Let’s be honest, no one loves their internet service provider (ISP). They often have a reputation for poor service, and my experience was no exception. My home internet became practically unusable, with my connection dropping up to 50 times a day. Stuck in a contract with a company that repeatedly dismissed my concerns, I felt helpless. However, my research led me to a simple tool, Net Uptime Monitor (NUM), that proved to be a game-changer.
My ordeal began with occasional internet disconnects, which I initially attributed to maintenance. But these disconnects soon became a daily occurrence, impacting every device in my home for minutes at a time. My mobile internet connection, using my phone as a hotspot, worked better than my supposed high-speed fiber connection.
Despite my troubleshooting efforts, I suspected the problem wasn’t on my end. My ISP’s response was equally frustrating. They replaced my modem, changed the cabling, and insisted everything was fine on their end. Promises of a technician visit were broken, and their customer service was unresponsive.
Feeling powerless and unable to work or game properly, I turned to Google for help. Social media revealed that many others were experiencing similar problems with my ISP, making me feel like a lost cause. I needed proof beyond a doubt that the issue wasn’t within my home network.
That’s when I discovered Net Uptime Monitor (NUM). This tool is designed to monitor the reliability and stability of your internet connection. NUM periodically sends “pings” to three different servers, measuring their response time and confirming whether your internet is working. If all three servers fail to respond, it indicates a complete internet outage.
What truly made NUM valuable for me was its ability to differentiate between local network failures and ISP-related issues. It tests your local network first, checking your gateway device (modem or router). If the gateway responds, NUM indicates that your local network is functioning correctly. The second part of the test analyzes the connection between your gateway and your ISP, along with the broader internet. This is where NUM provided the crucial evidence I needed. It confirmed that my local network was fine; the problem was with my ISP.
NUM has several adjustable settings, including the ping frequency and the minimum duration of a failure before it’s logged. I opted for the shortest possible intervals to capture every disconnect. The tool also allows you to configure sound notifications when your internet goes down and reconnects.
The most helpful feature for me was NUM’s logging function. It records every internet failure in a text file, noting the duration, time, and whether the local network was affected. This comprehensive log became my irrefutable proof of my ISP’s poor service.
While NUM is technically free, the free version runs for a limited time. Since I needed 24/7 monitoring, I purchased a one-time license for a small fee of $10. This investment was well worth it.
With the detailed logs from NUM, I was able to confront my ISP with tangible evidence of their failings. They eventually admitted that the issue was widespread, affecting my entire building. However, they failed to offer a solution or a timeline for a fix.
After numerous calls and visits, I lost faith in my ISP’s ability to resolve the issue. Needing a stable internet connection, I decided to switch providers.
While I ultimately abandoned my previous provider, NUM’s logs still proved beneficial. They provided me with the leverage to break my contract early without any financial penalties. The proof of their poor service allowed me to part ways without the exorbitant termination fees.
If you find yourself dealing with a problematic internet provider, consider these options: upgrade your modem or router, troubleshoot your Wi-Fi, or contact your ISP directly. But if they refuse to cooperate, consider using Net Uptime Monitor. It might just be the tool you need to fight back and secure the internet connection you deserve.
