Hi,
My girlfriend says she has been experiencing her modem disconnecting now and then right in the middle of her sessions on the internet. Say happens
now and then and can't see any patterns when it happens. She uses AOL and
she even called them and they sent her a new modem to install, but she said this did not fix the problem.

Any suggestion on where to check?

Thanks

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Jeffro

Are you talking about dial-up service? If so then the cause is that AOL sucks, and will disconnect you every now and then for no real reason. Nothing that you can do, unless you drop AOL.

Erik

Hey,

There are lots of reasons for disconnects. Just because a person is using AOHELL, that does not mean that the ISP is automatically to blame.

The biggest reason for disconnects is if the person is using a software based modem. (Winmodem, HSF, HSF) Try switching to a hardware based modem. Almost every ISA based modem is hardware based, or if the person doesn't have any available ISA slots, the USR Performance Pro 56K Fax modem is a PCI based modem, but uses its own controller, hence, the same thing as a hardware based modem.

Another reason is poor telephone line quality and/or noise on the line. Incorrect modem settings/strings can be at fault, too.

Have this person do a little troubleshooting with the help of AOL. Use the keyword functionality and look up disconnects, etc. I'm sure there is a bonafide reason other than AOL.

Cheers,

BB 66


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The only reson I jumped to blame AOL is that I used them until I got cable service, and went through every possible reason for disconnects, and found no cause. Ultimately it was AOL's problem, they seem to disconnect randomly, especially when you spend a lot of time connected(ie downloading a large file).

Erik

Yes, AOL is know for the disconnects after being connected a long time...(I have even seen programs with names like (AOL Keep Alive....stuff like that); but as far as disconnects, I have not seen a "bullet-proof" connection yet. And if you have a winmodem and AOL then I'm surprised that there is a connection long enough to check her mail (not really but the combination definitely has a large number of disconnects.....), winmodems are notorious for dropping the connection, especially on a low quality phone line (connection)

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

several of the ISPs state in the contract, that you are liable to be disconnected after a certain period of inactivety (depending on volume of traffic) this is supposedly to stop the net getting clogged with pc's that have been left online & forgotten (slowing down the net for everyone else)

also check modem settings, that its not set for 'disconnect if idle for ???'

there are many other reasons as big blue states. oh, also check for line noise.

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for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.