Joe:
Most dsl use a dialer program; mine dials the number 35, e.g. You might
look at the software that connects you; it might have an option to
disconnect if idle. Also look in Internet Properties, Connections tab. I
doubt it'll be listed there, but it might.
Also call the isp, or go to their web site and click the Support link.
Thanks for this.
Dialer Program:
The dialer program dials zero. The property sheet for the dialup connection
(as listed in the Windows XP Network Connections) has an "Alternates"
button, but no option other than zero is listed. Were you suggesting that
changing the number might solve this?
Connection Software:
It seems I can use two different pieces of software to connect:
(1) The software that came with the modem has no options for
configuration. However, I don't use this software to connect because it
starts Internet Explorer and takes me to my ISP's website.
(2) To make a connection, I start Internet Explorer or Microsoft
Outlook. (The dialog that appears when IE starts is not the same as the one
that appears when Outlook starts. The IE dialog does not show the dialup
number as zero. However, it appears that I'm using standard Windows software
to make the connection in both instances.
Idle Time:
On the Options tab of the property sheet for the dialup connection, the
"Idle time before hanging up" is "Never".
On the Connections tab of the Internet Properties dialog, I can select my
DSL modem, click "Settings" and then click "Advanced" to open the "Advanced
Dialup" dialog. Nothing seems odd here - "Disconnect if idle for" and
"Disconnect when connection may no longer be needed" are not selected.
My ISP:
There have been many complaints about my ISP in the press and on TV.
Complaints to them are treated in a contractual way because they are totally
overloaded. For the present, they are not interested in meeting the
expectations of customers for what a broadband service should be, namely
unmetered and available 24/7. Their response to a complaint is that they're
providing the service they're contracted to provide, which is a shared
service with 50 other users. Users closer to the telephone exchange get a
better service (over a twisted pair line) than those further away. As I'm
further from the telephone exchange than others, I find that, at busy times,
I either cannot connect at all, or I'm kicked off without warning, or my
connection is slower than a 56K dialup modem (although it's advertised as
being up to 8 Mbps).
However, having said all that, I'm not sure that any of this is relevant to
my present problem. Even at non-busy times, when I can make a connection
and I'm not kicked off, I still experience the behaviour described at the
beginning of this conversation - namely, that after my computer has been on
for a short while, I cannot connect, but if I reboot and connect
immediately, I can make a connection. That's why I thought it might be a
Windows XP configuration problem.
If you have any further (printable) ideas, I'd be happy to hear.
Geoff
