My DSL internet works on/off?

Question

I'm playing Halo2 or surfing the web or whatever and then the internet will cut out on me. It is getting super frustrating. At first I thought, and maybe it still is, the CPU in the router getting overheated(I had the DSL/modem/ethernet box placed on top of my router, and it tended to get hot). However, it is starting to seem like something else as I've placed the router and DSL modem off of each other. I've check the cables they're all plugged in. Everything seems fine.

Sometimes I will have just turned the internet on and suddenly it won't work. Sometimes all the lights will be on on my modem but the activity light won't light up when I click on internet or turn on my XBOX, and thus I won't be able to go online. Any helpful ideas or info?

What a suprise. My router is...LINKSYS. Coincidence?

Why are the DSL modems and routers so sensitive to heat. I actually have the A/C going constantly now, and the internet has been working like a charm.

Answer 1

I had a similar experience with my DSL modem a few years back. It was overheating & cutting out. Feel the underside of your modem & see if it's very hot when it acts up. If so then add some rubber feet to it (place them over the small rubber feet that are there already) to elevate it above the surface so it gets some air. That did the trick for me.
As far as the router, I've had linksys for years without a problem. But everyone can get a bad unit. So no matter the manufacturer, go to their website & check for firmware updates. Do this for both the router & the modem.
Oh & remove the router from your configuration & connect directly to your modem from your xbox &/or computer to see if this still happens. If it does then it's your modem, if not then it's your router or communication between the router & modem.
Good luck.

Answer 2

You might have to do some troubleshooting. A year ago I bought a Linksys Router (a name I thought was quality) but it turned out to be complete sh!t. The router kept dropping connection, needing to be reboot, etc. It's a year later and I've finally been able to upgrade the firmware with fixes for these irritations and it works now. The most annoying thing was Linksys KNEW they were selling garbage and expected everyone to wait aroudn for these fixes. My advice is to determine if its the router or the modem and replace it. I'll never buy or recommend linksys again.