DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... AT&T internet issues-how long do modems last?

I have been having problems with AT&T. What are your thoughts about their DSL service? The internet does not work often anymore (Siemens Speedstream 4100 modem) and the techs from AT&T told me the modem was dead and that for $62.05 I could get a new one.

Here is what happens:
1) I turn on my computer.
2) The taskbar comes up and it says a connection is not available, but then it becomes available after my NOD32 antivirus kicks in.
3) All of the lights on the modem (all 5) are normal when I boot up. However, the internet past the home page (firefox) will not connect.
4) The techs told me to press the button and hold for 30 seconds, which I do.
5) then, to check the ip: 192.168.0.1 I go to a cmd prompt and run ipconfig. If they match up, then I can go to a remote screen that SBCglobal provided. I then log in and provide the numbers on the bottom of the modem to activate. Once that is done, the internet is fine and I'm able to log on. The problem is, I have to do this every time I turn the computer on. When I leave the computer and it goes into hibernation and bring it back, I'm fine. But when it's a cold start, the connection is lousy.

It is a wired connection (ethernet cord to computer). I also do not have a router or any devices like that associated with the modem.

Is this a case of the modem truly going bad? They ran line tests and said there were no problems. Or, should I switch to a different ISP? I know one of the posters here is a phone salesman for AT&T but I don't think he deals with internet services.

I had ATT, and I had a modem go bad. They replaced it for me for no charge when I told that I would drop their service if I had to buy a new modem.

If the modem is bad, you have to buy a new one if you have DSL service because you own the modem. You can get one of those at any AT&T store for $75 or $100. (the low price they talk about is without shipping costs, when you add in shipping costs and tax it's exactly the same as buying it in the store)

If it's a U-Verse High Speed Internet modem and you do NOT have DSL service, you'll have to purchase a new one and they'll send it to you in the mail.

If it is a U-Verse modem and you have U-Verse TV service as well, they will replace it at no charge.

Now, if you have old DSL service and qualify for U-Verse High Speed Internet in your area, you can sign up for U-Verse High Speed Internet Max Internet (12.0 Mbps) and get a great promotion price and the modem for free.

I will try to do that. However, they said it was out of warranty (1-year) and I would have to pay for it myself, even though they replaced the first one free under warranty. I do understand that, but it seems scammish--they give you a crappy modem to begin with, and then want to assess you (it gets added to the next DSL bill) for the cost.

Thanks for the info Ammo; I will keep that in mind

I ran another test. Turned the computer off, waited five minutes, booted up. Internet runs right away for about 10 seconds. Was on kent state email, then facebook, then went to wkyc for weather. It hung and I had to restart the modem again.

Does removing/reinserting the power cord help as well?

Double check your bill, if they have been charging you a "Modem Rental" fee or similar, then they should replace it at no charge, and if they refuse tell them to suck it and find a new ISP.

If it was your own modem, then I would just go buy a new one. They typically charge about $5/mo for the modem "rental" so if you have it a little over a year you've recouped your costs. You'll just have to call them with the new MAC address on the modem when you get it.

It's possible that it is the modem, but if the power on the modem isn't getting cycled then it would be odd that it is the problem and is instead within your computer.

It is common for there to be issues with resuming from hibernation, it is why one of the first things I do is to disable it on every computer I have.


Here's something different to try the next time you have crappy connectivity: \

Open up the Network Adapters view and right-click on your Local Area Network connection and select 'Disable'.
Wait for the view to refresh on its own and actually show it as Disabled.
Then right-click it again and tell it to enable.




Also, re-reading your initial post, it sounds like connectivity may be getting blocked while waiting for NOD32 to become active... you may want to try disabling NOD and letting the computer go into hibernation and then resume from it... see if having NOD disabled "magically" makes the problem go away.

The shame is that I have an ATT DSL modem lying around here somewhere that should be just fine. When I went to a cable modem through TWC, ATT never asked for their DSL modem back.

I don't know if it is still compatible with their current service though.

It could be the power cord too.

Is the modem a Motorola or a 2Wire?

AT&T Stores have the 2Wire power cords on hand and are only 10 bucks. A little birdie told me that if you bring the modem to the store they will test the modem with a new power cord and if it's the power cord, you just saved yourself 90 bucks.

If you have the Motorola modem, however, I would spring for the 2Wire cuz it has the build in wireless router.

It is a Siemens 4100, not a motorola or a 2wire ammo

I seem to recall that mine is a 2 wire.

Anyway .... I'd call them again and let them know that you will have to consider a different solution for your internet if you have to buy replacement equipment from them. If you're nice, but firm, you should be able to get them to "bend" the rules for you.

what is the difference between a Motorola and a 2-wire? I looked at the modem again and it just says Siemens, and no indication of Motorola or its distinctive logo.

I will give them a call

I really don't know.

It's been a while since I used ATT.

Yours is old, then.

Time for a new modem. It's been a good run. That will be $107.75 or $80.81 at your local AT&T store.

