Dialup connectivity problem: I'm stumped.

[sleddog]

In a nutshell: dialup connection is established okay, everything works fine for 1-5 minutes, then -- abruptly -- data stops being received. Connection is still up, data is *sent* (e.g., request a webpage and a few bytes go out), but nothing comes in (for http, mail, news, ping...). Hang up, re-connect, okay for 1-5 minutes, then the same thing!

The machine that's supposed to be using the line is a Linux server that does mail upload/download periodically through the day, and is connected to Win95/98 workstations on a LAN. Ah, you say, some exotic Linux misconfiguration! I took the Linux machine home for the weekend, set it up, connected, and it worked like a charm for the 2 days. Brought it back on Monday and the same problem (of course!)

Ah! you say, a bad phone line! I got a long phone cable and plugged three different office Win95/98 machines with dialup networking into the phone jack. Everyone of them worked just fine.

But (and this part *really* has me going!) I plugged *my* office NT4 workstation into the same jack and I get the same problem as the Linux machine!! Data reception suddenly stops anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes after connection. I brought *that* machine home overnight and -- yup, you guessed it -- it worked just fine.

I substituted a known-good modem (ext. USR), serial cable, power adapter and phone cord. No resolution.

So what I have is either:
(1) A phone line that will work with Win95/98, but will not work with Linux or Win NT4, or:
(2) A phone line that will not work with any computer owned by me (the Linux and NT4 machines).

If anyone can explain this you get added to my Christmas list http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Paleo Pete]

(3) The same setting misconfigured in both machines.

Don't know squat about Linux, but in Windows Dial Up Networking, the primary logon type will have a similar affect. Windows logon and Microsoft Family Logon usually work, some ISP's use one, some use the other, maybe either will work, does for mine. If you're dialing in through a network server, it might be something in the routing for the machines, but I think somewhere in Dial Up settings.

I would check the DNS settings too. And do either or both of these machines have winmodems? I think you know my answer if you say YES... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[sleddog]

Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
(3) The same setting misconfigured in both machines.

Don't know squat about Linux, but in Windows Dial Up Networking, the primary logon type will have a similar affect. Windows logon and Microsoft Family Logon usually work, some ISP's use one, some use the other, maybe either will work, does for mine. If you're dialing in through a network server, it might be something in the routing for the machines, but I think somewhere in Dial Up settings.

I would check the DNS settings too. And do either or both of these machines have winmodems? I think you know my answer if you say YES... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif


No winmodems... external USR Sportster 28800. Both machines have only TCP/IP networking installed. Connection is done via a script (or manually, responding to dialup server prompts in a console).

Anyway, if its a software configuration issue why do both machines work fine at home? Same ISP, same account, same logon/verification.

Here's something else I just came up with: both machines maintain the connection and work OK if I lower the modem bps to 19200. At 38400, 57600, 115200 the problem is back.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Paleo Pete]

OK, I'm stumped... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[hacker]

Don't know if this will help, but I had a dial-ip problem that was caused by my Caller-ID phone on the same line.

If where you work has that or some other kind of service that causes some interference it could be your problem.

It's a shot in the dark, but sometimes they hit.

Good Luck!

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I was called "hacker" before there was a HeathKit.

[ReddDogg]

I have an idea there. It is possible the phone line quality is low enough that it can't handle higher speeds in the office, but your phone line quality at home is ok. I have run into this myself, and Operating system made an important difference. My situation, I had a laptop, came with windows 98 on it. Has an LTWinModem, yes, I know, but it is internal and so I delt with it. In windows 98, at work, dialing up, was slow, but stable without any special settings or speed changes in the baud rate section. At home, connected faster, but it worked great. Then I upgraded to windows ME, and after that, I had that disconnection thing going on. Same hardware, same phone line. It would start, then it would just stall. Well, modem drivers, every one I could find for that modem, didnt' help. Finally found and init string that forced it to connect at no greater than 26400, and it would connect for me at 14,400 - 16400, and it never disconnected again. I can't explain it, but I can relate to ya there. I worked 1 year as internet tech support, and as best as I can tell, you are better off with cable/dsl/satelite, cause anything that relies on phone lines is bound to do screwy things.

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Joe Redd
MCP

[mjc]

Have you swapped the serial cables or just the modems?

I don't know of any Linux diagnostic programs but have you tried logging the connection and seeing what's in the log? Line quality check?

You can try here for some help using the USR diagnostic AT commands:808hi.com (http://808hi.com/56k/usehyper.htm)

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mjc

[sleddog]

Thanks everyone.

ReddDogg, I think you're right. The only possible explanation is a problem with the phone line.

Mjc, yes I have swapped serial cables. I have swapped *everything*, and I've tested it all on another connection and evrything is functional: modems, serial cables, power adapters, phone cords.

I haven't had a line check done... that's the next step.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[This message has been edited by sleddog (edited 01-25-2001).]

[sleddog]

Originally posted by ReddDogg:
I worked 1 year as internet tech support, and as best as I can tell, you are better off with cable/dsl/satelite, cause anything that relies on phone lines is bound to do screwy things.


