Why does my dialup modem hanging up after 4 hours?

[rondi]

I hope this is the correct place to ask this--i could not find one
more suitable.

I'm using Windows XP Home SP2 with a Conexant SoftV92 Data Fax Modem.
It's Buffer is set to High (which is default), No initialize Commands.

I'm on a separate phone line. no one has this number except the phone
company. i do not have call waiting. I have connected a phone, and i
never get any rings. I get connected after a bunch of chirping and
worbbling (how's that for a description?? ) at either 50 or 53.2kb
on 2 of my ISP's phone numbers and 45kb on the 3rd. I am connected to
Highstream.net, they say at present they do not disconnect any
connections, unless there is no activity for 20 minutes. I'm sitting
here getting streaming data and surfing and almost to the minute, at 4
hours it disconnects, weekday, week night and weekends. this happens
on 2 separate computers with 2 different phone lines--i tried the
regular phone line last weekend.

There are no settings for the modem that has anything to do with
disconnecting at 4 hours---in fact the Idle time setting is set to
"Never". Is there an Initialize Command i could try to keep this from
happening?

Is there some "overload" condition which could confuse the driver such
that it hangs up---like cumulative errors exceeding a certain level?
if so where is that setting?

Maybe i should try a NetZero line, although that's a long distance
call rather than a local call.

The phone company said there is nothing they would do to disconnect my
line.

Please help,
thanks,
ron

Please insert an E between the n & t, to reply via email.

 

[rondi]

I should have mentioned-- we have a Mshome LAN which connects 3
computers,--but i get the disconnects when 2 of the 3 are turned off.

ron

rondi <[email protected]> happily wrote the world on Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:16:17 -0700:

I hope this is the correct place to ask this--i could not find one
more suitable.

Please insert an E between the n & t, to reply via email.

 

[N. Miller]

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:16:17 -0700, rondi wrote:

I'm on a separate phone line. no one has this number except the phone
company. i do not have call waiting. I have connected a phone, and i
never get any rings. I get connected after a bunch of chirping and
worbbling (how's that for a description?? ) at either 50 or 53.2kb
on 2 of my ISP's phone numbers and 45kb on the 3rd. I am connected to
Highstream.net, they say at present they do not disconnect any
connections, unless there is no activity for 20 minutes. I'm sitting
here getting streaming data and surfing and almost to the minute, at 4
hours it disconnects, weekday, week night and weekends. this happens
on 2 separate computers with 2 different phone lines--i tried the
regular phone line last weekend.

<snip>

The telephone company is an unlikely culprit. OTOH, I wonder how the ISP
determines an idle line. If they think the line has been idle for the last
twenty minutes, they are going to disconnect from their end. Also,
depending upon how congested their POPs are, they may initiate a disconnect
after four hours if they have a queue of customers trying to connect, with
no POP modems available; a way of rationing the POPs. That could be an
"unstated" policy which only kicks in during peak hours, or they could be
just "blowing smoke" when they tell you they won't disconnect you after
four hours.

POP in this context means, "Point Of Presence".

 

[Michael W. Ryder]

On Fri, 23 Sep 2005 16:16:17 -0700, rondi wrote:




<snip>

The telephone company is an unlikely culprit. OTOH, I wonder how the ISP
determines an idle line. If they think the line has been idle for the last
twenty minutes, they are going to disconnect from their end. Also,
depending upon how congested their POPs are, they may initiate a disconnect
after four hours if they have a queue of customers trying to connect, with
no POP modems available; a way of rationing the POPs. That could be an
"unstated" policy which only kicks in during peak hours, or they could be
just "blowing smoke" when they tell you they won't disconnect you after
four hours.

Internet Explorer also has a setting for disconnecting dial-up
connections after a certain amount of "inactivity". Unfortunately they
seem to think that downloading a large file and not touching the
computer is inactivity. I had to keep moving the mouse on the computer
every so often to allow the downloads to complete.

 

[rondi]

thanks guys for the posts. it doesn't matter the time of day, nor the
days when i get disconnected--weekends, 9 or 10pm PST....

My ISP uses a modem "pool"--or whatever you call it to get connected.
I have 3 local numbers to call-- 2 with V92 & 1 w/o. These are the
same numbers which other ISP's use--the difference is determined by
the "username"@highstream.net or whatever. And highstream does not
disconnect after 20 minutes---i was just watching the football game
for about 60 minutes, while i was still logged on.

Firefox is my default Browser, but like the last hour, there was no
program running--just the desktop and background stuff.

keep the ideas coming--i'll try anything to keep connected. I'd love
to have DSL or Wireless DSL---but not in boonies where i live.
Satellite ISP is not an option either because of the streaming data
and latency. the 2nd phone line was my only option within the near
future.

thanks, ron


snip

Please insert an E between the n & t, to reply via email.

 

[Guest]

keep the ideas coming--i'll try anything to keep connected. I'd love
to have DSL or Wireless DSL---but not in boonies where i live.
Satellite ISP is not an option either because of the streaming data
and latency. the 2nd phone line was my only option within the near
future.

thanks, ron


snip

Did you read the Highstream.net TOS? From their site:

Limitation of Dial-Up Services

Multiple, Concurrent Online Sessions

User agrees to maintain no more than one (1) concurrent online session for
each PPP/ISDN account purchased.

Maximum Single Session

User agrees to have an online session automatically terminated after five
(5) hours of consecutive time, regardless of data transferred during such
specific online session.

Minimum Re-Connect Limit

User understands they cannot log back onto the HighStream's system for a
time period of one (1) minute following the termination of their previous
online session, regardless of the reason for the previous session's
termination.

Inactivity

Highstream maintains the right to terminate any user's connection following
an extended period of inactivity as determined by Highstream

 

[Guest]

keep the ideas coming--i'll try anything to keep connected. I'd love
to have DSL or Wireless DSL---but not in boonies where i live.
Satellite ISP is not an option either because of the streaming data
and latency. the 2nd phone line was my only option within the near
future.

thanks, ron


snip

I just went through this same situation, looking for an ISP that would offer
dial up with no limitations and no auto disconnects. There are very few left
and it takes some searching to find one. I finally made the choice to
purchase an account that will auto disconnect after 4 hours...it's only a
minor irritation. Highstream also states that it is in violation of their
TOS to use any program, pingbots and other methods of avoiding timing
disconnection. So if you want to keep this ISP, looks as if you have to
accept auto timing disconnect. Sorry.

As for you getting disconnected after 4 hours instead of 5, it may be that
they have changed that policy and neglected to change that in their terms of
service. You could write to their tech support and question this aspect of
their service. Hope this has been of some help to you.

SWG

 

[MZB]

Well, when the guy asks his ISP for help, why don't they tell him that
info???

Mel