The problem is that when searching for products within the Amazon site, very often, but not always, my router loses connection with the Internet. After a few minutes the connection will be reestablished, but it’s a nuisance.

The router is years old, dating back to when it was Qwest rather than Century Link. I have used Amazon for years as well, but the problem started occurring only within the past couple of years or so. I don’t recall exactly when, but it may have been when I acquired my current HP desktop. It doesn’t seem to happen with my wife’s computer or my laptop. Neither of the latter computers gets a lot of use searching Amazon with the same router, though.

The problem occurs only when entering search terms on the Amazon site itself, not when using Google to search there. With one possible one-time exception, the problem never occurs when searching on other web sites, only Amazon. (It might have happened once on Netflix, but I’m not certain, and it doesn’t happen when I search there now.) In addition to searching on Amazon, sometimes when I search on Google and several Amazon listings come up, clicking on a particular product after entering the Amazon site will also result in the problem of losing the Internet connection.

A computer literate friend suggested the problem might be due to a virus, but no problems have ever been noted during scans.

Ideas?

When you say it's not happening on your wife's computer or your laptop, does that mean when you see your router loses connection to the internet then you're wife's computer is cut off as well? If those other computers aren't affected, then it sounds like the issue is only with your computer and it's losing connection.

Trying to narrow down the location of the issue here, no ideas beyond that so far.

I haven’t actually checked to see what happens on the other computers when mine loses Internet connection, but whatever happens definitely affects the router. The DSL icon on the router turns red rather than the usual green, and the Internet icon turns off (stops displaying/flashing).

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
I haven’t actually checked to see what happens on the other computers when mine loses Internet connection, but whatever happens definitely affects the router. The DSL icon on the router turns red rather than the usual green, and the Internet icon turns off (stops displaying/flashing).

If your modem's DSL light is red, you've lost your DSL connection. There should be no Internet available on any computer in the house that uses the DSL connection. You could call your DSL provider and have them check your provider-side wiring. These are usually copper phone lines, and you might be hooked to a bad pair (one with a bridge tap somewhere along the line, for example). Ask them to try hooking you to another pair. Once you get a good pair, ask them to cut it off at your pedestal so the remainder of the pair line is out of the picture. I've had to go through this, and am now finally on two good pairs (bonded connection).

henryaz makes good points, but since it's repeatable & isolated to 1 device on the network, I'd say there's something funky in the routing causing the modem to reset.
Either A) ** reset the device to factory default (probably a hole in the back that you can push a paperclip through to the reset button). or B) have DSL provider swap it out.

I'd choose B, there's probably numerous bugs & security issues with such an older device that will never get fixed.

**Option A might require the DSL provider to re-enter some settings in the DSL modem. You might try it & have to call them to fix (play dumb about what happened), but you're more likely to get a new modem if a tech is on site & you explain the issues. Phone support is usually on a script & I doubt 'Amazon kills my modem' is on the list.

Thanks for the comments.

I did do the router reset at the suggestion of my friend and that didn't fix the problem. I cannot imagine that there is anything about the connections that would be sensitive to performing a specific function on a particular site.

I realize that “Amazon kills my router” would probably be greeted with incredulous silence, so I will probably just get a new router, although I suspect it is the computer causing the problem. I am asking here, though, because it wouldn’t be the first time I learned some amazing fact from our members.

quote:

Originally posted by bigeinkcmo:
If the computer is on the network alone, does the problem pop up?

Yes.
My wife is home now and her tablet and computer are on the network at present, but when she isn't here, I have none of those other devices you mention (except for a cell phone, and it is not normally connected to my WiFi). Also, when everything else is connected, I can then add my laptop and as far as I can tell it works fine when searching on the Amazon site.

quote:

Depending on how many devices are connected to the router, and the bands they need to communicate, you could be dropping the device.

No, not unless you erroneously have a duplicate IP. A pop-up message will occur if this is the case.

More than likely a DSL issue if the connection on the modem/router signals "red".
I'd get the ISP to come out and look it over.
It could be a problem anywhere from the modem to the cable or anything back up stream.

Assuming it is not a networking problem (wired vs wifi) > I haven't heard any data to determine one way or another.

The red modem light is a huge red flag to me.

Additionally, you could/should delete your browser cache and also clear the DNS > cmd prompt: ipconfig /flushdns

Can't rule anything out but I'd get the ISP out there.

YMMV