internet periodically lagspikes

yep, my internet periodically (once every 15 to 20 minutes or so) effectively disconnects itself. absolutely nothing will work for about 3 minutes. i couldn't even access my router through my browser. strangely enough, i can access my modem through the router, even though the router does not respond. after few minutes, it just spontaneously recovers itself. if i unplug and replug the modem (or restart it through the browser), the problem clears up a bit faster.

i have a dsl connection through a dry loop device mounted outside. essentially, i have a phone cable running from the side of my house, through my garage, and into the house. currently the dry loop device is inaccessible because there's a meter-high layer of snow blocking the way. even though this might be the problem, i think it is not because then the internet would be down always, instead of periodically.

my router is a wireless one, and is protected by WEP with the broadcasting thing disabled.

so um... anyone got any ideas?

note: i got hit by the lagspike while writing this, hence the double post.

Well, my first thought is the wireless. But unless someone is sending out random bursts high interference radio that probably isn't it. It also may be the router that's having problems if you can still access you modem but not your router.

Have you tried it on a wired connection to see if it does the same thing? That may help. If the problem persists on a wired connection I would say it's something between you and your ISP.

my desktop is connected using a wired connection. it suffers from the lag at the same time as my laptop.

I am having the same problem and just like you it does not happen all the time.

I have Windstream DSL as a provider and I am curious as to what provider you have, thanks.

Hmm...well if it's an intermittant problem like that it's probably something on the ISP side. You could check all the cables past the box (the ones going into your house from the box I mean) for an for any obvious signs of wear or breaks. I kinda doubt that a cable problem would cause this, but sometimes bad cables cause weird things to happen.

Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Anyone else?


EDIT: Does the lag spike occur all the time, or just with GW?

Contacted Windstream, was told to ignore it by someone in India. Turned out my DSL Modem needed a firmwire update & found that out by searching the web and someone else complaining about windstream and Youtube causing a disconnect.

I have a similar problem for months, back in the time where there is no connect option in GW, (hardly can finish a long mission), after several calls to my phone line company and several tests, the problem in my case was the line (dsl) won't support, with stability, the contracted speed because of the distance to company connect point, besides that there was another problem. My laptop charger was nicely sitting in the cable that runs from the wall connector to the modem/router and when this happens i have disconnect problems. It still happens today if i don't pay attention when i connect the charger near the line.