Home Networking Technical Help Needed

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[lafroste]

I have a technical question regarding home networking, a problem actually. I have a cable modem (Time Warner Cable), a Siemens wireless router and two computers (soon to be three) as a home network. My problem is this:

My computer will drop access to the WAN (Time Warner) after 12 hours (to the second) of connect time. If I try ipconfig/release/renew (I mean correctly) I receive an error message that the DHCP server is unreachable. I have to turn off the router and cable modem for ~60 secs (but not the computer) then let them reboot to start another 12 hour cycle. I have observed that the router is set to automatically renew the IP lease when it expires, and I have noted instances where I know I have several hours left on an IP address but 12 hours passes and boom, it's gone.

Further, I have had it working in the past where the connection was more or less permanent. This problem started when I had to re-install my operating system (Windows 2000 Pro). I did not know which network components I needed so I threw the book at it, installing every available component. I suspect that one of these components is responsible for this problem, but I cannot find the reason. I am fairly convinced that the problem lies between my computer and the router, not the cable modem or TWC.

BTW: as far as functionality goes, the network prints to a printer located on my computer and hardwired to the router, and I need to share files across the LAN and be able to save, edit, etc.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[lafroste]

Did I mention that I hate computers?

[krb]

bump

[Batrachian]

Is it only the one PC that loses connectivity after 12 hours, or both? Answer that question and you'll know where the problem really is. As a temporary workaround, you might try assigning fixed IP addresses to the host computers, or at least to the one having the problem.

[olde north church]

Since you didn't mention it, I can presume neither connection is wireless?

[SamAdams76]

It's been a while since I did networking but I know that DHCP assigns a "license" to each TCP/IP address that it assigns. Could be that your computer is setup to let the license expire after 12 hours, putting the TCP/IP address back into the pool and forcing your computer to obtain another address. Maybe you can adjust that.

[First_Salute]

Get this:
http://kbserver.netgear.com/products_automatic/RP614v2.asp

[SteelTrap]

Are you saying at one point the connection would last longer than 12hrs? If the connection has always been died after 12 hrs, I would say it is your ISP. Check out TIme Warner's TOS to see is this is a policy.

[Bluntpoint]

Don't worry too much about the devices you intend to link up, just make sure the interface is not to thin.

I suggest at least 10 pound test.

[SteelTrap]

Or you can set up a Scheduled task that runs every 11 hrs or so using a script containing this:

ipconfig /registerdns

This will renew all your DHCP leases and re-registers DNS names. If that doesn't work, try:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

[olde north church]

Have you checked the status of all connection default settings?

[Spruce]

Sounds like the router is the culprit. Start at the manufacturer's WWW page.

[erinjohn]

Sounds as though your siemans router is resetting the DHCP on you without updating the PCs. Can you still ping the ISP from the Router after the 12 hours? That would definitely rule out the ISP. You can set the IPs on the PCs to be permanent as long as they are in the range of the LAN interface on the router. The outside int on the router does not matter in this case. Usually the inside int on the router is 192.168.1.1 or some such. I have mt PCs set to 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 through 192.168.1.200. YOu will not have the DHCP problem after that.

[lafroste]

Can you still ping the ISP from the Router after the 12 hours?

No, I cannot ping even the router after 12 hours. To earlier questions:

Yes, it had been more or less permanent in the past, persisting sometimes for weeks.

ipconfig/release, ipconfig/renew do not work after expiry, generating a "DHCP server unreachable" error message.

Both PCs have static IP addresses that I configured.

[lafroste]

One wireless connection, one hardwired connection.

[erinjohn]

Then I would say Spruces suggestion is the way to go. I do know some guys that have had issues with siemans routers. I use the Linksys wireless and never have any problems.

[tacticalogic]

Both PCs have static IP addresses that I configured

If you have static IP's, then release/renew aren't going to help. It sounds like it's the router's dhcp lease that's expiring and needs to be renwed.

[DustyMoment]

Have you contacted a customer service rep in India to read his/her script to you for 90 minutes before deciding that you don't have a problem?

Remember, they have the education and technical expertise!!

</sarcasm>

[spodefly]

Is your ISP looking for the MAC address in one of your NICs? My router spoofs the MAC of the primary PCs NIC card, and that MAC is what the ISP keys on. If I try to renew my WAN IP with the MAC set to spoof another NIC besides the one they know about, I get a DHCP server unavailable reply.

I know this scenario doesn't exactly match the problem you are describing, but it might be a variable.

[Freedom2specul8]

I'm not a computer techie..but have had experience with various (vague) cable modem problems.

When I called technical support, they always tried to blame my computers...but I knew it wasn't.

My connection would quit promptly at 9pm and back on at 9-11am. It took them 6 weeks to finally get someone to fix it..and it didn't have anything to do with my computer, my modem etc.. The last time I called tech support, I just happened to reach someone that recognize the symptoms so to speak.

It was on their end. They had to come out to our neighborhood and replace "something" in the main box. Another thing to watch for is..does it go done when it rains? That happened to us a lot before they replaced whatever it was they replaced.

They ''accidentally'' overlooked that I wasn't the only customer who was having the same problem. They gave me 6 weeks off of my bill, 12 hrs per day... (42 days x 12 hrs)

My bottom line is IF they keep telling you it's your computer..don't automatically assume that they're right. Be sure to ask how many other customers are having the same problem, or complaints. I don't condone lying..but saying I heard that others might be having the same symptoms could make their investigation stretch a little bit. I called them as many times as I could..kept records....and noted who it was I was speaking with. There is nothing like living in missouri, and having to talk to tech support who is located in canada and has no clue about the outages etc here in missouri. (comcast)

[Freedom2specul8]

LOL