ISP disconnects

[Ken Knecht]

Could this be a modem (US Robotics 56K external) problem.

The past several weeks I've been getting disconnected from my _dial-up_
connection to my ISP, too often several times an hour. This makes it
impossible to DL anything useful. It's not the ISP, I changed (for other
reasons) and the problem continues. I just bought PC Tools Spyware Doctor
yesterday and all it found were cookies so it's not likely to be malware.
To my ear the phone line sounds quiet. AVG found no viruses.

Oddly, often the system seems to be unaware I am disconnected. I get no
disconnect window from DUN and my Gmail new-mail monitor doesn't
complain, which it does instantly if I disconnect manually. I however can
no longer use my news reader, browser, email client etc. so need to
disconnect and reconnect which fixes things for a while.

Anything anyone can suggest for me to try? Any sort of diagnostic tool
available? I'd even pay for one if it would likely help!<g>

Running XP Home, SP1.

TIA

 

[smlunatick]

Could this be a modem (US Robotics 56K external) problem.

The past several weeks I've been getting disconnected from my _dial-up_
connection to my ISP, too often several times an hour. This makes it
impossible to DL anything useful. It's not the ISP, I changed (for other
reasons) and the problem continues. I just bought PC Tools Spyware Doctor
yesterday and all it found were cookies so it's not likely to be malware.
To my ear the phone line sounds quiet. AVG found no viruses.

Oddly, often the system seems to be unaware I am disconnected. I get no
disconnect window from DUN and my Gmail new-mail monitor doesn't
complain, which it does instantly if I disconnect manually. I however can
no longer use my news reader, browser, email client etc. so need to
disconnect and reconnect which fixes things for a while.

Anything anyone can suggest for me to try? Any sort of diagnostic tool
available? I'd even pay for one if it would likely help!<g>

Running XP Home, SP1.

TIA

Do you have any additional telephone line features line call waiting?
If yes, you should look for the dialing "codes" to turn this off
whenever you dial the ISP. It should in the Phone and Modem Options
section of the Control Panel.

 

[Ken Knecht]

Do you have any additional telephone line features line call waiting?
If yes, you should look for the dialing "codes" to turn this off
whenever you dial the ISP. It should in the Phone and Modem Options
section of the Control Panel.

Thank you.

No. And I live alone so no one else is using a phone either.

Yesterday I tried my backup desktop computer and it stayed on-line
steadily for 4 1/2 hours until I shut it off. So everything is likely ok
up to the tee connector that splits the phone line between the two
computers.

I removed the phone line to the problem computer from a tel line surge
protector this morning and it may have cured the problem. Only one
disconnect. More testing tomorrow.