"ethernet cable not connected"

[omega 616]

I have read around the net but I have yet to find a solid answer on the subject.

I'm sat here playing on my PS3 online, at totally random intervals this message will pop up and drop me all the way back to the main menu. It drops connection and then is totally fine anywhere from 1 second to 3 hours+..... It can flash up loads of times or just do it once then be fine for the rest of the night and anywhere in between.

It's happened so much I am now on probation on COD for dropping games too much.

I've tried swapping ports on my router, tried resetting it, tried unplugging it for an hour.... Combination of unplugging the router and swapping ports. I even rang up my Internet provider and asked if my signal was okay, it is.

Does anybody have a clue what's wrong? New router? New cable?

 

[evilneko]

Your ISP is not to blame. (Well, unless it's an ISP-provided router, then blame them for giving you a shit router)

A few possibilities:

1. The cable is bad. (Probably the most likely)
2. The PS3's NIC is bad. (Ehhh I don't know how commonly this happens)
3. The router is intermittently dropping link for...any number of reasons, including crashing, bad power (try another outlet), or just general shittiness (especially if it's an ISP-provided router)

To isolate the issue: put an ethernet switch in between the router and your PS3 (these are cheap, like $10). If your router is the problem, you won't get the "cable unplugged" message but you will get dropped. If the cable or the PS3's NIC is the problem, you will get "cable unplugged" messages when you get dropped.

To mitigate #1, replace the cable.

To mitigate #3, replace the router, or at least try another power outlet. If you can find an AC Adapter that matches the polarity and Voltage/Amperage requirements of the router (this info will be on the router or its adapter. Note--you can use a higher amperage adapter, but not a lower one, and voltage and polarity MUST match--this ain't Star Trek and reversing polarity is a bad thing), try it.

To mitigate #2 ...well...can the NIC alone be replaced?

 

[omega 616]

Your ISP is not to blame. (Well, unless it's an ISP-provided router, then blame them for giving you a shit router)

A few possibilities:

1. The cable is bad. (Probably the most likely)
2. The PS3's NIC is bad. (Ehhh I don't know how commonly this happens)
3. The router is intermittently dropping link for...any number of reasons, including crashing, bad power (try another outlet), or just general shittiness (especially if it's an ISP-provided router)

To isolate the issue: put an ethernet switch in between the router and your PS3 (these are cheap, like $10). If your router is the problem, you won't get the "cable unplugged" message but you will get dropped. If the cable or the PS3's NIC is the problem, you will get "cable unplugged" messages when you get dropped.

To mitigate #1, replace the cable.

To mitigate #3, replace the router, or at least try another power outlet. If you can find an AC Adapter that matches the polarity and Voltage/Amperage requirements of the router (this info will be on the router or its adapter. Note--you can use a higher amperage adapter, but not a lower one, and voltage and polarity MUST match--this ain't Star Trek and reversing polarity is a bad thing), try it.

To mitigate #2 ...well...can the NIC alone be replaced?

Thanks!

I'm in the UK, so amperage and polarity doesn't effect us we only really have 1 plug and power set up.

It is an ISP provided router, had it for 3 years and then when my PS3 died and I got a super slim this problem happened... Then it stopped and it's started back up but worse.

I'll try following your steps, if I can... I'm not good with this kind of stuff.

 

[evilneko]

Thanks!

I'm in the UK, so amperage and polarity doesn't effect us we only really have 1 plug and power set up.

It is an ISP provided router, had it for 3 years and then when my PS3 died and I got a super slim this problem happened... Then it stopped and it's started back up but worse.

I'll try following your steps, if I can... I'm not good with this kind of stuff.

Careful there.

There'll be a label like this [http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/images/9/9f/WHR-HP-G54_Powersupply_AD20101207_WallWart_whatnottouse_closeup.jpg] on the wall wart. This'll apply even in the UK. This image conveniently has some markings... in the box is the amps. The arrow crosses through the polarity symbol--which may be on the router, or on the brick itself.

Hopefully it's just the ethernet cable. Heck if you know any IT guys they can probably make you one for free.