Internet Connection drops once every 25s~

[OnceUponATime]

Dear Computer Hope community,

I tried my question in chat but unfortunately it wasn't all too busy so hereby posting it on the forum.
For a good 7 days now my computer would disconnect itself for about 1-2 seconds each 25-30seconds from my network, thus stopping streamed music/Skype/Teamspeak/Online games.
At first I was having issues with my router, the usual; crashing and/or not letting me browse, this was caused by old age and I have since then replaced my router.. these random disconnects continued though.

Here's a quick screenshot of my internet usage, this is about 1:00 - 1:30

You can clearly see the dips in the usage.

I updated my ethernet driver as a hint from the chat, silly that I didn't think of that myself.
I'll try to list my computer specs and any other information I can think of to aid you in aiding me.

Computer:
Motherboard: Asus P8H67 V3.0
CPU: Intel core i7-2600
Memory: 16 GB DDR3
1x SSD 120GB + 1x 2TB HDD SATA
GFX Card: Asus EAH6870 DC/2DI2S/1GD5
OS: Win7 Pro 64bit

Internet:
100mbit Down - 100mbit Up
LAN -> Desktop and Ps3
Wireless -> Smartphone

Regular Services:
Skype, Steam, Teamspeak, Grooveshark,YouTube, Waterfox (64bit firefox).

Games:
Battlefield 3, Team Fortress 2, PayDay 2.
All are affected.

Newly purchased router:
TP-LINK. Model: TL-WR1043ND

Kind regards;
OnceUponATime

[lostcoast]

look in programs for Pando Media Booster and uninstall it if its there.

what protection apps do you run for virus and malware?

[Geek-9pm]

Do you have a direct wired Internet connection?
If not, why not? Any wireless introduces another lawyer of issues.

[OnceUponATime]

Do you have a direct wired Internet connection?
If not, why not? Any wireless introduces another lawyer of issues.

I do, maybe I wasn't clear enough in Internet: LAN -> Desktop.

look in programs for Pando Media Booster and uninstall it if its there.

what protection apps do you run for virus and malware?

I found this little bugger about 6 months ago, made sure to get rid of it back then.
It's not that there now so I don't think it's caused by it.

Symantec Endpoint Protection (licensed) for firewall/network security and viruses. On occasion free version of Spybot Search And Destroy and CCleaner

[lostcoast]

I would start by uninstalling endpoint and testing after reboot...you can always reinstall...then remove spybot and run 2nd test.

IMO spybot should be replaced with paid malwarebytes pro.

IMO  don't use ccleaner registry cleaner.

If it is endpoint or spybot, I would use free avast and malwarebytes pro paid. (it's what I use)

just my 2 cents

[Geek-9pm]

My two cents.
In Safe mode you should get internet with direct LAN from the modem/router.
Once you establish  problem is not your ISP, you can work on local things.

[Computer_Commando]

Cable modem or DSL modem?
Drops can be due to marginal signal quality.

[OnceUponATime]

I would start by uninstalling endpoint and testing after reboot...you can always reinstall...then remove spybot and run 2nd test.

IMO spybot should be replaced with paid malwarebytes pro.

IMO  don't use ccleaner registry cleaner.

If it is endpoint or spybot, I would use free avast and malwarebytes pro paid. (it's what I use)

just my 2 cents

It wasn't endpoint, but a valid suggestion, wasn't spybot either.
Not sure what to think of the objection to CCleaner.. but I made sure it wasn't this either.

My two cents.
In Safe mode you should get internet with direct LAN from the modem/router.
Once you establish  problem is not your ISP, you can work on local things.

Have not yet tried this.
I have, however contacted my ISP and inquired about the stability of the Line to my home, this all seems to be fine without any hickups.

Cable modem or DSL modem?
Drops can be due to marginal signal quality.

Unfortunately I wouldn't know the answer to that, if it adds anything.. it doesn't have DHCP, hence the router.

[lostcoast]

results of safe mode would be nice to narrow it down a bit.

[OnceUponATime]

results of safe mode would be nice to narrow it down a bit.

