I'm having strange connectivity problems with my internet. Sometimes some of my programs will not recognize the connection, sometimes it's all of them. I had a previous router, and since the problem started it would disconnect every few minutes. I believed it was a router based problem, so I purchased a new one, a NetGear N300. The problem seems to be less frequent on this router, though it still happens. Also when I download or upload a file, everything else on the PC seems to disconnect. My ISP has assured me all the lines and exchange equipment has been tested, so it's not a hardware problem on their side.

Now last night I opened my router's log and found this:

[admin login] from source 192.168.0.3, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:26:55          
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.2)] to MAC address 98:0C:82:22:01:9B, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:20:07          
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.3)] to MAC address E0:69:95:24:BF:F9, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:19:58          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.159:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:19:11          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 92.122.49.248:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:12:03          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 09:03:47          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 74.125.132.95:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 08:57:45          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 08:34:01          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 08:32:33          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 08:01:49          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.170:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 08:00:08          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:53:56          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:31:39          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 74.125.233.40:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:18:57          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 190.97.18.47:56640, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:17:22          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 190.97.18.47:56289, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:11:26          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 190.97.18.47:56150, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:09:02          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.181:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:05:27          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 92.122.210.176:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:03:47          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 07:00:44          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:57:15          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 92.122.208.26:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:55:42          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 92.122.210.146:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:53:54          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:53:33          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.159:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:45:01          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:43:16          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:37:58          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 06:36:16          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.181:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 05:48:44          
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.5)] to MAC address 38:AA:3C:E6:40:3D, Tuesday, June 25,2013 05:43:12          
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.4)] to MAC address 38:AA:3C:E2:AD:03, Tuesday, June 25,2013 05:42:25          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 05:33:05          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:51:38          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 122.141.80.109:7000, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:40:12          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.83.208:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:26:41          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.83.208:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:25:54          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.83.208:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:25:30          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.83.208:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:25:07          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 173.194.78.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:02:57          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 173.194.78.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:02:30          
[Time synchronized with NTP server time-g.netgear.com] Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:02:22           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 173.194.78.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:02:10          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 173.194.78.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:01:47          
[Internet connected] IP address: 196.210.221.250, Tuesday, June 25,2013 04:01:30          
[DSL: Up] Tuesday, June 25,2013 03:29:50            
[Internet disconnected] Tuesday, June 25,2013 03:29:42           
[DSL: Down] Tuesday, June 25,2013 03:29:37            
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.99.53:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 03:14:55          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.99.53:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 03:14:14          
[Time synchronized with NTP server time-h.netgear.com] Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:39:58           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:39:20          
[Internet connected] IP address: 196.210.221.250, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:37:55          
[Internet disconnected] Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:37:31           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:35:04          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:34:00          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:32:56          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:31:52          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 50.22.231.48:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:30:48          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:17:19          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:16:52          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:16:17          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:15:27          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:14:24          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:12:54          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:11:56          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:11:34          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:11:01          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:06:32          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:06:06          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:05:45          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:05:24          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:04:10          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:03:26          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 02:00:54          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:58:07          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:57:42          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:52:34          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:52:00          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:50:54          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:48:42          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:47:52          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:47:31          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:46:58          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 71.1.81.173:18863, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:43:31          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.72.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:43:02          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:42:16          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:42:14          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:41:05          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:40:44          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:35:56          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:35:09          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:34:38          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:34:30          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:30:31          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 71.1.81.173:6249, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:30:05          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:25:00          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:17:26          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:17:00          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.242:1080, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:14:14          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:06:53          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 84.202.195.130:50408, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:06:06          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 01:00:00          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 63.228.223.110:80, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:51:01          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 74.125.132.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:45:36          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 74.125.132.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:45:16          
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 74.125.132.188:5228, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:44:53          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:34:49          
