Why does my broadband connection keep cutting out? 

Every 10-20 minutes the connection cuts out and the icon bubble says
'Acquiring Network Address'. It will usually reconnect automatically
after a minute or two but it's still annoying if I'm in the middle of
something.

I use Microsoft XP and both Firefox and IE browsers. My flatmate uses
the same cable and modem and doesn't have this problem.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 02 Apr 2006 10:23 PDT

acquiescent...

Is it a wireless modem by any chance? If so, you may be getting
interference from a microwave or other RF device. Changing the
operating frequency of the modem will help.

Let me know where this takes you...

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by acquiescent-ga on 03 Apr 2006 10:38 PDT

Hi sublime1 - thanks for the idea but no, it's not a wireless modem.

Another possibility is problems with your power supply.  If you notice
that your lights dim when, for example, the refrigerator starts up, or
for any other reason, then the voltage to your modem, router, etc.,
may fluctuate enough to cause the problem.

One solution is to get an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).  This
needn't be anything fancy.  Even one that keeps you going for five
minutes will usually be enough to get you through the brief power
fluctuation.  Assuming, of course, that power fluctuations are the
problem.

Hi baruch60610, thanks for that - but I haven't had any problems with
power fluctuations at all. So I'm not sure that's the problem.

Um, do you have any HP scanner software installed? I realize it was an
older version, but at one time HP scanner software caused my system to
freeze for a second, exactly so many minutes apart, and it
disconnected my dial-up Internet. I would assume that was long ago
fixed, but since it was a weird problem thought I'd mention it.

First, use the stopwatch function on your digital watch, even the $15
ones will do this, and make some notes for a couple hours the exact
elapsed times between disconnects. If it is consistent, then you have
some such software problem in one of your installed progams. Just a
thought, but that time data will quickly let you know.