ISP disconnects

[Ken Knecht]

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.

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

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

 

[Jimmy]

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.

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

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

Look for other devices on the same phone line in your home. Remove
anything you find. Could be something simple like one of the family
trying to make a call...

 

[V Green]

Look for other devices on the same phone line in your home. Remove
anything you find. Could be something simple like one of the family
trying to make a call...

Exactly.

Or intermittent/loose/wet connections, etc. on your service
drop from the good ol' Phone Co.

Next time you seem to lose the connection, go pick up
a phone and see if you get SCREEEEEE!!! or dialtone.

If you still have carrier, start looking for a hardware/software
issue on the PC. If you have dialtone, the modem has hung
up OR been otherwise disconnected for some reason.

 

[Ken Knecht]

Exactly.

Or intermittent/loose/wet connections, etc. on your service
drop from the good ol' Phone Co.

Next time you seem to lose the connection, go pick up
a phone and see if you get SCREEEEEE!!! or dialtone.

If you still have carrier, start looking for a hardware/software
issue on the PC. If you have dialtone, the modem has hung
up OR been otherwise disconnected for some reason.

Neither. I just get a fairly loud hum.

I'm going to put a backup desktop on-line. Teed off the same phone line
but different modem, etc. and see what happens.

 

[Ken Knecht]

Look for other devices on the same phone line in your home. Remove
anything you find. Could be something simple like one of the family
trying to make a call...

Unlikely - I live alone. However, the cat...

A extension phone and an answering machine are on the line. I want to try
some other stuff, then I'll try unhooking them. I strongly suspect they
are innocent.

 

[Ken Knecht]

Neither. I just get a fairly loud hum.

I'm going to put a backup desktop on-line. Teed off the same phone line
but different modem, etc. and see what happens.

Nope. I get the same sound when the system is working properly. Wonder
why no squeal?

 

[V Green]

Neither. I just get a fairly loud hum.

That sounds like something (phone answering machine, etc.) has
"picked up" the line BEFORE the modem (which is after the
whatever-it-is) or you've lost the incoming service.

I'm going to put a backup desktop on-line. Teed off the same phone line
but different modem, etc. and see what happens.

OK. Should tell us something.

 

[Guest]

If you have "call waitng" did you disable it before connecting?

 

[Ken Knecht]

No call waiting or other such services.

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.

 

[Ken Knecht]

That sounds like something (phone answering machine, etc.) has
"picked up" the line BEFORE the modem (which is after the
whatever-it-is) or you've lost the incoming service.

Found the phone sound is the same whether computer is working correctly
on-line or not. Must be the fault of my ancient ears that the sound is
not as expected.

OK. Should tell us something.

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. On thinking
back, I started using it about the time the problem began. Only one
disconnect. More testing tomorrow. I likely then will change the line to
a direct one between the tee connection and the modem, then plug my desk
phone into the modem's second phone connection. I think that will work.
This will eliminate an answering machine that fed both the modem and
phone on that stetch of line. (However, these phone lines,answering
machine, and connections have been used for decades with no previous
problems so I'm not sure the change will make any difference.)

 

[V Green]

Found the phone sound is the same whether computer is working correctly
on-line or not. Must be the fault of my ancient ears that the sound is
not as expected.


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. On thinking
back, I started using it about the time the problem began. Only one
disconnect. More testing tomorrow. I likely then will change the line to
a direct one between the tee connection and the modem, then plug my desk
phone into the modem's second phone connection. I think that will work.
This will eliminate an answering machine that fed both the modem and
phone on that stetch of line. (However, these phone lines,answering
machine, and connections have been used for decades with no previous
problems so I'm not sure the change will make any difference.)

Yeh, you wouldn't think so, but The Phone Company
works in strange and mysterious ways...

My neighborhood is all overhead circa 1961, and back in
my days of dial up before I could get ISDN, I watched
in annoyance as my connect speeds slowly degraded from
33,600 to 28,800 to 24,000 over the space of a few years.

I reconnected the very same hardware the other day, dialed
in, and got 48,000.

All that directional drilling and replacement of trunk lines
feeding the 'hood (I saw it happen) must have had an effect.

In other words, it might not be your fault.

 

[Ken Knecht]

Yeh, you wouldn't think so, but The Phone Company
works in strange and mysterious ways...

My neighborhood is all overhead circa 1961, and back in
my days of dial up before I could get ISDN, I watched
in annoyance as my connect speeds slowly degraded from
33,600 to 28,800 to 24,000 over the space of a few years.

I reconnected the very same hardware the other day, dialed
in, and got 48,000.

All that directional drilling and replacement of trunk lines
feeding the 'hood (I saw it happen) must have had an effect.

In other words, it might not be your fault.

Two ISP drops so far this morning between 6 and 10 AM. And I was gone 2
1/2 hours of that.

Couldn't find a ~$100 com port dial-up US Robotics modem at Staples, Best
Buy, or Walmart so had only one other choice, a US Robotics USB V92
external for ~$50 at Walmart. Hope it works ok and cures my intermittent
problem. And works with Linux (I suspect not). Doesn't say anything
anywhere on the package about requiring Windows so may not be a Winmodem.
Winmodems are significantly slower on my machine. I'll probably install
it tomorrow before I go on line. Here's hoping!