I get disconnected a lot, is it my modem or my ISP?

[Andy Perreault]

This is driving me nuts, I'll be on-line, downloading from Napster and surfing the TDR site, and click, for no reason, my phone will get disconnected. It isn't from lack of activity, because I'll be sitting here clicking away when it happens. I know some ISP's will disconnect a user after a certain amount of time has passed when there's no activity. FWIW, I'm using Earthlink. I used to use Earthlink when I lived in California, and I would get disconnected every now and then. But, in the last few weeks, it's been happening like 5 or 6 times a day! I'm about to take this computer outside and run over it with my truck!! #ad

Any ideas? Is it my modem that's causing this, or is it Earthlink, or the local phone company?
Thanks for any advice. This computer's getting old and it has a slow modem, I want to replace it soon.
Andy

I should add: I do not have call waiting.

[This message has been edited by Andy Perreault (edited 02-19-2001). ]

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

If you have a Compaq computer, its the modem.

 

[joesoot]

It's usually the server but you could try
dropping your modem port speed to the corresponding speed of your modem... ie if it's a 56k modem, drop the port speed to 57600 baud. If it's a Rockwell chipset set the modem as software and disable the FIFO buffers. All can be done thru the CTRL panel under modem properties.

 

[Larry Willard]

Andy
I was having that problem a year agoand it was the computer! My son (a computer tech) first thought it was my ISP, but after doing some checking and trying a new modem, brought his laptop in and hooked it up and I have been using it since with no problem. He has spent a good bit of time off and on and can't get the old one to work. I will be getting a new one soon.
Larry

 

[rickhans]

If you have call waiting on your telephone line and do not have the correct data string in front of the phone number call waiting usually disconnect your connection when a call comes in. If you do have call waiting check to see that you have the proper data string set up.

 

[Justbeamn]

Andy, I had the same problem. It turned out to be the phone lines. After they upgraded the lines I havn't had any other problems.

 

[Benson]

Hi Andy, FWIW it can happen with DSL also. I get dropped occasionally. Not really sure of the source yet. I suspect my phoneline management system (switcher or router). I agree, it is very frustrating. One more variable is that if your have a noisy phone line, that could be a factor. My first suspicion would be your modem.

 

[illflem]

Andy,I've had the same problem with Earthlink also,it started maybe three weeks ago,before that no problems. Also around the same time I started getting busy signals occasionally,never had one before in over two years,not one. I think the problem is with Earthlink,maybe too many people hooked up in WA?I emailed them about it two weeks ago and never got a response,to me that alone indicates that it's their problem and they don't want to fess up.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Originally posted by Andy Perreault:
I'm about to take this computer outside and run over it with my truck

Andy, great idea, I need to do the same thing with this boatanchor I use to surf TDR with #ad
Dodge Cummins VS Pentium 100 #ad


I DO need a new computer, but due to finite funds, the decision comes to this: BOMB computer, or BOMB Ram??

Let's see. . .
Make TDR faster, or make Ram faster?
Rev up Pentium, or rev up Cummins?
Add 30G HD, or add HX40 turbo?
Add a few Gs of cache, or do the 5" exhaust?
Go with DSL, or get those Bad Boy Stage 3s?

DECISIONS DECISIONS #ad
#ad


Vaughn



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'01 2500 QC Shortbed 2wd, 6-speed, 3. 54LSD, Cab & Fog lamps, Camper & Tow Pkg.
BOMBed: RV injectors, PS Boost module, Amsoil air filter, straightpiped exh. , Aeroquip 3/8" fuel line w/tank mounted lift pump, AutoMeter Sport Comp gauges, Line-X'd, Amber turn signal conversion.
Mildly BOMBed Performance: 0-60 @ 10. 0 sec. ,
40-60 @ 5. 5 sec. ,
0-100 @ 24 sec.

 

[willyslover]

Vaughn. .
just do like my wife does... whip out that Platinum Card and do it all #ad
#ad
#ad

 

[WOWZY]

Andy I thought about running mine over with my truck also until I suspected the "Call Waiting thing also.

Just for practical uses and the fact that my son is 14 and so many girls are calling, I got a second line installed for my desk and the disconnects stopped imediately.

I now have RoadRunner Cable Modem service and that would be the route that I would recommend to you since my dowload speed went from about 20k to 4. 5Meg with RR and that's 3 times faster than a T-1 line. Once you go with a cable modem, you'll never go back. It's always on and there's no dial up or disconnect worries.

Just as an example, When I would click on a thread on this site, it would take about 20+ seconds for the whole page to finish. Now with the RR, every page finishes coming up on the screen in about 0. 3 seconds!

