Modem firmware related to disconnections?

Question

My internet stopped working 2 weeks ago, so I called my Internet provider and the day after that, a guy came and installed a new modem. He said my previous one was too old and that might have caused the problem.

Now my internet works fine except for 1 problem. Disconnections.

It makes online gaming VERY difficult and it happens every 20-30 minutes. I never had this problem with my previous Modem.

I search around and decided that it might be a firmware problem. When the guy installed the modem, it was just yank out old one, plug in new one and tada. No CD's or anything like that. I don't even have the manual for this modem.

So how do you find and install the firmware for a modem? After searching around, I think I found a firmware update but it's a BIN file and I have no idea how to use it.

My modem is called SpeedTouch ST516 v6 by Thomson, I believe.

I would appreciate someone explaining on my issue as simple as possible, I'm a nub at networking and such.

Answer 1

It looks like you already have the latest firmware.

http://www.thomson.net/GlobalEnglish/Pro...

The only download available on the page is a data sheet.

Modems supplied by telephone and cable companies are almost never updated.

If you can access the setup program for the modem, see if there isn't an option to stay connected as opposed to connect on demand [an idle period using that option can disconnect you].

A firmware update is similar to a bios update. The manufacturer has a program that does the update. The BIN file contains the information to perform the update.