Solved Fluctuating Internet - WTF

[WebMattR]

I seriously doubt this is the cause of the issue since no one else in my household is experiencing problems. This is an issue with my PC.

Is anyone else attempting to do network usage heavy activities like you are? Try running minecraft and skype on another machine, and see how well it works.

Also, if you're feeling sick, don't burn yourself out trying to fix this!`

 

[inaniloquent]

I seriously doubt this is the cause of the issue since no one else in my household is experiencing problems. This is an issue with my PC.

Is anyone else attempting to do network usage heavy activities like you are? Try running minecraft and skype on another machine, and see how well it works.

Also, if you're feeling sick, don't burn yourself out trying to fix this!`

I didn't do it lol, I fell asleep.
Yeah, I went on the same server with Skype running on the PC downstairs and had no problems at all. Coming back up here, the call glitched out straight away and pages aren't loading any more. I'm not even using minecraft right now. THIS IS SO STUPID.

 

[WebMattR]

This isn't something I'd considered originally, but have you run a full virus scan on your machine? I'd follow that up with something like spybot.

You do turn your computer off, correct? It hasn't been left turned on (I count sleep mode as being turned on) this entire time, has it? If so, give it a good solid shut down, and let it be for a bit, then try again.

 

[inaniloquent]

This isn't something I'd considered originally, but have you run a full virus scan on your machine? I'd follow that up with something like spybot.

You do turn your computer off, correct? It hasn't been left turned on (I count sleep mode as being turned on) this entire time, has it? If so, give it a good solid shut down, and let it be for a bit, then try again.

A massive virus scan was the first thing I did when I discovered this issue; I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 and it found nothing.
Furthermore, I turn my PC off every night and usually don't turn it on again until I get home from school. Lately the problem has been even worse and more frequent; I have a lot of difficulty loading pages, now.

 

[severedsolo]

Out of interest, what version of Minecraft are you using?

BETA 1.4 (the one they brought out Friday) has some known issues with lag on SMP (Survival Multi Player) MIght be worth investigating, do you have an older copy (1.3 or below) to fall back on?

 

[inaniloquent]

Out of interest, what version of Minecraft are you using?

BETA 1.4 (the one they brought out Friday) has some known issues with lag on SMP (Survival Multi Player) MIght be worth investigating, do you have an older copy (1.3 or below) to fall back on?

I always update Minecraft as soon as there is an update available, right now I'm using the latest version, but this problem has been going on for ages so that's not the cause of the issue. I haven't been on the server in weeks because I get lagged out immediately and it's so extremely completely frustrating.

 

[WebMattR]

Alright. Well, let's try something a little different then. Could you try the following for me?

bring up a run prompt (press the windows key and r)
type msconfig and press enter
select Diagnostic Startup and reboot.

Try browsing the web, accessing things, and see how it runs.

 

[inaniloquent]

Alright. Well, let's try something a little different then. Could you try the following for me?

bring up a run prompt (press the windows key and r)
type msconfig and press enter
select Diagnostic Startup and reboot.

Try browsing the web, accessing things, and see how it runs.

Okay, I ran diagnostic startup and tried to browse the web but it appears I have no net access when in that startup mode. I left it on for a few hours and then restarted with normal boot mode. Of course, this reset my startup items, so all my startup processes ran when I turned my PC back on.. however, my internet seems to be having no issues at the moment. But, this could be for a few reasons...
a) the diagnostic startup fixed whatever shit was going down in my internetzorz
b) having my startup items reset solved the issue (i can't remember if my internet stopped working around when i changed them)
c) it's just having a good period of internet-age. the problem is unreliable.

I did a test skype call just now with a friend and he could hear me the whole time fine, no drops or anything. Unfortunately mods are causing an issue with my minecraft so I couldn't test that. *writing this at 11pm, cba to fix it right now*

 

[WebMattR]

Well update this thread with how things continue, and if the problem reoccurs, and I'll continue to support you then?

 

[Esaias]

Sounds to me like your using a bad dongle or router. If the internet works downstairs but not upstairs it could have something to do with signal strength. I would reccommend buying a long ethernet cable and connect it to your pc and router. Usually you have alot better connection using a cable rather than wireless.

Alternatively you could buy a new dongle or router but this would involve taking a risk since its not sure it will improve your results. A cable however would almost definately improve your results, if not much, atleast a little bit.

 

[WebMattR]

Sounds to me like your using a bad dongle or router. If the internet works downstairs but not upstairs it could have something to do with signal strength. I would reccommend buying a long ethernet cable and connect it to your pc and router. Usually you have alot better connection using a cable rather than wireless.

It's possible for the dongle to be bad, I'd doubt the router is, given that nobody else had any troubles, and he said that he wasn't able to run a cable, or move his pc.

 

[Esaias]

Oh, guess i missed the part where he said he wasnt able to run a cable. Thought the only problem was that he didnt have a cable long enough.

About the router, you are right. It is most likely not the router that is causing this.

Are the other people in your house using the same dongle as you? Are they as far away from the router as you are? If i were in your situation i would try another dongle, maybe one of the ones your family is using (assuming they use dongles and it is not the same model that you currently use) and see if it makes a difference !

 

[inaniloquent]

Sounds to me like you're using a bad dongle or router. If the internet works downstairs but not upstairs it could have something to do with signal strength. I would recommend buying a long ethernet cable and connect it to your pc and router. Usually you have a lot better connection using a cable rather than wireless.

Alternatively you could buy a new dongle or router but this would involve taking a risk since it's not sure it will improve your results. A cable however would almost definitely improve your results, if not much, at least a little bit.

