internet drops off

[peterr]

Hello
Desktop and laptop are similar and run Win 8.
Router is a Belkin and firmware is updated. Router works well in MD and MA for a week in each place.
Comcast ISP has trouble shot the modem and signal strength yet I lose internet and varying times a day.
I have changed channels.
I have exhausted resources over the phone with my ISP and the tech has been here to sate the modem is ok.
We have tried everything to no avail.
Can it be that I am relegated to having an isp where I continue to lose internet?
Verizon FIOS is available and although we could do it, it would be a disruption to my wife's business,i.e., business cards and email contacts.
Do you have any tricks up your sleeve, Shawn?
Thank you
Peter

[Shane]

First the trick is to find out if it is the belkin or not.

Next time the internet goes down, go and unplug the power to the belkin, wait 30 sec and plug it back in. Give it another 30 sec to come back online, does the internet work then?

If rebooting the belkin only fixes it then you know it is the belkin causing the problem.

Shane

[peterr]

Will do,  but I noticed the plug into the modem when wiggled fixes the modem lights when they are going awry. It seems, at least,  the modem wire is faulty if this is occurring.
Would you agree?

[Shane]

Possible, I have seen it before.

Next time it happens only try 1 thing at a time so you can find what fixes it, then you will have your answer

Shane

[peterr]

Yes, trouble shooting by elimination is the way.
The evasion in this issue is the erratic behavior of the symptom. You never know when it drops off as we are not watching the pc all the time nor are we on the phone all the time.
We have a tech coming Th. with instructions to bring a new modem and the ability to install the Ethernet cable from the wall.
I hope I can report back with good news.

[Shane]

Let me know how it goes and good luck

Shane

[peterr]

Hi again
I just wanted you to know the issue was resolved but the cause is unknown as a few things were done. The tech replaced the Ethernet plug from the wall and commented that it was shoddy. He replaced the modem with a gateway so I have no need of my router, I guess.
My router light still acted funny so a couple of things could have been wrong. All works well.
Would you add a router to the gateway which is already a combo of modem and router(WPA2, TKIP, AES ?
Thank you for your help?

[Shane]

No need to use another router if the one they gave you has what you need

Shane

[peterr]

All set then and thank you.

[Shane]

No problem as always

Shane

[peterr]

Shane
Am I better off with a gateway or a modem with my router? I was dropping off but it may have been my router.
Comcast gave me an Arris gateway and thank goodness I remembered about 'admin' and "password".
After browsing I found the way to enter was http://HTTP://10.0.0.1.
When entered, it said I have weak security. I clicked upon moderate and it said it does not take HTTP commands.
I also clicked upon the wizard but it would not respond.
Comcast does not know its own product so we are left to figure it out.
Are there any suggestions you can give me to figure this out so I have decent security and a new password?
Thank you
Peter

[Shane]

Security for what, the wireless or the router?

If it is for the router dont worry about it, people can only log into it if they are on your network.

And your old router may have had the problem, if the new one from them is working then stick with it

Shane

[peterr]

I have figured out what Comcast never told me and secured the Gateway.
Thank you for the help.