Confusing Connection Problems

I am totally baffled by a strange behavior I've been experiencing of late. My computer tells me I'm connected. For a while, even my instant messenger programs will tell me I'm connected. But I'm not!

I usually discover the lost connection by trying to send an e-mail message, or open a web page. It has even occurred that I held conversations on msn messenger, but could not send mail or open a web page (page cannot be found, please make sure you are connected to the Internet) and so forth.

So what I have to do is tell my computer to disconnect, and then connect again. And this will go on indefinitely all day long. On some days it will just happen for a few hours, on other days (such as today) it has been happening the entire day.

Thinking this was possibly static on my phone line, I plugged my land phone into the computer line (I have a seperate line for the PC) but the connection was clear and good. I called my best friend who lives about 1/8 or so mile off. Oddly enough she is telling me that she is having the very same problem!

Does anyone know anything about this strange behavior, and what I need to do to correct it? I'm about to go batty it's getting on my nerves so badly. I can't get anything done. And having to disconnect and reconnect every 15 minutes really *****!!

 

If your friend is using the same ISP and is having the same problem, I suggest you call your ISP and ask them for help. While "ISP" and "tech help" are terms that often aren't meaningful when used in the same sentence, it's worth a shot.

 

Hello Miz,

Thank you for answering.

I would do that, except for one thing. I've reported problems to them many times, and it's never their fault, always mine. Oddly enough, most of the time, it has been something from my end in one way or another, so now I am loathe to accuse them again.

Cordially,
Sandie Knapp

 

I agree you should call your isp, and maybe have them lead you through checking all your setting, maybe DSN addresses, could be the logg onto server box may need to be checked, it could be many thing. If it is windy where you are at it could also be a phone line cable out side that is swayng in the wind (i have seen this before). It never really loses the connectedion, but everytime it sways it loses line quality.

 

Hello Webman,

The last two days, it has been very breezy outdoors. A storm is brewing but has yet to appear, and I have considered this. I just didn't know if the wind could really cause such problems or not. We live in the mountains where it is more woodland than most places, so the lines could definitely be tossed around a bit here.

 

Hi Sandie,

Could it be something as simple as your ISP cutting you off after a certain period of internet inactivity?

On another note, I had to laugh when you said that you live in the mountains. Your location is given as Northeast Pennsylvania, which I assumed meant North East, Pennsylvania, at the other end of the state. (For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, it's a little town NE of Erie PA, less than four miles from NY's western border.)

 

Hello JSS,

No, it's not because of innactivity. We have unlimited access, and we can connect and then go away for a week-end, and they do nothing to shut you off. My best friend has done it!

Glad you had a chuckle, but actually I'm in the north east corner of northern Wayne Co. PA, which is no where near Erie, but still I am only about 9 miles from the NY border town of Hancock, NY, where the north and east branch of the Delaware River meet.

I had no idea there was a town called North East, PA........LOL

Sandie

 

Hi Sandie,

I know just where you are. I have friends whose family comes from near Jeffersonville NY, and I've driven NY 97 from Callicoon to Hancock, then NY 17 on up to Binghamton. Pretty country.

North East is just a wide spot in the road, but I have another friend who actually comes from there. US 20 runs right through it, and North East used to see all the traffic between Buffalo and Cleveland. Since I-90 was built, however, North East has reverted to being just another sleepy little town.

Hope you find out what's causing your internet interruption.

 

Hello Jim,

I worked at the Becton Dickenson Plant on Rt 97, just ouside Hancock, for 21 years. Then they sent the jobs to England, and shut the plant. The only thing left in that town now are the small businesses and tourism.

Where I live is even less than a wide spot in the road! LOL But yes, the countryside up here is gorgeous. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Maybe a bit out-of-the-way, and we are forced to travel if we really want to shop for anything, or need a hospital, but it's still worth all the effort to have such magnificent country, clean air, and very low crime rate.

I've posted my question about the PC problem here, Infoave and CNET.help.com. I figure between the three of them someone has to have the answer, right? Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed! LOL

Have a great day,
Sandie

 

Just wanted to say that just because the isp says you have unlimited access does not mean they will not cut you off after inactivity. unlimited just means you can uses it is much as you want as long as you are active. isp's will do this so that their modems are not tied up with people just connecting and staying connected for hours or even days with out using the connection. try finding a page that refreshes every few seconds and see if it will keep you connected and running. you might also check to see if you are set to "disconnect if ideal" that is somewhere in the connection properties. been so long since i used a modem i don't remember exactly. that is usually set to 15 minutes. it may only partain to windows 98 and earlier, but here is a link http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;153965

 

Hello Webman,

Our ISP does not disconnect us for innactivity. I always shut my PC down before going to bed, regardless. But my best friend leaves her PC on, and on-line, for days on end. She does not get disconnected. Or hasn't before this problem began.

This I know is not what is causing this problem. But thank you very much for answering my plea for help. It's good to have some things that it is not.