Question Internet stutter once every 15-30 min for about 1-3 sec

[asantilli]

Hello

So i've been dealing with internet issue starting about one-two weeks ago, where my internet will suddenly drop for about 1-3 sec randomly regardless of data load (most notably during gaming or live streaming without buffering). I ran a continuous ping on cmd to 8.8.8.8 and noticed a one "request timed out" at the time of event. Tried to monitor the network via a performance monitor to where packets are being sent during the event but nothing receives for a couple of seconds. This issue happens on wifi and ethernet as well as on different networks.

I have tried these so far (semi-copied from a similar post)

• Running sfc /scannow.
• Checking router signal levels (all OK).
• Checking router event logs (nothing relevant).
• Swapping ethernet cable between different LAN ports.
• Replacing the ethernet cable.
• Replaced the router
• Disabling network discovery.
• Preventing Windows from turning off the adapter to save power.
• Running ipconfig with /flushdns
• Resetting winsock.
• Reinstalling the network adapter.
• Updating the network adapter driver
• Checking connections and physical damage in the motherboard (except CPU socket itself)

I'm pretty stumped here since nothing really has changed from a software/hardware stand point.

I appreciate any help and thanks for reading!

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Make and model of your wireless router? Make and model of your motherboard and wireless adapter? BIOS version for said motherboard? What OS are you on and what version(not edition) are you working with?

 

[asantilli]

Thanks for replying!

Router: NBS AT&T BGW-320 500
Motherboard: Gigabyte z390 aorus pro wifi
Network adapter: Intel® CNVi interface 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
BIOS version for motherboard: F11
Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 10.0.19045 Build 19045

 

[asantilli]

I also noticed that I am able to ping the default gateway without any drops what so ever, even when my internet will drop momentarily. would that be something that is on my ISP's end?

 

[bill001g]

It is likely on the ISP side but you might as well do the testing so you are ready with info when you call them.

Do you have a separate modem. Most modem have some kind of log that will show if the internet connection to your house is going down or in some cases if you are getting lots of data loss.

In any case the next step is the standard

Run a tracert 8.8.8.8
This will likely not show anything interesting what you want are the router IP in the path. If you tell the ISP you get loss to 8.8.8.8 they will of course try to blame that server.

In most cases hop 2 is the connection from your house to the ISP. It is also the most likely location to have packet loss issues.


So what you want to do is run a constant ping to your router IP and to hop 2. Your goal is to show the ISP that you do not have loss inside your house so your pc and router are fine but you see loss as soon as you leave your house.

If hop 2 will not respond you can try hop 3 but the farther you get from your house the more change the ISP can blame something outside their control.

 

[nigelivey]

Sounds terrible, unfortunately you have described an issue on your ISP side....Good luck!!

 

[asantilli]

It is likely on the ISP side but you might as well do the testing so you are ready with info when you call them.

Do you have a separate modem. Most modem have some kind of log that will show if the internet connection to your house is going down or in some cases if you are getting lots of data loss.

In any case the next step is the standard

Run a tracert 8.8.8.8
This will likely not show anything interesting what you want are the router IP in the path. If you tell the ISP you get loss to 8.8.8.8 they will of course try to blame that server.

In most cases hop 2 is the connection from your house to the ISP. It is also the most likely location to have packet loss issues.


So what you want to do is run a constant ping to your router IP and to hop 2. Your goal is to show the ISP that you do not have loss inside your house so your pc and router are fine but you see loss as soon as you leave your house.

If hop 2 will not respond you can try hop 3 but the farther you get from your house the more change the ISP can blame something outside their control.

Hey bill,

So i ran tracert to google and hop 4 timed out, i ran a constant ping to hop 2 which is sbcglobal/att and had the similar issue described above, while still having no drops on a constant ping from my pc to hop1/router. Apparently my apartment complex has numerous complaints about this issue. So im almost 90% sure its the ISP line running through the complex. I have noticed that att and comcast run different lines and are both wired for my place. i will be picking up xfinity tomorrow and will state an update.

Thank you everyone for the help, was slowly losing my mind lately about this lol

Armando

 

[bill001g]

Because we have idiots in this world many routers are designed to not respond to ping/tracert to avoid denial of service attacks.
Other routers limit how much cpu is allowed to be used by ping so you can get inconsistent results if a router is busy.

In any case your testing confirms it is the ISP.

It is good you have a alternate ISP when you live in a apartment. Many time you have greedy apartment management that get a cut of the ISP monthly fee so they do all kinds of stuff that makes them more money at the expensive of performance and stability.

In general ATT espeically if it a fiber install is more stable than comcast and if it is like where I live about half the price once the 1 yr special rates expire at comcast.