Frequent DisconnectionsProblem: You are frequently being disconnected (or "kicked off") of the Internet while using it. Solution: Unfortunately, there is no single solution for being kicked offline while using the Internet. This page will outline some common reasons and solutions to try if you are frequently being disconnected, however you should be aware that the nature of dial-up Internet is that occasionally you will be disconnected, as phone line reliability fluctuates (figuratively, and sometimes even literally) with the weather.
Call Waiting: If you have call waiting enabled and somebody calls when you are online, you will likely be disconnected. The solution is to set your line to disable call waiting while you are online. To do this, open My Computer and then Dial-Up Networking. Double-click the location you are using for your home. In the Properties window, check the box next to Disable Call Waiting and either type the prefix that your phone company uses to disable call waiting, or choose it from the drop-down box. This prefix is commonly *70, but you should check with your phone company if you are not sure, as it can vary from company to company. Click the Save button and close the window.
Line Noise: To begin with, the most common cause of someone losing their connection right in the middle of a Web Browsing session is line noise. Line noise is responsible for many connection related issues that plague ISP users. There are some other possible culprits, but we will get into them in a bit.
Even though you may own a 56k modem, you will never fully connect at 56k. At present, phone lines are limited to allowing a true 53k connection by FCC standards. Furthermore, the phone company only has to guarantee your phone lines to be able to handle a 2,400 baud connection. For comparison, a 56k modem can theoretically connect at 56,000 baud. Keeping this in mind, there are times when line noise is worse than usual. If you've ever been talking on your phone and been able to hear other conversations, static noise or hissing you've seen what I mean. There is also noise that can occur beyond the range of human hearing that can cause interference as well. All it will take for a lot of modems to drop connection is a few seconds of noise to cross the line and *click*, you've lost your connection. Most of the faster modems out there that have good error correction and/or are made by fairly reliable manufacturers can tolerate a considerable amount of line noise and not be disconnected. But like it or not, there are times when the noise will be bad and you're going to get disconnected. Sometimes several times in a row. And it's going to be very frustrating believe me; being a dial-up user with many different Internet Providers, I've had this happen more times that I can count. Some possible options you have are:
Aside from these, the only thing you can really do is grin and bear it.
Idle Disconnect: If you are connected to the Internet but are not doing anything that causes data to move through the network (for example if you leave your computer or spend a long time viewing a certain page) you will be disconnected to free up your phone line. This can be set at both the ISP end as well as on your computer. On our end, this is typically set to 15 minutes. Again, keep in mind that this setting only disconnects you when you are not doing anything. If you are actively downloading or browsing, this setting will not disconnect you. We also have what we call a Session Timeout, this limits any connection to a maximum of 4 hours. In other words if you are connected to the Internet for a period of 4 hours you will be automatically disconnected. The reason for this is to prevent individuals from "Camping" on line, and to allow us to provide the highest level of service to everyone as a whole. To check if a disconnect setting is set on your computer in Windows, double-click My Computer, then open Dial-Up Networking, and right-click the Village Online icon and select Properties. Click the Redial tab at the top of the screen. If you want to disable Idle Disconnect, uncheck the box next to that setting, otherwise set the number of minutes in the box to whatever you would like it to be. To check if a disconnect setting is set on your computer on the MacOS, first you must set the program into Advanced mode by clicking the Edit menu and selecting Preferences. In the Preferences window, click the button next to Advanced for User Mode. Then click the OK button. Now that the program is in Advanced mode, you should click the Manage menu and select Edit Active Set. In the Configuration Set window, click the PPP tab and there you can change the Disconnect if Idle setting to whatever you wish. Click the Save button to save the settings.
Modem Settings: Sometimes modems are set by the operating system to operate at speeds that can cause more errors and disconnections. To check this, click on the Start Button, select Settings, and Control Panel. Under the Control Panel, open System. Click the Device Manager tab, and click the + symbol next to Modem to display the installed modems on your computer. Click the name of your modem and then click the Properties button at the bottom of the window. At the bottom of the window you will see a Maximum Speed setting, which by default is set to 115,200 on most systems. Try setting this to 57,600. You may wish to try setting this even lower to 38,400, but this will effect connection speeds, so we would not recommend it unless absolutely necessary (as with extreme line noise and problems). After setting the speed setting, click the Connection tab at the top of the window, then click the Advanced button at the bottom. In the Advanced Connection Settings window, uncheck Compress Data. Click the OK buttons at the bottom of all the windows, close the Control Panel, and then re-start your computer for the settings to take effect.
Drivers and Firmware: Another thing to try is to update your computer to the latest drivers and firmware for your modem. Drivers are the files that your computer uses to communicate with and operate your modem, while Firmware is the internal programming for your modem. To obtain the latest drivers and firmware, contact your modem and/or computer manufacturer. Even if the computer is brand new, the modem could have old firmware, and need to be updated. This is because computers are assembled using components, and computer manufacturers buy thousands of individual components including modems at a time. You can often get the updates for free via the Internet from the computer manufacturers web site. We've assembled a list of known Modem and PC Manufacturers, this list is not complete by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a good place to start when looking for your modem or PC's manufacturer on the web. Many of the listings do not have hyperlinks any sites If you know what the address to one of these listings is please email the URL. The list is available by clicking below.
E-mail Set to "Hang Up When Finished": Some e-mail programs such as Outlook Express have an option when downloading a large e-mail message to automatically hang up from the Internet when finished. Unfortunately, when the is set once, the option remains set until the next time you are downloading mail and uncheck it. If you find that you are being disconnected as soon as your mail is checked, this is most likely the problem. To fix this, open your mail program, and double-click the "Send / Receive" button at the top of the window. This opens the Send and Receive box. Un-check the "Hang up when finished" option at this screen if available. For good measure, if this box is already unchecked, quickly check it, and then uncheck it. Or follow these simple instructions.
Hardware Problems: Sometimes frequent disconnections are an indicator of a modem malfunction. This may even be the case with new modems. Modems tend to generate heat, which can cause flaws in the electronic components. If your modem is an external unit, keep it clear of books, papers or anything else that could restrict air flow through and around the unit. If all else fails, you may wish to try installing a new modem.
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