Forum Discussion

pentangle's avatar
pentangle
Sophomore
5 years ago

Repeatedly losing network connection

I have been trying for days to download the Big Sur version of the Apple OS without success. After some time, (this morning I was able to get 10 Gigs of the 12G downloaded) I get an error message that the network connection was lost. This has happened regardless of time of day or night, ususlly I get much less downloaded.I have run through an enormous amount of data trying to get this update. I am fairly sure this is a HughesNet issue as other downloads from other sources go normally. I would appreciate some input or help here, also, if you would like to restore some data (I saw my "Bonus" date drop from 22% to 12% this morning) that would be appreciated and appropriate.

  • So, I posted this issue on the Apple support community site, and got helpful answers in just a day. I was able to set up a wired connection, took about 12-14 hours, but the download finished. Nothing to do with Century Link.

  • maratsade's avatar
    maratsade
    Distinguished Professor IV

    Where are you getting the error? Is it on the Apple device? 

    • MarkJFine's avatar
      MarkJFine
      Professor

      It's happening in the Mac Store application in macOS. I had something similar trying to update an iPad to 14.2 where it stuttered and stalled on just 714MB - took several hours. When it fininshed and started the 'prepare' phase, it said the download failed, then told me the update will now be 3.56GB instead of the original 714MB. #Fun

       

      Pretty sure this is a combination of SSL errors, routing problems, as well as the usual gapping problems at the provider (CenturyLink) causing timeouts.

       

      There have also been problems with the routes to Microsoft update servers. I finally was able to successfully update my Win10 VM to Oct 2020 today. There were real problems with sub-100kB links to update.microsoft.com. Again, pretty sure this is mostly caused by CL.

      • maratsade's avatar
        maratsade
        Distinguished Professor IV

        MarkJFine , this is why I asked where the OP is getting the error messages -- the network is actually working, but the pathways are clogged or slow, and Apple (and now Windows) interprets this as there being no network connection, when in fact there is one.

        CL is doing a number on updates, it seems.  I have to go elsewhere for my Apple and Windows updates, as they no longer work reliably from home. 

  • maratsade's avatar
    maratsade
    Distinguished Professor IV

    The problem you are experiencing is not a HughesNet issue but an Apple and Century Link issue. When Century Link backbone pathways are clogged (which seem to happen often), this increases network latency, and  some things (notably everything Apple, from downloads to iCloud) think there is no network connection, when in fact there is.  It is unfortunate that this is happening, but it's not really an issue with the ISP, and while it'd be cool to get data restored, it's not really appropriate in this case, as this is an issue outside of the ISP.  

     

    Your best bet is to keep trying the downloads, preferably between 2 and 7 am. To save data, you may want to try the downloads once a week only. Alternatively, and if this is available to you, try the downloads somewhere where there's stable wifi, such as a college or university. 

     

     

    pentangle wrote:

    I have been trying for days to download the Big Sur version of the Apple OS without success. After some time, (this morning I was able to get 10 Gigs of the 12G downloaded) I get an error message that the network connection was lost. This has happened regardless of time of day or night, ususlly I get much less downloaded.I have run through an enormous amount of data trying to get this update. I am fairly sure this is a HughesNet issue as other downloads from other sources go normally. I would appreciate some input or help here, also, if you would like to restore some data (I saw my "Bonus" date drop from 22% to 12% this morning) that would be appreciated and appropriate.


     

    • pentangle's avatar
      pentangle
      Sophomore

      I really don't know what Century Link has to do with my situation, Hughes is my ISP, I have no connection to Century Link that I am aware of. Here's the facts as I see them: Hughes is slow, just barely qualifing as broadband on a good day, but mostly just slow. Hughes is unreliable, speeds vary wildly depending on time of day, weather and load. Hughes pricing seems to me to be predatory, I am paying more for lower speeds with a ridiculous data cap than I ever have in my internet usage. I really don't understand why all you "Disttinguished Professors" insist on defending a clearly substandard service. I would really like to hear from someone at HughesNet instead of you all.

      I understand Hughes is providing service to areas without wired capability, but really?

      • maratsade's avatar
        maratsade
        Distinguished Professor IV

        Century Link provides internet service to ISPs. When Century Link has issues, so do ISPs.

        HughesNet qualifies as broadband by federal definition of the term.

        Your speed (edit: and network) issues may be a result of many factors, which is why troubleshooting is necessary. Without troubleshooting with the reps you remain stuck, and your only choices are to grin and bear a service you don't like, or to cancel the service and pay a fee if you're still under contract.

        Service and performance are not guaranteed and depend on many factors. This information is freely available on the HughesNet site, both the main site and on the subscriber agreement available at the legal site.

        That you focus on system given labels, Freshman, reveals a lot about you. 

        We are not defending the company, we are giving you facts. 

        You may want to work with the community before expecting a rep to cut in, as this is primarily a subscriber to subscriber site.

        You can continue to resist troubleshooting and answering questions, as this is your choice, but this is a tech support site, and troubleshooting and answering questions is a necessary step to getting tech support.

         

        pentangle wrote:

        I really don't know what Century Link has to do with my situation, Hughes is my ISP, I have no connection to Century Link that I am aware of. Here's the facts as I see them: Hughes is slow, just barely qualifing as broadband on a good day, but mostly just slow. Hughes is unreliable, speeds vary wildly depending on time of day, weather and load. Hughes pricing seems to me to be predatory, I am paying more for lower speeds with a ridiculous data cap than I ever have in my internet usage. I really don't understand why all you "Disttinguished Professors" insist on defending a clearly substandard service. I would really like to hear from someone at HughesNet instead of you all.

        I understand Hughes is providing service to areas without wired capability, but really?