ADSL 'USB' modem problems - Voyager 105 unit, Plus Net deal:

Hi again folks,
Well, the connection problems we were having we sorted
out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem and
comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire everything up),
the PC just shuts itself down, every time.

I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other power
source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can even hear
the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips out)...

How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external supply to
the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even be done
with this modem?

I'm pissed off to all hell fire with this, and am not about to be forking
out any kind of money to see it fixed up - we just haven't got any ATM!


Cheers folks - any advice you can offer to help us get this sorted will be
very much appreciated (And yup - we will be firing some pointed questions
off to PlusNet too, but I'd like to see some info with less/different bias
too, so we can better see what's really what, IYSWIM.)



Shaun aRe
--
May all your wishes be both wise and fulfilled.

Shaun aRe wrote

>
>
> Hi again folks,
> Well, the connection problems we were having we sorted
> out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem and
> comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire everything up),
> the PC just shuts itself down, every time.
>
> I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other power
> source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can even hear
> the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips out)...
>
> How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external supply to
> the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even be done
> with this modem?
>
> I'm pissed off to all hell fire with this, and am not about to be forking
> out any kind of money to see it fixed up - we just haven't got any ATM!
>
>
> Cheers folks - any advice you can offer to help us get this sorted will be
> very much appreciated (And yup - we will be firing some pointed questions
> off to PlusNet too, but I'd like to see some info with less/different bias
> too, so we can better see what's really what, IYSWIM.)


You own a cheap & cheerful comp from PC World or some other crappy
outlet?
If the PSU isn't up to the job - get a new more powerful one. It'll
cost you about £25.

"MinusNet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4374604c$0$54400$(E-Mail Removed) enews.net...
> Shaun aRe wrote
>
> >
> >
> > Hi again folks,
> > Well, the connection problems we were having we
sorted
> > out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem and
> > comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire everything
up),
> > the PC just shuts itself down, every time.
> >
> > I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other power
> > source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can even
hear
> > the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips
out)...
> >
> > How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external supply
to
> > the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even be
done
> > with this modem?
> >
> > I'm pissed off to all hell fire with this, and am not about to be
forking
> > out any kind of money to see it fixed up - we just haven't got any ATM!
> >
> >
> > Cheers folks - any advice you can offer to help us get this sorted will
be
> > very much appreciated (And yup - we will be firing some pointed
questions
> > off to PlusNet too, but I'd like to see some info with less/different
bias
> > too, so we can better see what's really what, IYSWIM.)
>
>
> You own a cheap & cheerful comp from PC World or some other crappy
> outlet?
> If the PSU isn't up to the job - get a new more powerful one. It'll
> cost you about £25.

Cheers.

Don't know where it came from originally, but it was last being used at my
FIL's company. Had no problems with it before.




Shaun aRe

"Shaun aRe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:43745c21$0$81704$(E-Mail Removed) reenews.net:

>
>
> Hi again folks,
> Well, the connection problems we were
> having we sorted
> out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the
> modem and comp get a little busy (basically every time you try
> to fire everything up), the PC just shuts itself down, every
> time.
>
> I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other
> power source* than the *^&*(&* USB port

That's quite normal. A USB port can supply 5v @ 05A. If it's
designed like that, it should work.

> - the PSU can't keep up
> (you can even hear the cooling fan slow down with the voltage
> drop, before the PC flips out)...

Suggests either your PSU or modem or both is/are faulty. Can you
measure the +5v voltage before/after connecting the modem?

>
> How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external
> supply to the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network
> card? Can it even be done with this modem?

No it can't. And with zero budget, nor can much else :-)

Shaun aRe wrote

>
>
> >
> > You own a cheap & cheerful comp from PC World or some other crappy
> > outlet?
> > If the PSU isn't up to the job - get a new more powerful one. It'll
> > cost you about £25.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Don't know where it came from originally, but it was last being used at my
> FIL's company. Had no problems with it before.
>


Open it up and see the check the wattage of the PSU. It needs to be
over 350 watts for a new comp.
Ensure you buy a PSU with the same/correct motherboard connections.

"Shaun aRe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:43745c21$0$81704$(E-Mail Removed) reenews.net...
>
>
> Hi again folks,
> Well, the connection problems we were having
we sorted
> out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem
and
> comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire
everything up),
> the PC just shuts itself down, every time.
>
> I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other
power
> source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can
even hear
> the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips
out)...
>
> How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external
supply to
> the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even
be done
> with this modem?
>


Shaun

It certainly looks like you have power problems.
Whether it's the PSU or USB supply from the motherboard I can't tell.
The fan slowing down tends to imply the PSU.

I'm assuming the USB is coming from the motherboard and not an add in
card.

You could install motherboard monitor and report back the voltages
(3.3v, 5v, 12v).
This might indicate if you're running on the edge of your PSU..

When I used a frog modem, I had a similar problem.
I fixed it by adding in a USB PCI card, which was able to power the
frog.

