Member Avatar for jamez91

This is a serious problem with desperate help needed

I have virgin media broadband, with a D-link DI-524 router.

Every 25 minutes or so, my internet gets cut off and says "Local Netwrok Cable Unplugged", then it comes back on a split second later. So for example my msn messenger disconnects, I click reconnect and it connects again, I visit a site and it says page cannot be displayed and I refresh and it comes back on.

It is serious aswell because I host many online servers and online games (incl. football manager 2007) and I cant do this any more without people complaining that its stalled, crashed or they have disconnected.

I rung virgin media, told them the situation they said my internet has only been off 3 times so It was my routers fault.

I havent had chance to contact d-link because their website is so complicated just to email them.

So im asking for help on here any ideas on how to stop it please.

Help much appreciated, Jamez91

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Dani AI

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Brief, practical diagnosis and a test-first plan. The Windows message "Local Network Cable Unplugged" means the OS lost the Ethernet link — that’s a link-layer event (cable/NIC/port/negotiation or router port) rather than, by itself, an ISP-level Internet outage. Intermittent 20–30 second micro-drops are commonly caused by link flaps or auto‑negotiation/duplex problems between a NIC and the router, but firmware bugs or a failing router port/power supply can behave the same way. (learn.microsoft.com)

Do this exact, ordered checklist to isolate the fault (record timestamps for each step):

  1. Quick hardware swap: try a different known-good Ethernet cable, a different LAN port on the DI‑524, and a different computer or laptop. Check the link LEDs while you do it.
  2. Continuous monitoring: run a continuous ping to the router and to an external IP to capture drops and timestamps. Example commands:
ping -t 192.168.0.1   (router)
ping -t 8.8.8.8       (external)
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

Log or save the output so you have times to give to tech support. Continuous ping + logging is a standard diagnostic step. (blog.paessler.com)

  1. Bypass the router: connect your PC directly to the cable modem (power‑cycle the modem first) — if the link stays stable, the DI‑524 is almost certainly the problem; if it still drops, involve the ISP. (support.cogeco.ca)
  2. Firmware and settings: back up the DI‑524 config, then update to the latest firmware matching your hardware revision (wrong firmware can brick the unit). If auto‑negotiation is suspected, test forcing the NIC to 100Mbps/full‑duplex (and revert if it worsens). (files.dlink.com.au)
  3. If firmware + cabling + bypass tests don’t help, replace the router (DI‑524s are old hardware). When swapping, remember many cable ISPs bind devices by MAC — either clone the registered MAC or use the ISP/Hub modem’s modem/bridge mode. Collect ping logs, the router syslog and exact timestamps before calling the ISP or D‑Link support; those logs make it much easier to get a useful response. (virginmedia.com)

Notes tied to this thread: ’s quick reboot is fine as a first check; ’s suggestion to update firmware is the right next step; ’s MAC‑clone point matters only if you replace the router or re-register devices with Virgin. Start with the swaps and continuous ping — those results will tell whether to blame cabling, the DI‑524, or the ISP.

Recommended Answers

All 9 Replies

Member Avatar for TheNNS

logical things to do are reset your router, call you ISP for help.

Member Avatar for Spriggan

The A.R.M. is right, reset and pray...
the last time I saw this with a DI-5xx router all I had to do was update the firmware.

do the lights on your router or modem change when this happens? Are you on a battery backup? Is your cabeling lose or kinked? I would check all my connections (including the NIC) twice before blaming the ISP, talking to them is alway such a pleasure that I save that for last.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Dlink routers are crappy. this is a common issue

Member Avatar for TheNNS

yeah, get a netgear or linksys router.

Member Avatar for Spriggan

I didn't want to throw the first stone, but while we're on the subject, get a new router.

...nice timing NNS
I don't know if i should laugh or check for rootkits

Member Avatar for jbennet

Dont call your ISP. I have virgin media. Thier service center is away out in india and you cant understand what any of the "tech support" guys are saying.

You remembered to clone your mac right?

NTL hands out IP adresses via DHCP based on your routers MAC adress. The mac adress of the router should match the MAC of the network card that the router was plugged into when you ran the registration cd.

Member Avatar for TheNNS

nice avatar sprigann

Member Avatar for Spriggan

I thought you might like that :)

Member Avatar for TheNNS

from now on, every one should get an office avatar.

long live the schrute farm.

back to subject. tech support from other countries isn't very good. i'm not trying to be racist but it's really hard to understand them.

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