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There are a number of reasons that users have disconnect problems, and they tend to fall into 3 broad categories: Settings, Software, and Physical Connection.
We will start with setting issues that can affect modem disconnection rates as they are the easiest to fix and produce marked results in many cases.
All modems need error correction turned on to work properly, other wise line noise, which is on all phone lines, whether you hear it or not, comes across as data. If lines are too noisy, error correction won't work at all, so most modems try to negotiate during the startup phase to see whether error correction will work or not.
The problem is that if the lines are too noisy for error correction to work, the modems will sign on without error correction, then the line noise bursts start to come across as data. The modem has to resend packets over and over again and eventually signs off when the retry limit is surpassed. So it is of questionable value to even allow a modem to sign on without error correction.
There is an option setting that forces the use of error correction, this bypasses the negotiation phase, and tells the modem to use error correction even if the lines are 'too noisy for it'. The result of this, is that if the lines really are too noisy, the modem won't be able to sign on at all, but usually the modem will sign on just fine and then work perfectly. The negotiation process is not perfect and will often say that the lines are too noisy for error correction when in fact they aren't. But lines are ALWAYS too noisy to run without error correction, so forcing error correction often solves this problem.
Some few users have their dialup adapter set to disconnect them if idle for more than 5 to 10 minutes. You don't really need this setting, and if it is on, it may be disconnecting you while you are reading or composing e-mail.
If you have call waiting on your modem phone line, then every time someone calls into you while you are on line, the line creates a beeping noise and breaks the modem carrier guaranteeing that you will be bumped off. To turn off this behavior during the period of your modem call, you need to stick a *70, in front of the dialup number.
So for example rather than dialing 428-0009, you would be dialing *70,428-0009.
Note it is very important that you NOT do this if you don't have call waiting as your call won't go through at all, you will get an operator's voice instead complaining about your misdialed number.
- Close out all programs and all windows on your desktop so all you have is your desktop and its icons showing.
- Go to MY COMPUTER -> DIAL UP NETWORKING -> Odyssey Networks ICON click it once with the *RIGHT* mouse button, click on PROPERTIES with the left mouse button.
- Notice what type of modem it says you have and write it down.
- Click on CONFIGURE If you have a 14.4 modem set the speed to 57600. If you have a 28.8, 33.6 or 56K/V90 modem set the speed to 115200.
- Click on CONNECTION - Turn off DISCONNECT A CALL IF IDLE FOR MORE THAN X MINUTES
- Click on ADVANCED.
- In the upper left turn ON Use Error Control, Required to connect, and Compress data. In the upper right, turn on Use Flow Control, and Hardware RTS/CTS (Request To Send/Clear To Send). In EXTRA SETTINGS put S10=20
- Click OK, then OK again, then OK again.
- At this point you should be in the Dialup Networking window looking at your Odyssey Networks icon. Double click on the Odyssey Networks icon and bring it up.
- Make sure your username is *ALL LOWER CASE* with no @odyssey.net at the end of it, and no leading or trailing spaces. Swipe it out and type it in again carefully if you aren't sure.
- Then click on DIAL PROPERTIES If you have call waiting on your modem phone line, half way down the properties page, turn on the suppression of call waiting and make sure it says *70, At the very bottom it will show you the exact phone number you will be dialing, this should include the *70, if you have turned it on. Save your work and dial in.
Outlook and Outlook Express both have options to hanging up after reading e-mail. Many customers complain that every time they read their e-mail they get disconnected, well this is why.
In Microsoft Outlook go to Tools -> Options -> Mail Delivery and turn off hang up after reading e-mail.
In Outlook Express go to Tools -> Options -> Connections and turn off the same.
Windows ME has an extra window in its dialup networking called DIALING. There are two settings at the bottom of that window that are set by default to drop the line should they become 'approximately idle' or 'possibly not needed'. This is completely different than the original 'Disconnect if idle for more than X minutes' setting in the same area. Turning off these two items has eliminated random hangups for at least one customer.
Go to MY COMPUTER -> DIALUP NETWORKING -> Click the Odyssey Networks icon with the RIGHT BUTTON ONCE -> Click on PROPERTIES with left button. -> GENERAL -> CONFIGURE -> CONNECTION -> Turn off Disconnect if idle for more than X minutes. Click OK -> DIALING -> Turn off 'Enable idle Disconnect' and 'Disconnect when connection may not be needed.'
LOST CONNECTIONS OR UNABLE TO CONNECT
If you are loosing your connection repeatedly, or your modem has to dial in many times to get a connection, please check the following. Give us a call if you wish help.
We get an enormous increase in complaints about lost connections during windy and raining days. Wet phone lines can generate lots of static. There isn't much that can be done about it, but you might want to check your connections outside the home and in the basement for green copper corrosion, or water.
Modems can suffer subtle damage when lightning strikes the phone poles, the electrical shock comes in over the PHONE WIRE so it doesn't matter if your computer was off or not, or on a surge protector. During Lightning storms you need to unplug both your computer and your modem! Modems can get half burnt, meaning they work, but start to flake out easily. The only solution to this kind of damage is a new modem.
Take off all phone line splitters so your modem wire goes directly to the wall.
Faxes and other phones that share the modem line can kill 56K connections, particularly iMacs. Also try another phone wire, the one you have may have a Bad connection.
Remove all electronic phone extenders, such as those sold by Radio Shack, that use the 120 volt wiring of your home to give you added extensions in other rooms. Modems will not work over these connections.
Unplug all your phone wires from the modem to the wall, and replug them in and out a few times to clean the contacts. Use a Q Tip with alcohol to clean the contacts if necessary, make sure they get dry before plugging back in, and make sure no cotton is left on the contacts. *LOOK* at them with a magnifying glass, you will be shocked how dirty they can become, Yecch! Trace the wire down to the basement and make sure its a clean connection where it comes into the house, if you can.
Take off all extension phones that are on the same line, *PARTICULARLY* if these phones also have a line two. Cross talk between line 1 and line 2 can be a modem killer *EVEN IF NO ONE IS USING THE OTHER LINE!* Say you have two phone lines, line 1 and line 2, and the computer is plugged into line 2. You also have a two line phone in another room, which has both line 1 and line 2 plugged into it. That is sufficient to stop many iMacs from signing on, and can degrade other modem connections significantly. It doesn't matter if line 1 is in use or not, its mere presence on the same phone that is connected to line 2 can be sufficient to ruin the line 2 quality enough so the modem won't sign on.
However even if the modem signs on properly on line two, someone picking up on line one may drop the modem on line two, even if the line one phone is on the other side of the house!
Radio phones can also be disastrous because line two will act as an antenna to the signal being broadcast on line one, and cause the modem to drop. REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE A PHONE THAT IS PLUGGED INTO BOTH LINE ONE AND LINE TWO, LINE ONE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN USE TO DROP A MODEM ON LINE TWO.