HTH

Eric
--
Remove the dross to contact me directly

On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 08:53:52 -0000, "Shaun aRe"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>
>Hi again folks,
> Well, the connection problems we were having we sorted
>out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem and
>comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire everything up),
>the PC just shuts itself down, every time.
>
>I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other power
>source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can even hear
>the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips out)...
>
>How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external supply to
>the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even be done
>with this modem?
>
>I'm pissed off to all hell fire with this, and am not about to be forking
>out any kind of money to see it fixed up - we just haven't got any ATM!
>
>
>Cheers folks - any advice you can offer to help us get this sorted will be
>very much appreciated (And yup - we will be firing some pointed questions
>off to PlusNet too, but I'd like to see some info with less/different bias
>too, so we can better see what's really what, IYSWIM.)

You could try a powered USB hub.

--
cerberus

"MinusNet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:43746cbb$0$54854$(E-Mail Removed) enews.net...
> Shaun aRe wrote
>
> >
> >
> > >
> > > You own a cheap & cheerful comp from PC World or some other crappy
> > > outlet?
> > > If the PSU isn't up to the job - get a new more powerful one. It'll
> > > cost you about £25.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > Don't know where it came from originally, but it was last being used at
my
> > FIL's company. Had no problems with it before.
> >
>
>
> Open it up and see the check the wattage of the PSU. It needs to be
> over 350 watts for a new comp.
> Ensure you buy a PSU with the same/correct motherboard connections.

It's not here (at work) with me. We're taking the whole fucking lot to a
little (private owned/knowledgeable) shop at the w/e.

Funny, for an electrical (and minor electronics) repair/service tech, my
comp knowledge sucks. Just not something I've ever been interested in the
tech of, just the use.

Also doesn't help that there are almost as many different answers as there
are people you ask questions, about these things, heheheh...

Cheers,


Shaun aRe

"Eric Parker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4374722e$0$1491$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Shaun aRe" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:43745c21$0$81704$(E-Mail Removed) reenews.net...
> >
> >
> > Hi again folks,
> > Well, the connection problems we were having
> we sorted
> > out (modem didn't like our ext. cable), but now, everytime the modem
> and
> > comp get a little busy (basically every time you try to fire
> everything up),
> > the PC just shuts itself down, every time.
> >
> > I believe this is due to the fact that this modem *has no other
> power
> > source* than the *^&*(&* USB port - the PSU can't keep up (you can
> even hear
> > the cooling fan slow down with the voltage drop, before the PC flips
> out)...
> >
> > How difficult/what (parts?) is involved, in getting an external
> supply to
> > the modem, and connecting it via Ethernet/network card? Can it even
> be done
> > with this modem?
> >
>
>
> Shaun
>
> It certainly looks like you have power problems.
> Whether it's the PSU or USB supply from the motherboard I can't tell.
> The fan slowing down tends to imply the PSU.
>
> I'm assuming the USB is coming from the motherboard and not an add in
> card.
>
> You could install motherboard monitor and report back the voltages
> (3.3v, 5v, 12v).
> This might indicate if you're running on the edge of your PSU..
>
> When I used a frog modem, I had a similar problem.
> I fixed it by adding in a USB PCI card, which was able to power the
> frog.
>
> HTH
>
> Eric

Thanks for the advice mate, but as I said to MN, were just gonna bite the
bullet and drag the lot to the damned shop. This to-ing and fro-ing is
getting nuts and of course, we're bloody paying for this connection that we
can't use so we may as well get it sorted as quickly as possible.



Cheers!

Shaun aRe, wishing he'd found the time to learn more about computer
hard/software etc. (Most I've seen inside of one, apart from swapping drives
on occasion, was a few weeks temping in production at FUCKing Time FUCKing
computers (I had to leave before I killed someone)).

In article <43747ca9$0$81709$(E-Mail Removed) ews.net>,
Shaun aRe says...
>
> "MinusNet" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:43746cbb$0$54854$(E-Mail Removed) enews.net...
> > Shaun aRe wrote
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > You own a cheap & cheerful comp from PC World or some other crappy
> > > > outlet?
> > > > If the PSU isn't up to the job - get a new more powerful one. It'll
> > > > cost you about £25.
> > >
> > > Cheers.
> > >
> > > Don't know where it came from originally, but it was last being used at
> my
> > > FIL's company. Had no problems with it before.
> > >
> >
> >
> > Open it up and see the check the wattage of the PSU. It needs to be
> > over 350 watts for a new comp.
> > Ensure you buy a PSU with the same/correct motherboard connections.
>
> It's not here (at work) with me. We're taking the whole fucking lot to a
> little (private owned/knowledgeable) shop at the w/e.
>
> Funny, for an electrical (and minor electronics) repair/service tech, my
> comp knowledge sucks. Just not something I've ever been interested in the
> tech of, just the use.
>
> Also doesn't help that there are almost as many different answers as there
> are people you ask questions, about these things, heheheh...
>
> Cheers,
>
>
> Shaun aRe
>
>
>
the motherboard isn't supplying enough grunt to power the modem.
Changing the PSU might not cure it at all. If the motherboard can't
supply the grunt, it all turns to poo. Even expensive motherboards can
suffer from that, especially if you are using other USB devices

Best bet is to go for a modem or router which is externally powered.
They aren't expensive. The USB idea is wonderful but so often falls flat
on its arse due to this power issue.

You could also connect the modem via a powered USB hub, but whilst you
are forking out for one of those you might as well spend the money on a
decent modem. Or just buy a decent router/modem combo device that
connects via ethernet now, as you will eventually want one of those
anyway. Most people do!

FR