My internet connection frequently disconnects for no apparent reason. It happens at random times - sometimes only minutes after connecting, sometimes hours after. It sometimes happens when the PC has been sitting idle (connected but no one browsing), sometimes in mid-browse. I switched ISPs recently but it's happening with the new one also.

I use Win 98. My PC has a built in modem but I'm not sure of any specs on it right now (I'm not at my home computer).

Any ideas?

Hello almostunemployed

My ISP [Freeserve] disconnects users after 2 hrs online and you must re-connect. If there is no activity when online they disconnect after a few minutes [5 or 10?]. I suspect that if the lines are really busy they disconnect users who have been making a great deal of use in relation to the service they are paying for [that's my inference from my experience, I could be wrong]. I imagine banks of modems for people to connect to; people coming in asking for connection at a certain rate and when all the modems are in use they must disconnect users at the same rate as the incoming rate. What I wonder is do they have some kind of points system to help decide who should be disconnected?

So this probably has nothing to do with a problem on your PC, but could be affected by the way you use your ISP's facilities.

Thanks for the reply. I called my original ISP to troubleshoot the problem after we discovered it. They had me check the "time out" settings to make sure that wasn't the problem. They didn't mention any policy of disconnecting users to make room for others. In fact, during peak hours I often had trouble getting a connection, making me think all lines were busy and I'd have to wait my turn.

I switched to EarthLink today. The same problem occurred (I left it connected, came back 20 minutes later and found it disconnected). I guess it could be a "disconnect idle users" problem with the new ISP since I haven't had a chance to check into it with them. That wasn't the case with he old ISP though since the disconnection often occurred while I was actively surfing.

Hi,

If you connect to the internet with a dial-up modem, there is a condition known as line noise that will bump you off your connection. It doesn't take much. You'll need to call your telephone company and have them test your line for noise.

It's hard to have the tel.co around here do anything for you but you may have better luck. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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