Self rebooting modem.

Hi

Short Version:- I'm looking for a modem that can reboot itself, when it detects the connection has gone, anyone know of any?


Long Version:- I've got some long term problem sites, where despite BT's involvement the connection keeps dropping and the end result has been to either put up with it, or cancel it. These sites are for the most part more than 5Km away from the exchange, and before Max DSL were always turned down for ADSL. Now I've got around the problem by buying expensive ethernet based power cycling boxes. That is you plug the power plug for the modem into the unit, and an ethernet cable. Once a minute the unit pings an external IP, if it gets 3 consecutive fails it cycles the power. Typically this happens 4-5 times a day. But the result is that for the most part, the drop isn't noticeable unless someone is watching a stream at the time. Without the reboot the modem simply hangs (and I've tried lots of modems). So does anyone know of a modem that can cycle itself when a connection drops?

In reply to a post by Jaowon:

Hi

Short Version:- I'm looking for a modem that can reboot itself, when it detects the connection has gone, anyone know of any?

Long Version:- I've got some long term problem sites, where despite BT's involvement the connection keeps dropping and the end result has been to either put up with it, or cancel it. These sites are for the most part more than 5Km away from the exchange, and before Max DSL were always turned down for ADSL. Now I've got around the problem by buying expensive ethernet based power cycling boxes. That is you plug the power plug for the modem into the unit, and an ethernet cable. Once a minute the unit pings an external IP, if it gets 3 consecutive fails it cycles the power. Typically this happens 4-5 times a day. But the result is that for the most part, the drop isn't noticeable unless someone is watching a stream at the time. Without the reboot the modem simply hangs (and I've tried lots of modems). So does anyone know of a modem that can cycle itself when a connection drops?

First of the the router should not be required to power cylce its self to get a connection back it should be able to bring it back on its own. If you want a bullet proof solutions for supporting these guys i would recommend the following:

Get some form of cisco. Connect and external modem to the console port and install it on the remote site. This means you can see whats going on when its failing. You can dial into it remotly to the console to reset the connection / router or whatever if it is needed. Which is rarly with this sort of router.

Note you can also use the external modem on an 837 todo a dial backup configuration. Plusnet support this sort of stuff with a static ip or used to. eg you get the same static ip on adsl and you do on analog modem. Not an ideal solution but you can gain access to the router again from outside and the net connection is still working. But it does give you a 3rd option instead of killing off the connection completly.

However this is somewhat expensive. But if the site *needs* a better connection and you *need* to support it. It is a viable last gasp effort.

What current routers are you using that are failing? You might wanna try a firmware upgrade on these as they would appear to have issues if they cannot bring the line back up. But can once they are rebooted.

In reply to a post by Jaowon:

Hi

Short Version:- I'm looking for a modem that can reboot itself, when it detects the connection has gone, anyone know of any?

(and I've tried lots of modems). So does anyone know of a modem that can cycle itself when a connection drops?

Hi, the 3Com 3CRWDR101A-75 router will automatically reconnect.

http://www.3com.com/prod/en_EU_EMEA/detail.jsp?tab=f...

http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?pro...

Have you used the BT Business Hub 2Wire 2700HGV router, said to be the best for holding onto a long line.

http://business.bt.com/broadband-and-internet/intern...

http://www.2wire.com/index.php?p=408

Edited by deleted (Wed 29-Jul-09 09:50:19)

FWIW

The excellent RouterStats s/w has options to both reboot when set conditions are met or to run a script.
Might be helpful for you...

Do you really mean modems rather than modem/routers (gateways)?

As others have said, all modem/routers commonly used automatically re-connect within roughly 30 seconds. Exactly what makes and models of modem are in use?

On the problem itself, with the extreme low performance expected of the lines it could just be noise bursts causing the disconnection and lasting long enough to prevent reconnection, but I don't really buy that explanation though it may cover why the drops occur in the first place.

Are we talking about Internet cafes here with separate modems and router? Your description of the setup makes that sound possible. If so I wonder if there is anything relevant in that.

Even with a long noise burst (say 30 minutes) the ADSL modem should automatically resync, then once resynced the authentication should take place.

Some routers do not manage this too well, with the software crashing at times.

Longest I left a router unattended was 7 weeks and it happily reconnected during the time, both from things like power cuts and noise bursts

My very first ADSL router never reconnected when sync dropped - it was a Solwise SAR703a. I thought that's how it was with ADSL until I got a better router!