modem versus network connection

Although I am connected to the internet through a network, my system wants to use my modem to make an internet connection periodically when I select a link on a web page. This occurs if I have not hit a new link for a couple of minutes. What is causing this and how do I fix this behavior.

 

This could be a work around, but since, depending on location, I use both a network connection and a modem, I would have to be turning it off and on. I forgot to also mention that when the problem occures that opening a command prompt and issueing a 'PING' command for any website will cure the problem. Returning to I.E. I can once again click on links without the modem connection popping up, at least for awhile.

 

There is also the option "Dial whenever a network connection is not present ". Try that.

 

That is the setting I am currently using. Apparently it is this automatic detection of the existing network connection that is not working consistantly during a session. Since it seems to be related to the elapsed time since I last clicked on a link, I thought there might be a setting controlling how long the network connection was kept active or something like that. Either that or a bug in the network software that had a patch for it.

 

Not sure exactly where the problem originates but if a ping will do the deed, a utility like http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Network_and_Internet/Network_Information_Tools/AlertPing.html that is set to ping your ISPs DNS server on a regular schedule might help.

 

Make sure the dialup is not selected as default connection.
Select the LAN as default.

 

Pete,

Thanks so much. I half implemented your suggestion and the problem seems to have been cured. I say half implemented since I unchecked the 'use as default' box in the dial-up network connection, but could not find the same option in the LAN network connection. Since I have two different dial-up connections, when I saw the 'use as default' option in the dial-up connection selection window I assumed it was refering to which dial-up to use as the default, not which network connection, including LAN's. Thanks again.

Dennis

 

I'd suggest you look at the network bindings too. Open the Network Connections folder (by double clicking Network Connections in Control Panel), and select "Advanced Settings" from the Advanced menu. Make sure the network connection is higher in the bindings list than the modem.

 

Reggie,
Your idea sounded like a very good one, so I just went to take a look. What I found is that my wireless connection is first, the LAN is second, and one called Remote connections is third. The modem isn't even listed. I don't remember ever finding any place where you control bindings for a dial up connection.

I did get an idea from Pete that seems to have solved the problem. In the dial-up connection properties there was a check box for use as default which I had checked for the dial-up connection that I wanted as my default dial-up connection. I unchecked it and the problem seems to have gone away. I still can't say I understand why this should have effected the LAN connection, but it did seem to work. Thanks for all the ideas. I certainly have a better knowledge of the connection setting as a result.

Dennis