24/7 Isp

[Connie]

Any of you have a ISP that does not disconnect you several
times a day? I need one that is local in MO. I am tired
of Earthlink. I don't mind being disconnected when inactive,
but Earthlink disconnects me in the middle of important
transactions.

[jbp2003]

I don't know what's available in MO, but any dial-up will drop you on a whim anyway. Even those who have ISDN get dropped-hey at 5 cents per connection, that adds up for those corporate bean counters, know what I mean? It's good work if you can get it.
If broadband is available, switch to it. Not so much to save those "nickels", but to avoid the aggravation and not to mention the blazing speed of broadband.
Jeff

[Connie]

Unfortunately broadband is not an option for me. My average time
on-line is 400 hours per month. What P**s me is Earthlink disconnects me
while I'm active doing something about 1/2 the time. They used to
claim they did not disconnect you, but the last time I talked to them
about this the support Tech admitted they did.


I know that most ISPs are going to disconnect you periodically. I
feel like their advertising is false. You pay a fee for continuous
service. They don't provide it. In my simple mind that is false
advertising.

[Vin DSL]

I was on dialup for years, Connie, so I feel your pain. The disconnect takes place when you are sitting idle for x amount of time. With some ISP's, that can be milliseconds. I got around this problem by installing a utility that pings a server of your choice every once in a while, at your choice. Let me see if I can find it...

[Vin DSL]

Oh, BTW, let's make sure this isn't your problem. I assume you're smarter than this, but it never hurts to ask...

http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/an...002949,00.html

[Vin DSL]

This would probably do the trick... hrm... interesting proggy... I might even try this one! I'll keep looking though.

http://www.programfiles.com/Default.asp?LinkId=25810

[Vin DSL]

Another interesting twist on the same theme...

http://www.programfiles.com/Default.asp?LinkId=19044

[Vin DSL]

And another:

http://www.downlinx.com/proghtml/448/44858.htm

[jason]

Connie,

A friend of mine was looking to dump AOL about a year ago and asked me to help her find a good, low cost ISP. I found this one. She signed up and has been happy since.

http://www.ixpres.com

She doesn't go online all that often, but she's rarely had trouble getting on and I've never heard her complain about being kicked off in the middle of doing something.

--Jason

[Vin DSL]

Okay, I found it. Good ol' Dunce --- the proggy, not me:

http://www.vecdev.com/

Used it for years, but only works on Win 95/98. Anyway, I think you get the idea...

[Connie]

Jason, and Vin

Names listed alphabetically

Thanks for your replys and suggestions. I am looking into them.
I will keep you updated about what works if anything.

[rbaker1168]

...i use Qwest 7meg VDSl 24/7 with no problems...had it 3years now...Qwest has had some bad raps I guess, but mine has NEVER failed!

[rbaker1168]

...what you may want to look into is the new "DirectWav" sattlite system...i used an older version "DirectPC" for years when I was traveling...set it up in a room, point it through the window and shazamm, 80% faster than any dial-up! The new system you don't need ANYTHING but a clear southernly view. The old system you still needed a phone line but the new one is "stand alone" and is 100x faster than ANY dial-up!

[lookout]

Besides Vin's suggestions and those of others here, bear in mind that it's always possible the problem may be in your modem or somewhere in the phone wiring (typically on your end, but not always). Filters on the phone line can really play havoc with a modem connection. Not to mention other kinds of electrical interference.

Earthlink generally has a good reputation. As with any ISP, your personal mileage may vary. If you're really convinced it's them, I'd suggest checking into a trial run with another ISP so you can compare services. If the service interruptions don't repeat themselves, you're golden. But if they do, check for connection problems closer to home. Getting your phone line checked out woud be a good place to start. Also if possible, try connecting with a different modem, preferably a hardware based one, rather than a software based one (often called a WinModem).

[Connie]

Vin

"I was on dial up for years, Connie, so I feel your pain. The disconnect takes place when you are sitting idle for x amount of time".

What is setting idle? I don't mind being discounted when setting idle. But I can set
idle for hours and then when I'm in the middle of something I get disconnected.
It's frustrating to get 95% through a 5 hour software down load and get disconnected.
I thought downloads were active time. I thought checking e-mail was active time. I'm checking e-mail every 10 minuets.

If activity is based on the click of a mouse I often get discounted moments after clicking
to open a web page.

About half my disconnects are during idle time. The other half are while I'm actively
doing something. Downloading, uploading, clicking ect.

As far as using a program to ping, I have tried those in the past they didn't work. I'm now looking at some of those you provided
links to. They may be better than what I tried in the past.

Lookout

"Besides Vin's suggestions and those of others here, bear in mind that it's always possible the problem may be in your modem or somewhere in the phone wiring (typically on your end, but not always). Filters on the phone line can really play havoc with a modem connection. Not to mention other kinds of electrical interference".

I'm aware the problem could be on my end, especially since I'm in a rural area.
However Earthlink has changed my dial up number at least 4 times since early
2000. After the second dial up number change I could stay connected 24 hours a
day and never get disconnected. Then they changed the dial up number and things
begin to go down hill. They changed it again and it got worse.

Also in my last conversation with Earthlink, which was with a supervisor, she
admitted that Earthlink is going to periodically disconnect you.

I hadn't thought about this until now, but I have also gone though 3 telephone companies
during this period. I was originally with GTE who was bought out by Verizon,
who was bought out by CenturyTel. So maybe the problem is on my end. So it is possible
that my problems are a result of the local phone company or a combination of both.

"Earthlink generally has a good reputation. As with any ISP, your personal mileage may vary. If you're really convinced it's them, I'd suggest checking into a trial run with another ISP so you can compare services".

Actually for the average user I think Earthlink is a good service. ( By the way I think
they are now owned by Sprint. ) I'm not an average user who logs on for a couple of hours
each day. Based on Earthlinks billing statements, I'm on 400 + hours per month.

"I'd suggest checking into a trial run with another ISP so you can compare services".

I do have another provider. But as they have grown their service has continued to go
down hill like Earthlink.

They started out as Virtuallyfreeinternet, were acquired by Galaxy Internet who has
now been acquired by a company called Cyberlink. I don't use them a lot, but to stay
connected with them you have to click on a nag window every few minuets even when you
are active.

I'm currently checking out a suggestion by Jason. http://www.ixpres.com

Jason

At this time I would say Ixpres is about equal to Earthlink. They are a lot
cheaper, so I will at least use them as my backup ISP. I will drop Cyberlink.
Ixpres has a July special running. Free service for 3 months. There is a
$5.00 set up fee with the special. Also they have some great long distance rates,
including 800 numbers. I will probably be switching my 800 service to them, and
also use them as my long distance carrier. Thanks for the link.

rbaker1168

I don't have a clear souther view, but I will look at your suggestion.

Could you provide a little more information or a link to Qwest 7meg VDSl 24/7


Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread. You have given me a lot of
helpful information and advice. I was hoping someone would say xyzISP never
disconnects me. But now I don't think that is possible on a local dial up
connection. To many variables involved.