Method for detecting and reducing packet drops

A method for detecting and reducing packet drops in a communications system may include receiving a first packet having a sequence number, determining if a second packet having a sequence number immediately preceding the sequence number of the first packet is lost, and/or determining if a third packet having a sequence number immediately preceding the sequence number of the second packet is lost. A counter may be incremented if the second and third packets are determined as lost. An amount of time required before detecting link activity after an end of a previous frame may be reduced if the counter violates the count threshold and the amount of time has not been previously reduced. A lower link speed may be negotiated if a current link speed is above a negotiable threshold and the amount of time required before detecting link activity has been previously reduced.