Modem or phone line?

Sallie · 08-09-2005, 08:52 PM

Hi everybody. I'm new here, and I am not good with technology. But I will describe the problem with info I think is important.

We have dial-up, and can't get DSL or cable because we are so far out in country.
We have two computers but I am the one the uses the Internet mostly - usuallly about five hrs a day.

Problem: I can't stay connected to Internet. I may get on for five seconds, five minutes or even thiry minutes or even five HOURS before I get cut off. The little box always says: Your server unexpectedly terminted the connection. Possible causes: server, network, long period of inactivety. We don't have network, and it never cuts off when I am away from computer - only when I am using Internet.

I have thought it was the phone line - perhaps water in line as it seems worse when it rains. I have also thought it was modem, but a repair man told me today that modems either work or they don't work. If he is right, then it must be the phone line, right?

Any suggestions?
The computer is a DELL
Thanks in advance

lynx6200 · 08-09-2005, 09:05 PM

I think it might be a problem with your ISP (internet service provider). Who do you use for dialup? If your inactive, that could be that cause, as such programs have a tendancy too boot you when you are idle. Alos, there are often problems with dial up, like you mentioned, where the connection is not always very stable. Your modem should be fine, and if you have not had problems on the phone, talking to people, and getting disconnected, i wouldnt worry about that either. Check with your ISP, and maybe they can give you a suggestion, or tell you they have had network difficulty.

lynx6200 · 08-09-2005, 09:06 PM

One last thing, you might check for spyware, as that could cause such problems.

Sallie · 08-09-2005, 10:12 PM

Thanks for quick response! Very helpful because I was convinced problem was phone line. I want to think this problem out before I call phone company or buy new modem.

We have two isp and they both disconnect me. That's another reason I concluded the problem was phone line.

We have no problem with phone calls - no disconnects, no static.

Generally, I get disconnected when I'm refreshing page or downloading emails. It is SO aggravating. Other people with dial up say they NEVER have this problem. I am so jealous.

I hate to have the telephone man out if it is a waste of his time (free for us as we pay monthly for repair). But I think that will be next.

I also hate to take computer to shop. But I may have to.

flame1117 · 08-09-2005, 10:14 PM

Why do you have 2 isp's? Maybe thats the reson they are interfering or somthing..

StasysPC · 08-10-2005, 02:29 AM

Quote:

I also hate to take computer to shop. But I may have to.

if you do narrow it down to a modem problem, you can buy one off the internet for 8 bucks, or from walmart for about 15 or 20... cheaper than taking your pc to a shop imo

08-09-2005, 08:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sallie New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2	Modem or phone line? Hi everybody. I'm new here, and I am not good with technology. But I will describe the problem with info I think is important. We have dial-up, and can't get DSL or cable because we are so far out in country. We have two computers but I am the one the uses the Internet mostly - usuallly about five hrs a day. Problem: I can't stay connected to Internet. I may get on for five seconds, five minutes or even thiry minutes or even five HOURS before I get cut off. The little box always says: Your server unexpectedly terminted the connection. Possible causes: server, network, long period of inactivety. We don't have network, and it never cuts off when I am away from computer - only when I am using Internet. I have thought it was the phone line - perhaps water in line as it seems worse when it rains. I have also thought it was modem, but a repair man told me today that modems either work or they don't work. If he is right, then it must be the phone line, right? Any suggestions? The computer is a DELL Thanks in advance

08-09-2005, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
lynx6200 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NC Age: 25 Posts: 786	I think it might be a problem with your ISP (internet service provider). Who do you use for dialup? If your inactive, that could be that cause, as such programs have a tendancy too boot you when you are idle. Alos, there are often problems with dial up, like you mentioned, where the connection is not always very stable. Your modem should be fine, and if you have not had problems on the phone, talking to people, and getting disconnected, i wouldnt worry about that either. Check with your ISP, and maybe they can give you a suggestion, or tell you they have had network difficulty. __________________ [size=2][size=1][color=DarkGreen][color=Navy] CoolerMaster Case Asus A8N SLI- Deluxe AMD athlon 64 3400+ 1GB Ultra DDR ram XFX 7600 GT 256mb videe 230GB SATA HD Combo drive

08-09-2005, 09:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
lynx6200 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NC Age: 25 Posts: 786	One last thing, you might check for spyware, as that could cause such problems. __________________ [size=2][size=1][color=DarkGreen][color=Navy] CoolerMaster Case Asus A8N SLI- Deluxe AMD athlon 64 3400+ 1GB Ultra DDR ram XFX 7600 GT 256mb videe 230GB SATA HD Combo drive

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08-09-2005, 10:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sallie New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2	Thanks for quick response! Very helpful because I was convinced problem was phone line. I want to think this problem out before I call phone company or buy new modem. We have two isp and they both disconnect me. That's another reason I concluded the problem was phone line. We have no problem with phone calls - no disconnects, no static. Generally, I get disconnected when I'm refreshing page or downloading emails. It is SO aggravating. Other people with dial up say they NEVER have this problem. I am so jealous. I hate to have the telephone man out if it is a waste of his time (free for us as we pay monthly for repair). But I think that will be next. I also hate to take computer to shop. But I may have to.

08-09-2005, 10:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
flame1117 banned Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,770	Why do you have 2 isp's? Maybe thats the reson they are interfering or somthing..