The router is fine, I'm sure, there's another PC upstairs my brother is using that has wireless connection, no problems. the PC downstairs I was using is still a fair distance away from the router and connects wirelessly no problems either.
I really hope it's not my dongle. That would be super annoying. Also, if I move my dongle to a different USB slot it stops working. is that normal?

 

[inaniloquent]

Oh, guess i missed the part where he said he wasnt able to run a cable. Thought the only problem was that he didnt have a cable long enough.

About the router, you are right. It is most likely not the router that is causing this.

Are the other people in your house using the same dongle as you? Are they as far away from the router as you are? If i were in your situation i would try another dongle, maybe one of the ones your family is using (assuming they use dongles and it is not the same model that you currently use) and see if it makes a difference !

I'm a she x_x
Uhh, I think I might a little closer than my brother. We're basically the same distance. The PC downstairs is quite a bit closer. I am using a Linksys Range Plus wireless adapter, the rest of my family are using cheap Belkin ones I think.

 

[inaniloquent]

Well update this thread with how things continue, and if the problem reoccurs, and I'll continue to support you then?

Well, I edited my startup settings again via msconfig because my startup is really slow unless I stop some of the processes I don't need starting up. Then this morning, I noticed that my signal strength had gone down again. It fluctuates between 4 bars and 3 bars at 2-3 minute intervals >.< So, I decided to reset my startup again and restart my PC, since the internet seemed to work fine yesterday...
But, no luck. It's still fluctuating, for no reason at all. guh.
I'll do more testing after school.

 

[WebMattR]

If it's possible, I'd try and see if you could borrow one of the Belkin adapters, and see if that remedies the problem.

Something else to consider: What's in a direct line between you and the router? If you have a TV or something between you and it, it might be picking up interference every time your dad watches the news.

 

[Esaias]

If it's possible, I'd try and see if you could borrow one of the Belkin adapters, and see if that remedies the problem.

Something else to consider: What's in a direct line between you and the router? If you have a TV or something between you and it, it might be picking up interference every time your dad watches the news.

Looks like WebbMattR agrees with me. Try one of the belkin adapters and see if you get a more stable connection.

 

[inaniloquent]

This is so annoying... since i last came here I have had no problems whatsoever.. And I haven't done anything to fix it >.> I don't understand... I don't even know if the problem is solved or if it's just a relapse

 

[inaniloquent]

If it's possible, I'd try and see if you could borrow one of the Belkin adapters, and see if that remedies the problem.

Something else to consider: What's in a direct line between you and the router? If you have a TV or something between you and it, it might be picking up interference every time your dad watches the news.

There's no TV between my PC and the router.. just my keyboard (since friday, moved it), the stairs and that's it.. The TV is between the router and the computer downstairs and they have no problems lol.

 

[AmbrosialPariah]

Now, recently, if I am in a Skype call and am playing on my friend's Minecraft server, Skype's little green icon stops being green and turns to grey, meaning it's attempting to reconnect.

My belief would be that nobody else in your household is using half the traffic you are. That's a lot of bandwidth to be trying to consume between those two applications. Do you happen to know what speed your connection is?

If not, I suggest you go to SpeedTest.net/ and run their speed test, and report the results.

But Skype often fails even when I'm not using Minecraft... so I'm not sure if that's the problem.
Even so, my internet is crap. http://www.speedtest.net/result/1207050693.png
Yesterday, the download speed was just over 2MB...
Besides, it used to work fine, so I don't understand.

You are having a series of issues all coming together it sounds like ehre
A woreless connections are known to constantly drop/reconnect expecially when under heavy use. If you can not wire it directly check out DD-WRT and once installed you can use a Linksys [or other router they support] in the room where the comp is to wirelessly connect to the router you use for the internet and then use a cable from the router with DD-WRT to the computer. I switched from wireless to this setup a couple years ago and have noticed HUGE gains in stability and speed [I now have two wireless antennas instead of one not to mention routers are setup to transmit and receive with much higher power]. Then after you do that you will also want to port forward Skype's ports to your machine specifically as Skypes seems to always have issues with NAT. You could also make sure the person hosting the call is the one with the fastest upload and download speeds as some skype calls will have issues if the machine being used to host the call can not keep up with the other computer [and your gaming as well] ALSO I would recommend you try another program built-in for gaming and talking while gaming specifically [I know there is Raptr [part of Steam and Free] I think there is RaidTalk that is popular. You may also want to check Skype and or MineCraft Settings [does it allow you to specify lower audio quality for your skypwe call [view advanced audio settings and if it mentions bit-rate, try choosing a lower bit-rate [128KBps is CD Quality you could prolly do something like even 56KBps [roughly good FM Station quality] and still have fine audio. Also, you could get in to QOS [Quality of Service] settings if your router has them. This would allow you to say if there is data coming in on this port or from this address or has this type of data I want you to try to give it priority and drop other connections, but keep a certain amount of bandwidth open for this type deals. Also go in to your network center, click to change adapter settings, click advanced tab and check for things like is it set to a low power setting? CHANGE THAT, is it set to turn off if comp goes to sleep CHANGE THAT, is it set to something less than 54G CHANGE THAT, etc [you get the point]. Finally Finally check out speedguide.net under broadband or tools for their TCP Optimizer. Once downloaded you can tweak all the registry settings to help Windows get the best speed out of your network [it is pretty good at helping non-tech users as well it has a slider you can set to your ISP speeds and it will set suggested settings.