main computer that's connected to the WRT54G3G-ST router.  I don't know what/how it repaired my connection, but the broadband connection/speed has been working brilliantly since...  Network Magic worked for me, and I highly recommend it to everyone who has stubborn complete lack of internet problems (caused by trojans at that) as I did.  There's no guarantee it'll work, but it did for me to my amazement. 
    Network Magic, as is Linksys, is owned by parent company Cisco.  Respectfully to all the good knowledgeable experts here (Which clearly I am not.), I don't want to tread out of my bounds.  I'm simply trying hopefully to be helpful and save some headaches for both you the volunteers and the users...buying a new router and/or computer was on my mind, with all due respect I recommend suggesting to try Network Magic to users if resetting the router/all else fails, please.  I did use WinsockXPFix/WinsockFix utility prior to using Network Magic, I don't know if that matters. 
    I also upgraded my McAfee package, I installed over my old software instead of uninstalling first, which caused errors in the virus scanner of all critically needed things.  I have it installed properly now, but it did cause quite a delay in re-focus of my time.  Some of the virus scans also found many trojans, some were the same/in the same folders that killed my broadband - which stopped me in my tracks to insure uninfected cleaning. 
    That definitely doesn't entirely explain the long lapse of time, and I apologize for that, again.  It's just that I'm trying to be cautious and slow in all this.  To answer the first very good idea you made:  Unfortunately, there's no place on my other computer to plug the router in to, which all the more so caused frustration (at the time).  I forgot to include this in my novel length post of countless things to check/remember...  It was a brilliant idea though, thank you... 
    I thank you for your time and help, I do sincerely appreciate it...  Thank you...  I think, and hope this matter is solved.  It seems to be, the router is working perfectly as it allways has, and I'm positively happy as can be about it.  Thank you...  Peace... 

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    Hi lostof,
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    BT Moderator Team.
    If you like a post, or want to say thanks for a helpful answer, please click on the Ratings star on the left-hand side of the post.
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    Folks, I was having a very similar problem for the last 6 months. My connection was fine until June 2008, after which my Macbook and my Time Capsule would constantly conflict. If I rebooted or reset the TC, or the MB, things would be fine for a few minutes or sometimes a few hours and the problem would recur soon thereafter. About a month ago, I had to do a clean reinstall and the problem vanished for about 5 days, after which it reappeared. My MB never had a problem at work, or at someone else's home or with other routers, only with TC. Apple sent me a new TC, then they replaced my Airport card but the situation did not change ... UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.
    An hour ago, I called Apple for the nth time in the last 6 months, and the rep heard me out (just like the previous n-1 reps). He then asked me to to System Preferences --> Accounts --> Login Items and asked if Real Player Downloader showed up in my list. Indeed it did. He asked me to remove it, and told me that Apple had just figured out that the Real Player downloader was recently found to be causing a drop in the connection between Macbooks and the TC (as well Airport Express).
    The problem I've been having baffled everyone. All the previous reps, the guys at the Genius Bars, nobody had a clue. Joe (the rep I spoke with this morning) seemed very confident that the removal of the Real Player Downloader from the list of login items would resolve the problem. So far, so good. My connection seems solid (its only been an hour, but earlier it would drop after 5 minutes of use).
    I hope my problem that (literally!) used up hundreds of hours of my time has been finally resolved. I hope this solution will work for at least some of you as well. What gives me hope is that this solution is logically consistent with the history of my problems. I probably first downloaded Real Player in June 2008. And when I did a clean install, I remember downloading Real Player a few days after the reinstall. So I'm pretty hopeful that my issue has been finally resolved.
    Shame on Real Player for putting out a defective piece of software. And thank you Joe!

  • "No Internet Connection" via AirPort Extreme bridged to Time Capsule

    Hello,
    We have a fairly large and odd home network consisting of a Comcast cable modem connected to a Netgear router, a Time Capsule wired to that one floor down (serving up WiFi and DHCP), and a new AirPort Extreme wired one floor below that, extending the WiFi network of the Time Capsule and set to bridge mode.
    On one MacBook Pro (and possibly others, haven't had them available to test yet), trying to connect to WiFi while downstairs (i.e. to the AirPort Extreme) yields a strong wireless connection, but "no Internet connection"; checking via network diagnostics or the Network panel reveals that the MacBook Pro has no IP address. This seems odd, as it happens even if the connection is first made on the 2nd floor to the Time Capsule, where a valid IP is retrieved, and then carried downstairs; even though the same IP address should be valid, the laptop's WiFi menubar icon starts cycling again and eventually shows the "!" and reports no Internet connection.  Checking the Network panel reveals no IP address via DHCP.  However, if I let it sit for a minute or two, the IP address comes back (the same one!) and all is well, at least for a while.
    I've tried switching to a manually-assigned static IP as a workaround, and that works perfectly well, but I'd like to get DHCP working properly if I can, for convenience's sake. Is there any reason why I should be having trouble with getting DHCP from the Time Capsule via the AirPort Extreme?

    Actually, yeah, my predecessor explained that he was running DHCP on the Time Capsule instead of the Netgear because he hadn't needed DHCP prior to the adding of a WiFi point (all other nodes were on Ethernet), so it had always been turned off on the Netgear. But your suggestion makes a lot more sense, of course, so I've put the Time Capsule into bridge mode as well and started the DHCP server on the Netgear. Seems to be working with my iPhone, though that was always working okay. I won't have access to the laptop to test it until later this afternoon, but I have high hopes. 
    Thank you!

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