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.1:443, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:34:27          
[Time synchronized with NTP server time-g.netgear.com] Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:29:56           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.73.169.161:5223, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:29:54          
[Internet connected] IP address: 196.210.221.250, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:28:11          
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.2, Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:25:49          
[DSL: Up] Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:19:49            
[Internet disconnected] Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:19:41           
[DSL: Down] Tuesday, June 25,2013 00:19:36            
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 189.69.132.230:60808, Monday, June 24,2013 23:48:04           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 190.231.66.168:12665, Monday, June 24,2013 23:23:35           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 81.171.115.36:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 23:06:06           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 81.171.115.36:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 22:38:23           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 81.171.115.36:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 22:36:24           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.242:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 22:10:34           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 81.171.115.36:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 22:08:51           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 72.165.61.188:27018, Monday, June 24,2013 22:08:10           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 208.64.200.190:27030, Monday, June 24,2013 22:07:28           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 72.165.61.188:27018, Monday, June 24,2013 22:06:27           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 72.165.61.188:27018, Monday, June 24,2013 21:39:34           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 76.92.115.200:56348, Monday, June 24,2013 21:38:52           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 146.66.156.10:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 21:37:24           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 79.151.111.217:63365, Monday, June 24,2013 21:25:41           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 201.189.67.175:62438, Monday, June 24,2013 21:16:48           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 201.239.173.11:58610, Monday, June 24,2013 21:14:05           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 112.204.110.47:10943, Monday, June 24,2013 21:10:19           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 189.167.34.152:64263, Monday, June 24,2013 21:09:59           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 146.66.156.10:27019, Monday, June 24,2013 21:09:39           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 190.51.69.187:10043, Monday, June 24,2013 21:09:19           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 208.64.200.189:27030, Monday, June 24,2013 21:06:49           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 208.64.200.203:27017, Monday, June 24,2013 21:06:25           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 222.231.1.55:80, Monday, June 24,2013 20:38:29           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 72.165.61.185:27017, Monday, June 24,2013 20:38:09           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 208.146.35.105:6667, Monday, June 24,2013 20:37:48           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 208.146.35.105:6667, Monday, June 24,2013 20:37:26           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 208.146.35.105:6667, Monday, June 24,2013 20:37:05           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.83.16:443, Monday, June 24,2013 20:27:38           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 180.190.186.164:52743, Monday, June 24,2013 20:24:45           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 196.201.224.114:63543, Monday, June 24,2013 20:20:35           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 196.201.224.114:60059, Monday, June 24,2013 20:16:41           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 2.139.61.219:60569, Monday, June 24,2013 20:12:36           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.226.7.54:6667, Monday, June 24,2013 20:08:43           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 81.171.115.37:27018, Monday, June 24,2013 20:08:03           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 186.188.184.163:63943, Monday, June 24,2013 20:07:00           
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.3, Monday, June 24,2013 20:06:49           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 213.85.218.217:54730, Monday, June 24,2013 19:52:45           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 2.139.198.134:51238, Monday, June 24,2013 19:43:48           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 19:35:22           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 186.43.24.48:20135, Monday, June 24,2013 19:32:30           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 112.204.110.47:26989, Monday, June 24,2013 19:32:10           
[UPnP set event:AddPortMapping] from source 192.168.0.3, Monday, June 24,2013 19:31:51           
[UPnP set event:AddPortMapping] from source 192.168.0.3, Monday, June 24,2013 19:31:51           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.163:443, Monday, June 24,2013 19:16:35           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.165:443, Monday, June 24,2013 19:15:59           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.81.182:80, Monday, June 24,2013 19:13:10           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.81.182:80, Monday, June 24,2013 19:12:43           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.81.182:80, Monday, June 24,2013 19:12:17           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 41.86.110.193:80, Monday, June 24,2013 19:10:22           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 19:07:19           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 19:05:03           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.98.53:5223, Monday, June 24,2013 19:02:45           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.98.53:5223, Monday, June 24,2013 19:01:58           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.98.53:5223, Monday, June 24,2013 19:01:34           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 46.137.98.53:5223, Monday, June 24,2013 19:01:14           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 173.194.78.95:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:59:56           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:59:35           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.166:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:56:56           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:54:34           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.185:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:52:26           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.48:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:51:57           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 74.125.233.42:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:51:28           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.17:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:49:32           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 196.23.168.163:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:43:04           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.48:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:34:48           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.48:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:29:54           
[DoS attack: RST Scan] from source: 31.13.64.48:443, Monday, June 24,2013 18:29:02           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.253:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:23:56           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.253:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:23:11           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.253:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:22:48           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.253:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:22:27           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.242:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:20:35           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 37.228.107.242:1080, Monday, June 24,2013 18:18:34           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.173.161.180:5222, Monday, June 24,2013 18:16:30           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.173.161.180:5222, Monday, June 24,2013 18:15:26           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.173.161.180:5222, Monday, June 24,2013 18:14:22           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 74.125.136.188:5228, Monday, June 24,2013 18:13:43           
[Time synchronized with NTP server time-g.netgear.com] Monday, June 24,2013 18:13:42            
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.173.161.180:5222, Monday, June 24,2013 18:13:18           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.73.169.161:5223, Monday, June 24,2013 18:12:55           
[DoS attack: ACK Scan] from source: 184.173.161.180:5222, Monday, June 24,2013 18:12:14           
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.5)] to MAC address 38:AA:3C:E6:40:3D, Monday, June 24,2013 18:12:00           
[Internet connected] IP address: 196.210.221.250, Monday, June 24,2013 18:11:37           
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.4)] to MAC address 38:AA:3C:E2:AD:03, Monday, June 24,2013 18:11:14           
[admin login] from source 192.168.0.3, Monday, June 24,2013 18:10:18           
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.3)] to MAC address E0:69:95:24:BF:F9, Monday, June 24,2013 18:10:13           
[DHCP IP: (192.168.0.2)] to MAC address 98:0C:82:22:01:9B, Monday, June 24,2013 18:08:03           
[DSL: Up] Monday, June 24,2013 18:07:43             
[Initialized, firmware version: V1.1.00.10_1.00.10 ] Monday, June 24,2013 18:06:54 

