Slow to connect to Internet after being in "Sleep" mode.

[Bob M]

My Gateway GT5064 desktop computer goes into "Sleep" mode if left unattended
for awhile. When it "Wakes Up", the internet connection does not work
immediately. Typically, the attempt at connection will time out with a message
that "xxx could not be reached..." I re-try a 2nd time with the same message.
On the third try, the connection is made. This process takes over a minute.

Previously when I was running Windows98 I was able to run a program "Matcli"
which was part of the installation programs supplied by the ISP: sbc. I
contacted sbc about the problem, and all they could suggest was to set it up
so it don't go to sleep.

I don't recall needing any of the sbc installation to get the dsl running on
this Gateway computer. I am running XP w/ service pack 2.

Is there some program (part of the startup?) which I can RUN to accelerate the
connection? It always works OK right after a complete reboot.

 

[Guest]

Do you have a router, or does your XP Machine "dial" the DSL line each time
you make a connection (where the machine plugs straight into the modem)?


____________________
Shawn

 

[Bob M]

Do you have a router, or does your XP Machine "dial" the DSL line each time
you make a connection (where the machine plugs straight into the modem)?

There is a LinkSys Cable/DSL Router and an isp supplied modem, a Siemens
Speedstream 4100 Ethernet ADSL modem. When I first turn the system on in the
morning, it takes a short time before the red light on the modem goes out and
the green DSL light goes on. It stays that way until I turn it off at night. I
am unaware of any dialing.

 

[Guest]

Okay. I think I know what's up. Here's the thing: DSL has to be "dialed"
similar to dial-up, except a lot faster and over an audiable signal that
can't be heard by humans. This is how you can share the same line for DSL and
voice. I won't get into it much... but anyway:

When you start the devices, the router or modem (probably the modem if you
didn't reconfigure it yourself) dials the DSL server and connects you.

I don't know about your modem, but because my modem didn't support this, I
configured my router to do it for me. On my linksys router's config page, I
can choose PPoE, my DSL user name and password, and have my router "host" the
DSL connection (dial it for me).

This requires first setting an option on your modem's config page to have it
not dial the connection yourself. Because? Because the modem won't allow
what my router allows: keep the connection "alive" instead of hanging up
when it goes idle.

Then when your computer wakes up, it won't have to wait for the DSL to dial
and connection (takes a minute or so)...

 

[Bob M]

Okay. I think I know what's up. Here's the thing: DSL has to be "dialed"
similar to dial-up, except a lot faster and over an audiable signal that
can't be heard by humans. This is how you can share the same line for DSL and
voice. I won't get into it much... but anyway:

When you start the devices, the router or modem (probably the modem if you
didn't reconfigure it yourself) dials the DSL server and connects you.

OK. I learned something. Something I will try is turning the DSL modem on and
off when I come back to a sleeping computer.

I notice that even if the computer does not go into sleep mode, if I take too
long composing a reply, it will be reluctant to contact the internet. I have
heard of various "keep alive" schemes. Is there one of those built in to XP or
is it in each program? (i.e. Eudora, Free Agent, Netscape, etc). I looked in
the Control Panel for Network and Internet Connections | Setup or change your
internet connection (Internet Properties), and I could not find any mention of
a keep-alive function. Is there one?