I would jump at either of those options ReddDogg, but they simply aren't available. When you live in a remote rural area, population 2,000 dispersed over 8 communities, just having local dialup access is a blessing http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sea69]

Hi

Yes, I would say to get a "Telco" line check (and be persistent dont accept "It seems ok") as a response from them. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

Reddog.. dsl is via a telephone line http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

I would have thought that satelite would be avail worldwide as the name implies 'satelite'.. hehe guess not did a search in ur area "Labrador Ca) and came up blank. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

I have an observation, I will 'piggy back' on here instead of starting a new topic.

Here's what occured: 1st, I use a Winpoet dialer/adsl- external Westall dsl modem connection. It is generally up 96% of the time. Yesterday, while looking for an answer to someones querry here .. surfing , I came across something I thought was 'neat'.. I downloaded it. Something (unknown) happened (bad) in this process ( pc -froze) and I had to cold/hard/force (whichever u prefer) Pressing and holding in Power Button and then allowing SCAN DISK to complete.

After re-booting, I could connect to my default connection (dsl) but it would only send and not recieve; also I could not connect with my internal modem(winmodem) on any of my dail up (back up) accounts!!!!!

I know what happened... my registry reverted back to a previous one (that was not correct as it was during a period of 'Tweaking' and was not the 'final' prefered settings)

This happened!

Until about 15 mins ago I could not connect in ANY manner.

I had alot of headaches getting back online due to this..

important:: BACK UP YOUR CONNECTION SETTINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so u wont have to go thru this!!!!!!!

**special note to Pete, (and all other dial-up'ers)

I empathize now with all of you!!! I was online here on my dial up account (in this forum) and it took FOREVER to load a few pages. (WoW Pete.. how do u 'monitor' this site w/ a dail up connection)...... hmmmmmmmmm I admire ur patience http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif





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"re-inventing the hammer.. why I oughtta..."

[mjc]

Down here in the States we too have vast areas where our only means of connecting is dial up.

line check...also you may wnat ot try setting the modem to try and reject all noise and such, most modems use S10 for this, some use S10=0 to shut off detection and others use S10=255, then it will try to stay on until you send the hangup sequence, it may not actually "improve" anything but it will be one less thing the modem will have to deal with. Also log when it happens and see if your ISP will let you compare it with thier log of the connection. Have you tried pinging somewhere (ISP) when this is happening?

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mjc

[sleddog]

Good idea, will have a look at modem settings to see if S10 or anything else might help.

Ping? Yes, tried, no response. When it's dead it's dead.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[sleddog]

Originally posted by sea69:
I empathize now with all of you!!! I was online here on my dial up account (in this forum) and it took FOREVER to load a few pages. (WoW Pete.. how do u 'monitor' this site w/ a dail up connection)...... hmmmmmmmmm I admire ur patience http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif


Use Opera, after browsing a few pages set graphics to "show cached images only". Then you can whiz through this forum with minimum no. of connections, downloading text-only but displaying all graphics.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Reid]

It may be time to upgrade to a 56k modem, even if you never expect to see that kind of speed. There have been improvements in Digital Signal Processing technology while 56k modems were being developed.

There is also a lot of difference in brands. I had an Eigercom that hit 46k max, but the Supramax I replaced it with connects at 52k, and both are Winmodems. I'd like get an external modem because my PCI TV card hangs the
system when I use the modem.

I'm waiting for DSL to reach my corner of the Mojave desert; which is likely no time soon.

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reido@my-deja.com

Not quite right since 1948

[sleddog]

Partial resolution, I think.

Haven't had a line check done yet, but it's looking more like a line problem.

If I use &N and &U in the modem command set to set a floor connect speed to 19200 and a ceiling connect speed to 24000 (AT&U10&N12) then the connection works okay. With a ceiling speed of 26400 the problem occurs. Throughput is less than a 28800 connection of course, but it's a heck of a lot better than 0!

So I guess I'm looking for some kind of subtle line problem?


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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)

[Bryan1]

I have been having the exact same problem. I came here looking for answers too. Acutually this is the second time I have had this problem. However, there was a twist. I learned to listen to the "handshake" and knew when I would beable to get a normal speed or nothing at all. When the handshake sounded as if it went through the cycle twice, I would get a speed listed as 31200k in the sys tray and could surf normally. Anything else and I would time out when trying to open webpages. The first time I did everything to correct the problem with no avail. I format/fdisk, replaced the modem, changed ISP 3 times, and had the phone company come and check the lines. Nothing worked. I moved from that location a little over a year ago and immediately had normal (even better than before) connection speeds. I just knew the problem was with the phone lines.

Well for about the past few days I have been getting the same problem. Only this time I haven't gotten the handshake leading to the 31200k, and I can surf normal for about 2 minutes and then nothing. I have been having problems with windows so I went ahead and format/fdisk again. Same thing. Tried free ISP's, same thing. I am using Windows 95 and found a link to an updated winsocks file from microsoft. I loaded the winsock file and have now been surfing normal for about 1 hour. Part of the reason I am typing so long is to see if my connection dies. So far so good. If you have Windows 95 try the winsock update and see what happens. I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

[Bryan1]

Well my connection held while typing the message. So far so good. I'll keep you posted.


P.S. I used to be registered as Bryan. Couldnt find the password so I reregistered.

[jon]

Any ICS or FIREWALL running on your pc??

[sleddog]

Originally posted by jon:
Any ICS or FIREWALL running on your pc??

If you're asking me, then the answer is no.

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sleddog
[sleddog.f2s.com] (http://www.sleddog.f2s.com)