Modem/Router problem

ou7blaze · 16-12-2010, 07:00 PM

I will warn you in advance as I am a serious novice when it comes to networks on the PC.

My problem is this. I've had a long term issue with my internet at my house. It frequently disconnects and long periods of time where it's extremely slow. Tests on pingtest.net and speedtest.net confirm something is seriously wrong. The results show I have 400ms to the closest testing server in Vietnam, other servers are around the same. Yet on speedtest it shows I'm getting 6.8M on an 8M connection from PCCW.

So anyway I've called PCCW to come and fix my internet about 8 times now and this is seriously not an exaggeration. I started to think this was a waste of time and as I suspected the modems PCCW provide to customers are complete rubbish. One of the tech guys who came to my place claimed they replace broken modems and send them out to other people's houses. Which probably explains why even with a replaced modem I am frequently having issues.

So seeing that PCCW were a waste of time I set off to Sham Shui Po to buy a router with WIFI capabilities to directly connect to the internet. However it seems like I can't do this without first connecting the telephone line to my PCCW modem. Then connecting that to my Router and having a cable go to my PC.

Have I made a big mistake in purchasing a router to assume that it can operate as a modem? :/

PDLM · 16-12-2010, 07:53 PM

Yes - you need to use PCCW's modem if you wish to use PCCW's service.

ou7blaze · 16-12-2010, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by PDLM:

Yes - you need to use PCCW's modem if you wish to use PCCW's service.

*Sigh* I have lost all hope for PCCW.

Is this the same thing with other ISP's in and out of HK? Can't believe I've applied for a service and I can't even use my own equipment which is far better.

PDLM · 16-12-2010, 08:36 PM

The service is to deliver you an IP stream, not to deliver you raw DSL. No-one in HK delivers raw DSL as far as I know.

Morrison · 16-12-2010, 08:40 PM

What speed do you need ?
Would a simple USB stick that hooks you up through the phone network do the job ?
You might want to look into this

PDLM · 16-12-2010, 08:55 PM

That doesn't solve the problem - it just replaces a DSL modem from PCCW with a GSM modem from PCCW/3/Smartone/CSL

ou7blaze · 16-12-2010, 09:15 PM

I'm not bothered about the speed. The speed itself is absolutely fine, maybe I wasn't clear in my original post.

It's the stability of my connection. My connection frequently DISCONNECTS or slows to the point where websites will take a minute to load with cache or take a few refreshses. I'm talking about very general websites like Google that don't require a long loading time anyway.

Seeing as I have had my modem replaced 4-5 times because it has failed on me I see no point in calling them again and wasting my time after work. Therefore I'd rather pay for a proper piece of kit that actually works and wont break down in 3 months and lag and disconnect all the time.

Hope that's clearer now.

Morrison · 16-12-2010, 09:24 PM

try to get a USB stick,problem solved

PDLM · 16-12-2010, 09:27 PM

It sounds to me like it's probably noisy wiring rather than the modem. That's what I would be forcing them to check, and to change to another pair if there is one available in your building wiring.