I tried safe mode, with network ofcourse.
Seeing as I didn't have Symantec's network usage monitor I couldn't use that.. or a video game that may or may not get internet problems, so I've used http://www.bbned.com/speedtest/ - For those unknown, it's a website that grants the user that downloads a .bin file the full internet speed of his/her ISP, in my case 100 mbit.
Results:
Safe mode: Steady 11.5 MB/s
Regular Mode: Steady 11.5MB/s BUT once every 25s it goes down to 9MB/s and back up to 11.5 MB/s again.  It looks like it doesn't get the chance to drop the 0 before picking it up already.

I hope this told you guys a bit more.

[lostcoast]

its something in windows then obviously...back to my 2nd posts advice.

[OnceUponATime]

its something in windows then obviously...back to my 2nd posts advice.

Tried them both, problem still persists.

Open for other suggestions

[lostcoast]

I guess its time to dig into processes and also resource monitor for a clue.  There also may be a processor usage spike when this happens.

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-use-resource-monitor-windows-7

[OnceUponATime]

I guess its time to dig into processes and also resource monitor for a clue.  There also may be a processor usage spike when this happens.

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-use-resource-monitor-windows-7

Installed, opened and reading tutorials, give me a minute.
Turned out to be more than a minute.

Found some interesting occurrences:

   

As you can see I've added two disks screenshots to show it wasn't an anomaly.

[OnceUponATime]

For some reason the edit function on my last post isn't working so I was forced to make an unwanted double post.

Last night I noticed my phone disconnecting itself from the Steam services via the app.
It connected to my WiFi again and connected as it should to Steam.
This made me wonder and this morning I booted my computer in Safe Mode and used Resource Monitor to see my network status.
I was actually surprised when I saw this:


This is during the download of the 1 GB file of the BBned site posted above.

Maybe my computer isn't source of this issue?

[OnceUponATime]

Seeing as, for some reason the edit function still won't pop up like it did on my first post..
I decided to unhook my router and directly connect to my modem figuring I would play the elimination game on that piece of hardware.
I wasn't all too surprised about the result as the router was never a suspect in my optics.
Here's what my network status looks like while directly connected to my modem:


After all this.. the only conclusion I can draw is that's my modem..
Any two cents?

[Geek-9pm]

I thought you said it did not happen in Safe mode. If it does not do it in safe mode, why blame the modem?

[OnceUponATime]

I thought you said it did not happen in Safe mode. If it does not do it in safe mode, why blame the modem?

The bb-net speedtest took about 1minute - 1 minute 10 seconds to download.. the 1 GB file was downloaded quite fast.
That's what I tested it with first.. afterwards I tested it with the resource monitor and came to a different conclusion.
Besides, after many hours of checking.. it turns out my gaming console (wired) and phone (WiFi) are affected as well.

[Chrisxs5]

Are you connected through a switch (or multiple switches)? I see this alot when a switch starts to go bad.

[Geek-9pm]

OK, now we may have to look beyond windows as being the issue. As Chrisxs5 just said, this may be a bit of hardware that resets itself every 25 seconds. Rare, but possible. Can you borrow another modem?

[Computer_Commando]

Cable modem or DSL modem?
Drops can be due to marginal signal quality.

[OnceUponATime]

After several tests, the cable directly to my modem gave me no problem what so ever.
Leaving me with only one answer.. which is to be my router.

Now I've looked through my settings, checked time/date, dns settings, DHCP lease etc. but so far it looks all viable..
But still the problems exist.
Tried disconnecting my phone from my WiFi .. didn't solve it I'm afraid.

Any thoughts?

[Computer_Commando]

2 Questions

1.  This:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_modem
or this:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSL_modem

2.  Who is your ISP?

[Chrisxs5]

Looked up your router and found that others have had similar (not exact) problems with it. Most appeared to be fixed with a firmware upgrade. Usually a pretty easy procedure from within your router.

Also it appears that the default DHCP release time is really low, try bumping that up to the max amount.

[OnceUponATime]

2 Questions

1.  This:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_modem
or this:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSL_modem

2.  Who is your ISP?

1. Cable modem.
2. XMSNet - It's a dutch ISP, supplying fiber 100mbit+

Looked up your router and found that others have had similar (not exact) problems with it. Most appeared to be fixed with a firmware upgrade. Usually a pretty easy procedure from within your router.

Also it appears that the default DHCP release time is really low, try bumping that up to the max amount.

I bumped up the DHCP release time from 120m to 2880m last night, unfortunately this didn't change a thing.
Also, seeing as I'm in lack of time, is this firmware upgrade already out?