This all from when I was sleeping and no devices were connected to the router and my PC was turned off. Are these DoS attacks what cause my wierd internet problems? Is it reason for concern? Why would anyone DoS a residential internet connection? I've traced some of the IP addresses, they seem to originate from around the world.

Any help would be appreciated, I want to make sure this isn't just the router being oversensitive before I contact my ISP's support.

Based on the log entries above, your router should be dropping those packets because they are being flagged as a potential attack, and dropping them. I wouldnt worry about it because DOS attacks against residential users are generally rare as there wouldnt be a good reason to cripple your connection. If you were the subject of a DOS attack, you would likely be unable to use your internet connection at all during the attack. In addition, rather than seeing these packets one or two every few seconds, during a real DoS attack, packets would be sent to your router at a rate of 10's or 100's of thousands per second.

Ok, that makes sense to me, but what could be causing my weird connectivity issues?

That's going to take some work...

You'll need to see if the problem is on that computer, or if you can reproduce it on another PC. This will help you scope the problem properly.

Could be Wifi interference, bad drivers on your PC, misconfiguraiton, inside cabling issue, etc..

Ok, so definitely not my PC. Happens with my PC over ethernet as well as my smartphone over Wifi. I've turned off the Wifi to check just the ethernet, no change. My ISP has assured me they tested all possible faults on their side and I've tried the router on multiple phone jacks, which made no difference either.

The ISP is going to validate up to their demarc. Is the demarc the utility box outside your home or are they validating up to the router? That gap could be where the problem lies.

I honestly have no idea. They told me they tested everything and that they were sure it's my equipment dropping the connection. I checked all my devices and then I went as far as replacing my router, which didn't fix the dropped connection problem but made it a lot less frequent.

It's impossible for anyone to tell exactly what the issue is at this point. Your ISP tells you everything is good. You've replaced the router so that should rule out a bad router. However you have two devices exhibiting the problem.

To clear your network as a suspect, you'll have to validate if your internal network is functioning normally during the "disconnect". You will need to define that word. What is being disconnected? Errors, warnings, pop-ups? How do you know you are disconnected?

I know it's been disconnected when internet using apps stop functioning. IM messages on my smartphone don't go through, I can't browse. On my computer I can also not browse and clients like steam and so forth disconnect. What also happens is if it get really bads, my DSL connection will drop. The line doesn't desync, so the DSL LED on the router remains on, but the Internet LED turns red, indicating it's synced, but not connected.

I know it's been disconnected when internet using apps stop functioning.

So to rule out your internal network, would would have to determine when there is a disconnect from the Internet can you access internal resources (print, share files, etc.). If your internal network if functional as expected which is probabaly the case, then you have to continue working with your ISP.

They may say its the wiring in your house (from the NID to your outlets). This is where the business relationship is important. How willing are they to help you for free vs additional costs in determining where the problem is.

When your ISP checks your DSL, they are only checking the connection to the their demarc point. Where is that point? You have to work with your provider.

To rule out a home wiring issue, you would have to connect the router/dsl modem at their demarc (working with their tech) to see if you can duplicate the problem. If the problem is clear at that point, they are going to tell you the issue is with you.

If the issue is duplicated at their demarc, they will have to fix it.

Or again, if you are a valued customer, they will send a tech and rewire from the NID to your DSL modem directly to rule out any other wiring issues in the home.

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