Dialup internet access strangely intermittent

[Dot Net Work]

I am having difficulty getting dial-up internet access to work.

I can connect every time without a problem, although every time the
error count reads 3 in the connection status message box. I don't know
what these errors are - I've tried to read the modem log, but it
doesn't mention the errors!

When I connect, 50% of the time, whenever you go to an internet
website, the browser just sits there and does absolutely nothing. It
says "website found. Waiting for reply"

Email access is OK so long as it's not HTTP based such as hotmail. The
other 50% of the time, the connection is a good one, and I can use the
internet fine.

I've tried mucking about with the modem options like lowering
connection speed, turning off compression, etc, but no joy. I've even
tried changing ISP's, but no joy.

I have a cheap external modem. Perhaps it's rubbish, I'm not sure. I
use XP with all the latest service patches, and I use Zone Alarm as my
firewall.

Thanks, regards, dnw

 

[Chuck]

I am having difficulty getting dial-up internet access to work.

I can connect every time without a problem, although every time the
error count reads 3 in the connection status message box. I don't know
what these errors are - I've tried to read the modem log, but it
doesn't mention the errors!

When I connect, 50% of the time, whenever you go to an internet
website, the browser just sits there and does absolutely nothing. It
says "website found. Waiting for reply"

Email access is OK so long as it's not HTTP based such as hotmail. The
other 50% of the time, the connection is a good one, and I can use the
internet fine.

I've tried mucking about with the modem options like lowering
connection speed, turning off compression, etc, but no joy. I've even
tried changing ISP's, but no joy.

I have a cheap external modem. Perhaps it's rubbish, I'm not sure. I
use XP with all the latest service patches, and I use Zone Alarm as my
firewall.

Thanks, regards, dnw

Have you tried this on more than one phone line? That's the easiest thing to
try, that you don't mention.

And trying another external (or internal yet) modem would not be a bad idea.

The next thing I'd look at would be the MTU setting.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/internet-connectivity-problems-caused.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/internet-connectivity-problems-caused.html

 

[Dot Net Work]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions Chuck.

I am insanely busy with house moving, but will try the PC in a
different room with a different phone port on the wall. I have also
sent off for a new (this time internal) dial up modem, and I have also
downloaded a proggy called drtcp.exe which allows easy editing of the
MTU setting. Only slight snag is that I don't know what values to
experiment with - any example values for MTU experimentation would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks, regards, dnw.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks a lot for your suggestions Chuck.

I am insanely busy with house moving, but will try the PC in a
different room with a different phone port on the wall. I have also
sent off for a new (this time internal) dial up modem, and I have also
downloaded a proggy called drtcp.exe which allows easy editing of the
MTU setting. Only slight snag is that I don't know what values to
experiment with - any example values for MTU experimentation would be
greatly appreciated.

Thanks, regards, dnw.

There are half a dozen articles cited in my article, of differing technical
complexity, which explain the process of tuning the MTU. Check them out, and
find the one which you are most comfortable with. DrTCP is the utility that you
need, so you have started properly.
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/internet-connectivity-problems-caused.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/internet-connectivity-problems-caused.html