Ethernet Connection Randomly Dropping w/ AirPort Extreme Router

Question

My wired ethernet connection drops sometimes randomly, but I think it tends to do it more if I&#x27;m in an audio chat with someone on iChat (not sure). Here is my setup:FiOS ISP (always been reliable in the past) -&gt; AirPort Extreme (router) -&gt; Cisco gig-e switch (reliable) -&gt; 2008 Mac Pro running Snow Leopard (no I do not use wifi) (my computer) -&gt; Internet sharing to my brother&#x27;s computer via ethernet port 2 (set up after the new router was installed, but problem happened without it)It seemed to start doing this once I switched the router to AirPort Extreme. We were using the one Verizon gave us, a junky Actiontec router that was messing with our DNS and port forwardings but wasn&#x27;t dropping my computer&#x27;s connection randomly.I have it set to use DHCP. When it drops, other things have connection, just not my computer. It drops for about 30 seconds then comes up. I&#x27;ve already tried rebooting the router and the switch. I suspect that something is funny with the DHCP because I rarely get the message that my computer&#x27;s name has already been taken (by itself!), which has always happened even with the old router. Nothing is stealing my address. Anything else I should try?

Baby-Boomer-USofA · Answer

Try the basics first:   Change your router channel number.  Most times this works &amp; is all you have to do.Disconnect &amp; reconnect your modem.  unplug it for about 10 seconds.  Plug it back in.  Do the same for Apple’s routers.  Wait for everything to reboot.System Preferences&gt;NetworkClick the Assist Me button.In the next window that pops up, click the Diagnostic button &amp; do the necessary. Research Knowledge Base for network problems that pertain to the OS that is currently installed on your computer.   See these basic networking KB Articles:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1401 AirPort troubleshooting guidehttp://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712 Using network locations in Mac OS X Manually provided DNS server addresses are higher priority than DHCP&#x27;s http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1714 Solutions for connecting to the Internet, setting up a small network, and troubleshooting&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D; What to do when you can&#x27;t connect to the InternetAlso, run the Airport Utility app which is located inside the Utilities folder.&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D;&#x3D; If using a  Linksys router, contact LinkSys Customer Support and/or post in their forums. If using Apple&#x27;s Airport, please re-post over in one of the AirPort Forums.