Cable Modem "Locks Up"

[Tom Olson]

I have broadband cable internet service. I recently purchased a "D-Link" DCM-100 cable modem to save about $10 per month on modem leasing charges. I've noticed that my service actually got better with the new modem (my leased modem was an old RCA unit).

HOWEVER, it seems like my new modem must be "reset" about twice a day. That is, sometimes, it appears as though my internet service has been interupted. However, when I power-off the modem for about 30 seconds, then power-on again for about 10 seconds, and re-connect the ether-net cable, everything works fine. Its as though my modem is locking up. (By the way, I learned this "resetting" trick from the techies at my ISP -- the manual that came with the modem says nothing about this, curiously).

Anyone else ever experience anything like this before? Could it be a malfunctioning modem, or is it caused by something else? Thanks very much for any help ahead of time

[Uwe Haegg]

Try checking the modem for latest firmware
version. Sometimes it helps downloading and
installing the latest firmware in a modem, if
available from the vendor.

[Tom Olson]

Thanks Uwe -- I'll look into that

[Steve Feldman]

My cablemodem service 'leases' IP addresses for periods of ~3 days at a time, after which they are automatically renewed. Check the program 'winipcfg.exe' to check your IP configuration. From the 'Start' button at lower left of the Windows screen, click on 'Run' and enter/open/execute the command 'winipcfg' and you'll see something like the following screen:



It may help you to hit 'release all' and then 'renew all' (taking note of the original settings if things go awry...). If that helps, you might have unstable IP addressing and your cablemodem provider might have some suggestions.

I had the same type of problem and this was part of the solution.

Good luck...

[Tom Olson]

Steve -- thanks very much for your help and suggestions. I'll definitely give them a try.