[blalor]

So apparently the Dash Express is actually shipping. From Amazon. For $399. Wasn't it 599 when I posted about it above??

[jwardell]

Yep, the day of shipping they surprised everyone by dropping the price. Makes it all that much more tempting now.

I used pithhelmet many years ago but always had issues and crashes while it was installed.
I now use SafariBlock and it works great.

[m2smith]

Thread revival...
Question: Starting just about a week ago if I am not actively calling up web pages or posting junk my connection goes dead - And not a little dead, it takes anywhere from 3-5 actual timed minutes for it to come up - It makes no difference if I am directly connected to the router or wirelessly connected - My service (or lack of...) is Charter. Does this sound familiar? The only thing I can think that is different is that I now own the modem (same one - I just bought it from them instead of leasing it). Could they be that evil?

[blalor]

Possibly. Never underestimate the cable companies. DSL or Cable? Have you tried calling 'em? I know, I know, how much self-punishment can one man take?

Have you tried restarting the modem? What happens when it's down? Nothing? Error page on the browser? Just 3-5 minutes of "connecting..."?

[m2smith]

Charter Cable - The home of the universal fix "The Restart"
I get a message "You are not connected to the Internet" and "Connect to Network Diagnostics"
That's where I start from and eventually (usually the third or fourth time I run it) I get "Network change detected!" and it works. Also, if I launch a second machine (upstairs), then take a leisurely stroll back down after the whole start up routine then it works...
The restart of the modem improves things for about an hour, maybe two, then back to dropping the connection.
I have had Charter "service" out to the house a bunch of times. Of the three services I had installed (Cable, internet and phone) only the phone works well. Would signal strength cause these complete drop outs? The main distribution point has more taps on it than it should- They have added a new junction (last year) in front of my house because my neighbor's cable quality was so poor(mine too - noisy) When I added the new services (internet and phone) I was required to add a box which also NEVER works (call blah-blah to restart your box). Last time out they added an amp. We (me and the neighbor) are trying to get them to connect to the junction box they tore up my shrubs to install, but so far no luck - that box is empty of connections. Would weak signal strength cause the drop out?

BTW - Just for an FYI on how evil - When I complained about the "High" in "High speed Internet" the tech came out, jiggled some wires, then asked me to restart my modem and router. When I came back downstairs he had a pen-drive in my laptop and showed me their speed check and that I was running at the max speed for the level of service I was paying for- 5mbps. I said OK - He leaves and I wanted to check again my self and could not remember the name of the site - looked in "histories" - yeah - nothing - looked around some more and the I found the last thing run was in Preview and it was a GIF entitled "SPKEZ" - looked around and found a website that does speed tests by the name of "speakeasy" and when I ran their test I have been as slow as 300 baud(!) (that was when you put the phone in the cradle) and as fast as the advertised 5mps. This is all on the computer directly wired to the router -the 802.11g wireless laptop sees closer to 3.5mbps on a good day... Can it get to the 5mbps wirelessly?

[Actual Size]

Call up your cable modem (usually 192.168.100.1), then check SpeedGuide.net :: Cable modem signal levels to see if the thing measures up.

[blalor]

Are you telling us that he showed you a gif of a speed test? That's ****ing sleazy, man.

Are you using wireless, or are you plugged right into the modem? Is it the same for both computers? The "you are not connected to the internet" means that your Mac doesn't have a "real" network (IP) address. The thingy (I'm going techie on you here; sorry) that doles out addresses is on the fritz at that time. I don't *think* that's what happens when it's just the modem that's gone offline. I'm just trying to figure out if it's your modem or (wireless) router that might be the problem. You could try bypassing the router and just plugging right into the cable modem to see if the problem persists. If it does, point your finger at Charter.

[Actual Size]

I went through a similar problem with a Motorola Surfboard and Adelphia. It turned out to be the modem itself.

[m2smith]

Thanks for the help, guys. Reset everything - speed test put me between 3.6mbps and 4.5mbps - -
Yeah, it was a frickin' gif the guy put up - They must be monitoring 'cuz I haven't lost connection since I re-signed on three times this AM - who knows???? And I am connected via netgear router that is fed from a scientific atlanta 2100 modem (not on the list Rick - but good try) - Upstairs iMac ethernet to router iBook wireless.

[GBMINI]

My new Macbook doesn't like connecting to various Linksys routers both at home and at the office ... that's also nothing to do with the cable feed but looks like dead internet (actually, it was hanging Safari completely ... so much for robust Apple programs that work much better than PCs).

My cable modem used to fail in the summer because the signal strength was too HIGH (eventually got a smart tech who figured it and installed an attenuator) - and in the witer, because the signal strength is too low (remove attenuator!)
In both cases, the model lights do a regular flashy...steady...flashy dance as the signal lock drops and comes back. That's the best clue that it's a cable signal issue, rather than router or other.

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by GBMINI (original)

My new Macbook doesn't like connecting to various Linksys routers both at home and at the office ... that's also nothing to do with the cable feed but looks like dead internet (actually, it was hanging Safari completely ... so much for robust Apple programs that work much better than PCs).