Thanks so far everyone! <3

[Geek-9pm]

Newly purchased router:
TP-LINK. Model: TL-WR1043ND

Do you think this new hardware could be the problem all along?


(All routers with three antennas are  *censored*.)

[OnceUponATime]

(All routers with three antennas are  *censored*.)

I'm not too sure about this, it seems to be doing it's wireless job quite fine, at least the range and speed is nothing to complain about.

Also, seeing as I'm in lack of time, is this firmware upgrade already out?

A bit odd to quote myself but I just checked it myself and it seems I am currently running the 04/2012 firmware version.. while there is a 04/2013 version out.
Let's see what this does.

[Chrisxs5]

Let me know if the firmware upgrade fixes it. If it doesn't we will hit that drawing board again.

[Computer_Commando]

Query the cable modem for signal status:
http://192.168.100.1
What should my Signal Levels be?
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/16085

[OnceUponATime]

Let me know if the firmware upgrade fixes it. If it doesn't we will hit that drawing board again.

Hasn't fixed it, just upgraded to the 04/2013 version: 
Firmware Version:     3.13.13 Build 130428 Rel.58290n

Query the cable modem for signal status:
http://192.168.100.1
What should my Signal Levels be?
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/16085

I would have no idea on how to do this.. Guess I'm not that experienced after all.
Also, I check my system logs and every minute.. i.e.: XX:02 (02 being seconds) it says this:

124   Oct 1 21:39:02   DHCP    NOTICE    Dynamic IP(DHCP Client) obtained an IP successfully
123   Oct 1 21:39:02   DHCP    NOTICE    DHCPC:GET ip:bc8e54db mask:ffffff80 gateway:bc8e5481 dns1:25fb0164 dns2:bc8e0016 static route:0
122   Oct 1 21:39:02   DHCP    NOTICE    DHCPC Recv ACK from server bc8e5481 with ip bc8e54db lease time 120

I googled the first line and guess what?
The entire model of the TL-WR1043ND came up on the first suggestion.
Followed some forums and it seems it is indeed a common problem.
All state that the firmware of a third party (DD-WRT) solves the problem each and every time.

I'll try and install the firmware and let you guys know.

EDIT:

Current Firmware: DD-WRT v24SP2- (03/25/13) std
After quickly reading most of the forum posts they all pointed me to DD-WRT, simply searched for my model router and it pointed me to the most up-to-date stable, working firmware.
Had to set it to factory default first before upgrading.

Resource monitor, task manager>Networking both show a stable network connection;


If a moderator could change the title of this topic to the following:
TL-WR1043ND Connection Drops [SOLVED]
I'd be very grateful, as would other people who went on google.

Thanks for the big think tank guys.

Regards;
OnceUponATime

[Computer_Commando]

Been using DD-WRT for a couple years now, it fixed my WiFi dropouts.
Here's a direct link to your firmware:  ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/others/eko/BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2/2013/07-24-2013-r22118/tplink_tl-wr1043nd/

Here's the last large thread for the 1043ND:  http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=86533

v22118 has been the most stable version. but there are still bugs for some units.

There are various 1043 versions:  http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices#TP-Link

The wikis are not kept up to date, nor are the details of the support list.

[Geek-9pm]

Computer_Commando
Thank you. You and the OP have done one of the best threads here  on CH. Switching to a third-part firmware seems odd, but whatever works is OK. Glad I followed  this post and learned something new. 

[Computer_Commando]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DD-WRT

Some routers actually ship with a version of DD-WRT, i.e. Buffalo.  So there is some funding there.
It's probably less expensive for a manufacturer to use DD-WRT, than to use their own firmware.
They primarily support most all Atheros & Broadcom chipsets.  There is no support for others.
DD-WRT Forum is quite active, but not well moderated & is becoming more of a peer-to-peer forum.

Given all the issues with poor router firmware, I would never purchase a model that wasn't supported.

[OnceUponATime]

Somewhat of a necrobump.
The problem has come back..
All the pictures given in the all the posts once again apply.

It's quite the odd anomaly really, seeing as I was still using the DD-WRT third party software..
Switched back to my regular one which hasn't cured the problem either.
Any tips are, as always, welcome.

Regards;
OnceUponATime