Problem: You are being frequently disconnected from the Internet.
Operating Systems: Windows XP, 2000, ME, 98, & NT; Macintosh OS X, OS 8-9
Unfortunately, there is no single solution for being disconnected while using the Internet. This page outlines some common reasons and solutions to try if you are frequently being disconnected; however, please be aware that the nature of dial-up Internet is dependent upon things like phone line reliability, which can fluctuate with the weather.
Windows XP, 2000, 98, NT
- Open the Control Panel and double click on Internet Options.
- Click the Connections tab, highlight your TQCI dialup connection and click the Settings button.
- Click the Advanced button in the Dial-up Settings section of the screen.
- Uncheck Disconnect if idle for [ ] minutes.
- Click OK, and OK again, and OK once more. The new settings should take effect the next time you connect.
Macintosh OS X
Open the System Preferences and click Network. Click the PPP tab and click the PPP Options button. Uncheck Disconnect if idle for [ ] minutes. Click OK. Close the System Preferences and save the changes. The new settings should take effect the next time you connect. Macintosh OS 8-9
Click the Apple menu, go to Control Panel, and select Remote Access. Note: Remote access is also known as PPP in earlier versions of Mac OS. Click the Options button and select the Connection tab. Uncheck Prompt every [ ] minutes to maintain connection and Disconnect if idle for [ ] minutes. Click OK. Close Remote Access and save the changes. The new settings should take effect the next time you connect.
If You have call waiting enabled (and you are not using a V.92 modem) and somebody calls when you are online, you may be disconnected. The solution is to set your line to disable call waiting while you are online or get a V.92 modem.
: To disable call waiting, the prefix is usually *70. Because this prefix can vary depending the phone company, we suggest you check with you local telephone provider if you are not sure.Note
Some email programs such as Outlook Express and Eudora Pro have an option to automatically hang up from the Internet when finished downloading messages. If you find that you are being disconnected as soon as you check your email, this may be the problem. To determine whether "Hang up When Finished" is selected, do the following:
- Open Outlook Express.
- To check your email configuration in Outlook Express 6.0, Select Tools, then Options from the top menu.
- After opening the Options menu, select the Connection tab. Check your options next to Dial-up. If the Hang up after sending and receiving box has a check mark, please click on the box to remove it. Make sure Ask before Switching Dialup Connections box is marked. Your Option choices should be marked as the below example. Click Apply, then OK to save your changes.
- Open Eudora Pro.
- Click the Tools menu and select Options.
- Select the Internet Dialup category on the left.
- Uncheck Hang up after receiving and sending.
- Click OK.
If you are experiencing this problem with a different email client, please consult the Help files for information about this type of option.
If you are having problems staying connected,
your phone line may be a big part of the problem. When talking to people on the
phone, take a moment and notice if there is any interference, noise, static,
etc., in the background. If so, this will make your connection quality very
poor. Another thing to take into consideration is the quality of the phone line
is going from the wall to your computer. Old wires, or wires that are put under
a lot of stress aren't very reliable.
The most common cause for disconnects is line noise. There are many causes of
line noise inside and outside of your house, some of the most common are:
Keep in mind that there are times when line noise is worse than usual. If you've ever been talking on your phone and can hear other conversations, static, hissing or popping, your modem will 'hear' the noise as well. Additionally, noise that affects your connection also occurs beyond the range of human hearing.
Below are some suggestions that may decrease line noise:
Another reason you may be getting disconnected is the firmware and drivers for your modem are outdated. Firmware and drivers are the software or programming that tells your modem how to communicate.
Modem manufacturers often release new drivers to correct bugs that can cause connection problems. Even if your computer is new, there is no guarantee that the installed drivers are current. That modem may have been sitting on a shelf for months before it was put into your computer and while it sat, the manufacturer may have released many updates.
To obtain the latest drivers and firmware, contact your modem and/or computer manufacturer. You can often get the updates for free from the manufacturer's web page.
Sometimes modems are set by the operating system to operate at speeds that can cause more errors and disconnections. To check this:
If the previous solutions didn't resolve your problem, it is possible your frequent disconnections are caused by a modem malfunction. This may even be the case with a brand new modem. A modem can overheat, which can cause flaws in the electronic components. Or, if the phone line was left plugged in during a storm, an electric surge may have damaged it. You may want to contact the computer or modem manufacturer for further help.
Too many Network protocols
installed
There is only 1 network protocol that is required to be installed for your
Internet connection, which is TCP/IP. If you have others installed, it may cause
you to have problems while on the Internet. Please visit the link on the main
technical support page for networking to verify you have yours set up properly.
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