That's an Apple/Linksys compatibility issue... Is there nothing in the PC world that works better with one hardware configuration than with another...?
Are you just talking about wireless connections to Linksys hardware being a problem..?
Do the Linksys wireless routers have password protection..? (I'd hope they do!)
I found this possible fix on the Apple Discussion forums:

Quote:

For some reason, after installing X.4.6 OSX corrupts your saved WPA/WEP password in a cache. So when you initially connect it doesn't work, but after you turn it off, then on again, it fetches the uncorrupt password from the keychain and it works. Want proof? Ok, do this:

- Go to System Preferences

* Click Network
* Highlight AirPort and click Configure
* Choose "By default, join: Preferred networks"
* Select your access point and click edit
* Click on "show password"


At this point you should see a crazy corrupt password.. Proof that it is jacked up. Now:

- Exit that window back to the access point list

* Remove your access point with the "-" button
* Launch your keychain and delete your access point keychain entry.
* Reboot
* Go back to the "By default, join:" page and click the "+" this time to add your access point. Enter the correct password, save, reboot, BAM, FIXED!

Louis Rodriguez1

And then a follow up from another user:

Quote:

Re: Wireless not getting an IP (via DHCP) from router
Posted: Apr 9, 2006 9:46 PM in response to: elementk

This Fixed my problem.

Thank you very much for posting.

I would like to make one change to your instructions though, after line:

"Launch your keychain and delete your access point keychain entry."

(Note: I had 2 instances of my wireless network name. I deleted both.)

New Line: Before rebooting... turn OFF airport.

The reason why I say turn off Airport is that I did not the first time and somewhere and despite me deleting all the instances of my wireless network, OS X still found it and logged into it.

Turning off airport will avoid OS X auto logging in with a cached password/network

My wireless has survied two restarts and its still working...

Try that and let us know how it goes. I'd say your best chance of finding a fix is on the web. If you call tech support for either company, they'll just say it's a problem with the other company's hardware

Looking at it further, that fix was from '06 with 10.4.6 though, so maybe you're not having the same problem. The fact that it's isolated to Linksys hardware makes me think it might be though... Is the firmware up to date on the Linksys end..?

[GBMINI]

The work Linksys is ANCIENT. It's so old it's only 802.11b - in fact it doesn't even say "b" on it, presumably because way back then, there was no other sort to have!
My home one wasn't Linksys ... I have a Linksys but that has it's WiFi turned off (because it's as old as the office one!); I bought some no-name 802.11g for home, and that was causing the trouble.
But at home, the Time Capsule with built-in AirPort is working fine for WiFi.

At work, we need a new WiFi

[jwardell]

I brought my airport express into work last week and it worked perfectly, and actually surprised me on its range. It dosn't help that there are already 4 wireless routers interfering with each other on the property. Of course ever since apple switched to intel machines and pre-N cards in its laptops they have been very picky. My old PBG3 has never had a wireless issue with anything. Probably cost reduction...

[GadgetGav]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwardell (original)

Of course ever since apple switched to intel machines and pre-N cards in its laptops they have been very picky.

Nah, it's because they're becoming more like PC's...!
It's to make the switchers feel at home

[GBMINI]

So, now I need Time Capsule (= Airport Extreme?) help ...

Today, I couldn't see my network printer any more ... nor my Windows PC, from the Mac.

Eventually for fun, tried connecting the printer to the TC instead of to the original hub in my home and suddenly Bonjour found it.

So ... why can't Bonjour "peer through" the Time Capsule and see the network devices on the other side? The TC is set to "bridge" mode which I would expect to make it basically transparent. I'm assuming if I move my Windows PC on to the TC it will also re-appear.

Odd thing: when I first set up the TC and Mac, the printer automatically appeared, it's only more recently that it's disappeared
Maybe Apples are OK if everything is Apple, but they still have real world interconnection issues

[GadgetGav]

What was the 'hub' the printer was connected to previously? A USB hub attached to something, or a network router..? My printer is connected to an older 'flying saucer' Airport basestation (b&g). I'm currently connected to the wireless network through the FiOS wireless basestation and can print to it without an issue. I've got old and new Apple hardware, Dlink & no name ethernet switches and ActionTec FiOS router. It all works well together. We even hook up a Dell laptop every now and again and it keeps working..!

You should give Bay State IT a try... Sean is a Mac specialist, but deals with mixed Mac & PC environments every day. I'm sure he could help straighten things out for you.

[jwardell]

I just wonder if you woke up whatever the broadcasting was....does it stop working again if you move it back behind the base station?

Isn't your home printer the same as the printer in the office that dies several times a week and has deplorable HP software?

Now that I think of it, perhaps that is the issue, if they are both the same, they both have the same ID, as rendezvous/bonjour is based on a textual model name, not a numeric IP...could be causing some confusion.

[GBMINI]

Josh ... the HP7310 at home is the same as at the office, and it's crapped out somewhere between never and once! The ID string seems to have an ID code too, but of course I don't know if both use the same code.
Hang on a minute ... it just printed fine, and that's after visiting the office today.

About HP software - which I hate as you know ... the HP4600 office printer is from the same company, but is fine. It's just all-in-ones that give trouble, from any company



Now:
Where's the [I think] cool pictures you took today?

[GadgetGav]

My Epson all-in-one works fine hanging off the Airport base station...
Actually, it's only a 2-in-1 (scanner & printer) not a fax as well.

Funny how you two are holding a conversation on here when you work together..!

[GBMINI]

We're too busy at work