Help Needed - Computer related

[oh_my_hat]

It seems that lately every other time I log on to the internet (dial up connection) that after 3 or 4 minutes my connection just stops and won't do anything. I have to get off line and reconnect and usually I am fine to go again (although tonight I have had to get in 3 times).

Does anyone if this is sounds like a network problem or have I got some sort of intermittent conflict happening? Anyone care to speculate?

 

[jim boy]

Could be any of a number of causes. You say it doesn't happen on all calls, so it's unlikely to be any sort of setting on your pc. A few possibilities include;

1/. Loose connection on modem, ensure all cables etc are plugged in securely
2/. Faulty modem, unlikely really, but it might just be a case of it dying after a few minutes after some part warms up
3/. Call back options. Do you hav any sort of call waiting facility or similar that chimes when you have a call? This can sometimes cause the connection do fail
4/. Dodgy ISP The big fellas should all have reasonable equipment, but if you go through a 'backyard' ISP, then they may not have good enough equipment
5/. Phone line quality. Actually not so much the quality, as I've operated modems or some really shocking lines, much if there is a fault. Do you get crackling or things when you speak on the phone?
6/. Setting on your PC, I know I said it's unlikely, but does the line drop out after 2 or 3 minutes of inactivity, and by activity I mean opening nw browser windows, not merely downloading a large file. There is a setting for that under DUN.

 

[oh_my_hat]

Jim Boy,

Phone line doesn't have any crackling. It happens when I am opening pages, ie. no inactivity. Thanks for the feedback I will consider all of the points that you have made and check them.

Cheers.

 

[Nige_Bix]

I'd try another modem if you can lay your hands on one - I had a similar problem - it turned out to be the modem. I've got cable now - beautiful!! - but not cheap!!

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

If you are running winXP with a conexant modem, the windows XP drivers for the modem will make the net connection disconnect after a few minutes....

 

[joybell27]

Originally posted by oh_my_hat
It seems that lately every other time I log on to the internet (dial up connection) that after 3 or 4 minutes my connection just stops and won't do anything. I have to get off line and reconnect and usually I am fine to go again (although tonight I have had to get in 3 times).

Does anyone if this is sounds like a network problem or have I got some sort of intermittent conflict happening? Anyone care to speculate?

It could be one of the following in order of probability:

1. Modem driver incompatibility - go to the www site of your modem manufacturer and update the drivers.

2. Line problem - noisy line can cause this

3. If your are sure you are still connected it could be a problem with your TCP/IP stack. If you are running 95/98/ME/NT then uninstall it and then reinstall it. If you are using XP/W2K forget it, you can uninstall/reinstall the stacks but it's serious pain....better to reinstall the whole OS from the top.

4. ISP problem - very rare unless it's a backyard operation (it could be their access routers having problems or could be a DNS problem if you are sure you are still connected).

An easy way of checking where the problem may lie is to run a ping test:

Click Start
Click Run
Type in command (black DOS screen appears)
Type ping 203.8.183.1

You should see the following:
Pinging 203.8.183.1 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 203.8.183.1: bytes=32 time=134ms TTL=249
Reply from 203.8.183.1: bytes=32 time=130ms TTL=249
Reply from 203.8.183.1: bytes=32 time=123ms TTL=249
Reply from 203.8.183.1: bytes=32 time=120ms TTL=249

If you don't then it means either your modem has disconnected or if not you have a TCP/IP or DNS problem.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

What OS are you using??

 

[oh_my_hat]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
What OS are you using??

Windows 98

 

[oh_my_hat]

Thanks for the feedback. This may sound silly but I have changed my homepage and I haven't had a problem the last 2 nights so I will see how that goes. Probably a long shot. I have downloaded a modem driver which I will try next and then go through the rest of the suggestions and hopefully I can fix the problem.