Cable internet on and off?

Well i moved into an apartment three weeks ago. I got the cable modem and other stuff that i need to get started. We got it set up where the cable modem is hooked up to a router, then we plug the cat5 into the router. Now for the last 2 weeks and a half it worked just fine. Now i am experiencing some problems. Yesterday the internet was on and off all day. so i finally decided to call them up and see what insight communications had to say about this issue. they had me do some things but did not work, then i scheduled an appointment when the guy thought to ask the question if i was using a splitter. Which i am. He said that might be the problem. So i hooked up the coaxial cable straight into the wall. The internet was working just fine then. I then get a call from another guy to reschedule the appointment and i told him what i did and that it was working again. So he cancelled the appointment. So i then hooked it back up to the splitter and it was working for about 17 hours until now. So i went back straight to the wall without the splitter and it is working once again.
i am using a arris cable modem. if that makes a difference

Should i try another splitter(that is what was recommended)? so what do you think the problem is? how can the splitter work for 2 weeks straight and then again for 17 hours? Can it be a problem with the line? Maybe the modem is going? Should i schedule an appointment again?

edit
also with all these problems, the cable TV works just fine. With or without the splitter.

Well i ran these tests over at www.testmy.net If they are valid and any indication of what is going on, it is their problem i believe.
here are some of my results

WITH SPLITTER

Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3863 Kbps about 3.9 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 472 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 69 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.17 second(s)

Connection is:: 3735 Kbps about 3.7 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 456 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 67 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.25 second(s)

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3808 Kbps about 3.8 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 465 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 68 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.2 second(s)



:.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 201 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 25 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 40.96 second(s)


:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 225 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 27 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 37.93 second(s)

:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 224 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 27 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 37.93 second(s)



STRAIGHT INTO WALL (no splitter)

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3137 Kbps about 3.1 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 383 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 56 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.67 second(s)

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3771 Kbps about 3.8 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 460 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 67 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.23 second(s)

:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 3648 Kbps about 3.6 Mbps (tested with 1496 KB)
Download Speed is:: 445 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line:: 65 times faster than 56K you can download 1MB in 2.3 second(s)


:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 227 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 28 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 36.57 second(s)

:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 223 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 27 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 37.93 second(s)

:::.. Upload Stats ..:::
Connection is: 227 Kbps about 0.2 Mbps (tested with 579 KB)
Upload Speed is: 28 KB/s
Tested From:: http://www.testmy.net/
Bottom Line: 4 times faster than 56K you can upload 1MB in 36.57 second(s)

first thing i would have suggested that you do would be reset the router and upgrade the firmware, but since you say it works fine when you have it running without the splitter... speaking of firmware, update it on the modem too, if you are allowed to (i don't know if you're renting or you purchased the modem)

you need to get a better quality splitter. make sure the rating is over 1000mhz, and try to get gold quality connections on it. also make sure that you are using decent quality coax cable (rg58 i think) between the splitter you have and the modem you're using.

so basically it is either the splitter you have, or the cable from the splitter to the modem.

my 2 cents.

just because one persons modem works with a splitter does not mean all do. it depends on the signal strength to the outlet, the (resistance? ) of the splitter itself, and other things that can be isolated to different peoples rooms/houses.

you could try seeing if you have no problems without using a splitter for a while and see how that goes, or you could just schedule the appointment and have the guy come see what's going on. They should have a tester to tell you what kind of signal you're getting. Should also be able to tell you what kind of splitter to use.

My cable guy gave me some really nice splitters to use
And yes they must be rated to at least 1000mhz...

also bibby, those speed tests aren't really accurate. i remember the good days when i would speed test my dialup - download and upload a 15KB file. with burst and everything the results would lie. to get true speeds the tests would have to run longer than 3 seconds of download.

so what is the verdict? go over to radioshack and get a new splitter/cable, you can always return it later if that isn't the problem.

Another thing to look at with splitters, is the possibility of trying an uneven splitter. Quality splitters will have the "gain" of each output noted. Like an even splitter might say 6dB on each output. If you get an uneven one that's say 3dB/9dB and connect the cable modem to the 9dB output and the TV to the 3dB, that might work better.

There's also the possibility that your TV or VCR is putting some noise back down the cable wire. If you were to put an active signal amplifier between the TV and the splitter, this might stop any feedback and crisp up any channels that are on the fuzzy side. However, if you have digital cable this might stop features from working, because I think they use a digital backchannel for the TV guides and interactive features.
Broadband reports has a wealth of information on cable TV signal improvement and how to tell the signal strength at your cable modem etc. www.broadbandreports.com

regards,

Road Warrior