Hope this helps
<font size=-2>




[This message has been edited by WOWZY (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[Andy Perreault]

Thanks for all the replies. I will be moving my trailer out of this campground soon, back out to the country. DSL won't be available there. I'm thinking of going with that DirectPC (the satellite deal) if they ever get that up and running.
Vaughn, I know what you mean. My top priority is to buy some land and build that dream garage, so although I can afford a nice new computer with all the bells and whistles, I don't want to spend the money!
I tend to think the cause of my problem is either Earthlink or the local phone company. When I lived in Granite Falls, I never got disconnected. I was using FreeI-Net until they went out of business.
I'm sure you can imagine my frustration after watching a song download from Napster for over an hour, only to get disconnected when it's 95% completed! Then I get back on-line, get the same song queued up, and it gets to maybe 75% percent and suddenly: CLICK! My cockatiel sure gives me a funny look when I suddenly burst into a string of profanity while staring at my monitor!
Andy

 

[illflem]

Andy,this is really starting to pi$$ me off,Earthlink has disconnected me 6 times in the last hour,twice when I called back it was busy,which I find hard to believe at this time in the morning.
I'm going to complain again and see if they answer.
I checked into the satellite deal,your up loads still go though the telephone lines,only downloads though the disc so you can read fast but respond slow and still get disconnected.



[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[Bill Stockard]

Andy,

Using computers, you won't forget how to use profanity!! #ad


I don't use Earthlink, but you may have the same problem we have being out here in the boonies and on the end of the phone line. I have used different computers and modems and we still get disconnected for no aparrent reason. I blame it on the baling wire strung along in the trees. We've advanced up from the string and oatmeal boxes!!

Bill

 

[Switca]

Andy Perreault:

As a network engineer, I would suspect noise in your phone line, your ISP is intentionally throwing you off, a bad port(ports) in your ISP com servers, or call waiting is messing your modem up.

Line noise. When you use your phone, do you hear any crackles, buzzes, hums or other noises you should not be hearing? When you first log in, check what speed you connectd at. If you're using Win 9x, just put the mouse on you modem icon (lower right of screen). As your session continues, re check the speed. If noise is a problem, the speed will start to drop. If you got noise, call the phone company.

ISP throwing you off. Especially in prime time (6PM to 11PM). They may set the inactivity timer low because they are low on ports. That's why when you redial, you get a busy signal.

Bad port(s) on the comm. servers. Sometimes the port you dial into has problems and will throw you off. If everyone is connected to good ports and you redial, guess what you will get reconnected to... if you get connected at all.

If you have call waiting, make sure you disable it in your dial string. *70 should do it.

Last, call your ISP and ask them if they are having problems and make sure you give them the number you are calling.

How old is your computer and modem?

Oh yeah, dont run it over. You might cut a tire.

paccool:

AOL sucks. I hear more poeple getting dropped all the time.

AOL is like training wheels for the internet. When you've learned how to ride, take them off.

[This message has been edited by Switca (edited 02-20-2001). ]

 

[Steve M]

I had that problem with a Hayes modem. Splurged $40 on a Diamond Supramax 56k and not the first hint of trouble since. It adjusts it's rate of transfer to accomodate line noise etc. Now my wife's laptop kicks her off alot. Don't know how to swap out the modem in a HP laptop.

------------------
98 2500 CC SB 4X2 12v 5spd 4. 10, -silencer, AFC+20, Edelbrock IAS, VDO gauges, Reese 15k Classic
97 Dodge Stratus 150HP
92 Harley Fatboy, Dynojet fuel management, Supertrapp 2-1
00 Jayco 25' 5th wheel, single slide

 

[Andy Perreault]

I checked into the satellite deal,your up loads still go though the telephone lines,only downloads though the disc so you can read fast but respond slow and still get disconnected.

Illflem, the "DirectPC" system is supposed to become a two way system sometime "in the first quarter" of this year, which will not require a phone line at all, per this press release: http://www.hns.com/news/pressrel/010601.htm

 

[illflem]

Andy,if it doesn't cost a fortune I'll go for it. The area I live in will never see a cable and I don't want to live in an area that does. I like the unpeopled space around me,if I can't take a leak off the front porch I'd just as well be in jail...

 

[joesoot]

Before you guys spring for new analog modems, try refreshing you network adapters the tcp/ip, the dial up and the microsoft family... I was always getting booted during FTP sessions... this seems to have solved the problem for now...
can't wait for @home cable in my area

 

[WOWZY]

I was called by Gilat to be one of their test pilots for the Dish Network 2-way sat system. After questioning them about an hour i turned the free system down because of the price per month was gonna be $70 at only 500k max. download speed. But if this fills your needs, this might be the way to go.