Have you tried disabling NOD and letting it hibernate to see if it resumes from hibernate without NOD running?

If it does, the modem isn't the issue.


Actually, if hibernation is the cause... no matter what, the modem is not likely to be the issue. It seems to me that the problem is your network adapter or the driver for it.. not the modem.

I disabled hibernation. I tried the disable/re-enable network thing from the control panel and it doesn't work. this is what happens, from the beginning.

1) I turn on the computer from a cold start.
2) I see the NOD antivirus load in the taskbar. Momentarily, it shows that there is no connection to the internet, then it connects and both NOD and the internet are "connection available" on the taskbar.
3) I am able to open firefox and brows the internet for about 30-60 seconds. then, while loading a page, it will hang and "firefox can't find the server."
4) I then go under to the modem, press the reset button (black button on the right of the modem) to turn it off. I wait 10 seconds, then press it again. I wait for all the lights to boot up.
5) the internet is still down, so I go to Start--->run--->type in cmd.
6) once at the command prompt, i type in ipconfig. if the Default Gateway DNS Server is NOT 192.168.0.1 it is still down. I use the cmd prompt as a check to make sure it's that ip address and not say 255.255.0.0 for instance.
7) However, if it is, then...I open the internet browser and go to 192.168.0.1. At that point, it will ask me for the 10-digit number code on the bottom of the modem. I type it in and it connects.
8) I am able to then go online like normal. Even if I hibernate it, it is not a problem. It is mainly after I boot up from a cold start.

My bad, for some reason in your initial post I saw hibernation and thought that is when the problem was happening. I guess I need to read better


I think the best answer is to dump AT&T, lol. You shouldn't have to register your machine with the modem or provide a 10-digit number to get online with a wired connection.


Here's something to try before you start power-cycling the modem...

open up a command prompt as before, but instead of just typing 'ipconfig', try typing 'ipconfig /release'. Then wait about 30 seconds and then type 'ipconfig /renew'.


Another thing to try:
Either before or after the above:
open a command prompt and type 'ping www.google.com' and see if you get replies.

If not, try it as 'ping 74.125.113.99' and see if you get replies.

If you get a reply with the IP address but not with the domain name, then your problem is a DNS issue.
If you get replies with both but cannot open the page in the browser, then it is a port 80 being blocked issue - likely a firewall or something else redirecting.


In Control Panel ->Internet Options, on the Connections tab, click the LAN Setting button. In most cases ALL of the checkboxes on this page should be UNCHECKED. Auto detect sucks and the average person shouldn't ever be configured to use a proxy unless they know enough to have intentionally configured their network for one. If any of those are checked, clear them and hit Ok all the way out. Close any open browsers and try again.

ref: Step 7
What is the screen asking for when it says to input the 10 digit code?

it says "enter the 10-digit code" on the bottom of the modem and there is a box that says "connect."

today, i cold-started the internet and walked away. it did not work, so I power-cycled the modem and then got on without having to go to 192.168.0.1.

I will try the steps mentioned above re: the ipconfig /release soon.

another cold start just now. I simply reset the modem, then logged on as normal. Luckily, I didn't have to go back to the SBC global webpage. I pinged the 74.12.113.99 as requested at the cmd prompt and got the following (although I was connected at this point)

reply from 74.125.113.99: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=51
reply from 74.125.113.99: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=51
reply from 74.125.113.99: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=51
reply from 74.125.113.99: bytes=32 time=76ms TTL=51

Ping statistics for 74.125.113.99:
Packets: Sent =4, Received=4, Lost =0 (0%loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum=74ms, Maximum=76ms, Average=74ms

I also pinged google and got this:

reply from 74.125.225.116: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=53
reply from 74.125.225.116: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=53
reply from 74.125.225.116: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=53
reply from 74.125.225.116: bytes=32 time=50ms TTL=53

Ping statistics for 74.125.225.116:
Packets: Sent =4, Received=4, Lost =0 (0%loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum=50ms, Maximum=50ms, Average=50ms

I did the ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew and the message "cannot find DHCP server" came up. so I rebooted the modem as normal.

I bought a new AT&T modem and will try it out.

The settings in the Control Panel "internet options-->connections-->LAN Settings were unchecked to begin with (i.e. no auto-detect) so no issues with that.

I'm beginning to think the modem just went bad, as it is 4 years old (I did check and find a QC 2007 symbol) meaning it was quality-checked in '07.

If you were habing to goto SBC global webpage and input your modem code all the time, then your issue is with AT&T not having your modem correctly registered.

I have that issue with Comcast once a year or so. I have my own personal modem and about once a year they de-register it for some odd reason, and I have to call in and give them the MAC address again.

talked to several techs today, including Advanced Tech Support in Little Rock.

Modem is dying and I need a new one. The modem is 4-5 years old and at end of shelf life. It is hot to the touch now, and that cause may be due to shorting of power.

It will not "hold" the ip addresses anymore.

DSL lines, filters, everything looks good. Signal is good from AT&T's end.