too many disconnects

I' m getting disconnected at the rate of 5 per hour at times, sometimes sooner.
I tried all that my IP suggested, and had
Verizon chech my phone line. What the problem is, I still don't know and doubt if they are giving me the correct info if the problem is theirs. Any way for me to check this out for myself? Joe R.

 

Well if this is dial up. Excessive line noise will cause it. Pickup your phone dial one number except "0 ". If you hear static, clicking etc. Call your phone company and complain. If you tell them you're having computer problems they will ignore you. Open your dial up folder, select your dialup, right click, properties, where your "connect using" , click properties, look at "disconnect if idle ". Get rid of the check mark. Also, extremely long telephone cord to computer can cause this. Do you have call waiting disabled?

If you do a search on the net, numerous sites can do a line test to your computer. Post back good or bad.

EDIT:
Some system specs would be nice. OS, type of modem.

Course I'm guessing you're on dialup. If not. Ignore all...

 

aleekat: I did all that you suggested
except search for a line test web site, which I will do soon. The phone line to my PC is about 10-12 feet long.
Am running Win 98 With an Aopen
56pm speaker phone modem.
I got disconnected 3 x while trying to type this reply. Joe R

 

You can try here. Line Tests
This may not help if you keep getting disconnected.

Also, if you or have a friend who owns a laptop. You can go outside the house. Where the phone box is, open it, and connect the laptop, and dialup from there. If the disconnects stop, then its within the house wiring, if not, then the phone lines would be my guess. What connection speed are you getting??

Another option to eliminate if its your ISP. See if a friend has a different ISP. See if he/she is willing to let you use his/her user name and password on your computer. If it works with no disconnects, its your ISP.

I am still leaning towards your phone lines..

EDIT:
Saw this on another thread..
The "about every 5-10 minutes" part might be due to your email program.
Outlook Express has a setting in Tools>Options>Connections tab, "Hang up after sending and receiving." If you're using OE, make sure that's not checked. If you're using some other email client, see if there's a similar option that needs disabling.
Courtesy of Miz..

 

Thanks for the reply
I searched and found PassMark.com with a modem test software-30 day free then $15.00. I would try connecting my lap top to the interface, but There is 18" of snow between here and there
I'll try the line tests next. A knowledgable friend said maybe my ISP
is overloaded and needs to add more routers??? Another said maybe there is water in the phone lines and I should
ask them for a different pair.
I just talked with my son in law- he works on the help desk for Merck- He said he thinks it the phone line, probably water. Am going to the line test- talk to you later- Thanks for your input