My net connection keeps dropping out... How can I troublesho

[Sooz]

How can I troubleshoot my modem etc before I call my (school district) server?  I want to eliminate any problem from my end.  I can stay on-line for about 5-10 minutes before I lose the connection (thru my phone lines), unless I keep going from site to sie, from post to post, which seems to keep the connection from dropping for a while...but gee, to not pause and thoroughly read is a problem! LOL

Thanks!  By the way, do modems ever get too old to work?  

Smiles,
Sooz

[Highmac]

Assuming you are on OS9... Under the apple, go to Control Panels, then Remote Access, click on Set-up, then Options, then Connection tab - if "Disconnect if idle for..... minutes" is ticked (checked) click to disable it.  It's one thing to check before calling      . I'm sure the more techi members will have other suggestions. (While you are reading a page, the connection is inactive and it will disconnect).

Good luck
 
 [ 03-12-2003, 12:48 PM: Message edited by: Highmac ]

[marie]

Hi!
I agree check for idle disconnect features that are enabled.
Also, check with your servers net admin  and see if they have the server set for "idle timeouts" find out how long if they are set up for them. Then, set up your email program to check mail at an interval that will allow for a constant data transfer enough to keep the connection alive. Just run it minimized in the backround.
Hope this helps out    
Marie

[Sooz]

I'm running 8.6   How do I check out the "idle" time on 8.6?  (feeling sooooo dorky!)

Smiles,
Sooz

[marie]

Hello,
No need to feel dorky! I believe in 8.6 its basically the same procedure Highmac described in his post before mine. I would follow his directions.
Marie

[Bill]

Same as 9 (I think) sooz.

I'm not in 9 right now,so follow the directions from above and see what comes up.

me

[krissel]

Sooz , try my little trick.

Open a separate window and go to  MacCentral . Keep that window open in the background while surfing or going to the school server. Since the ads continuously change on that site it will be active and maintain your connection. Rarely has it failed for me, usually keeping things up and running for hours if needed.

[cdub1988]

Or you can try  this.

Seems to work better for me than Apple Remote Access.

Hope that helps.

Chris

[Sooz]

Well, under the apple, I got as far as Control Panels, then Remote Access, did NOT have a
Set-up to click, or an Options, then Connection tab etc.  Kinda dead in the water.

I tried opening a new window to have the mac central run in the background.  Didn't work either, cuz my net connection dropped out.

I guess I'm gonna call Tech Resources on Monday--meant to do it today, but had Annual Reviews and testing and parent conferences.  

cdub, I'm actually afraid to try anything different than what I have cuz I don't know what I'm doing, or how different your free PPP is going to be from what I'm used to--I feel so incompetent about this stuff!  What IS the stuff that works better than apple remote access?

Thank goodness for all you good folks who talk me thru stuff!

Thanks everyone for your help!

[kelly]

Hi Sooz. FreePPP could be a viable alternative.  

I've used it in the past with good success.

It's really not that hard to use.

Complete instructions can be found here.

http://www.bol.ucla.edu/software/mac/freeppp/

They have a PDF at the bottom you can download.

You could give it a shot. It's easy to change back.

Good luck.

[weldiger]

Sooz   I was workinng with modem, and fax set up yesterday and today, and found an Apple note which said if you have an Apple 56 K v90 (56) modem, and are having trouble with connection dropping, if you find a 56K V90 (34) script, try using it instead.  Don't know what modem you are using, but it might be worth a try to find another script.  See what modem you have, and then check with maker, for other scripts, might help.
Good luck
wd

[krissel]

Sooz , I'm a little confused now.

Are you accessing the net from home and your home machine is dropping the connection via your ISP? How does the school server fit into this?
Is this a recent occurance? If so, what is new?

As for FreePPP, I've used it for many years and swear by it. Very easy to set up and gives you many more options for configurability than Remote Access if you so desire.

EDIT: somewhat related in another thread is the speed issue and these docs I cited there also talk about dropped connections;

modem probs

more
 
 [ 03-16-2003, 12:36 AM: Message edited by: krissel ]

[Sooz]

Hi, Krissel

I'm accessing the net from home.  I use the district's internet connection, and for $50/year, unlimited use, it's a darned good deal--till recently, as in two days before I posted my original message about this!   I'm using a Diamond Supra Express 56 Sp modem on my desktop Power Mac G3.  I *think* I am using a Free PPP thingy for the remote access that our tech guy set up for me way back.  Haven't had a lick of trouble til recently.

The connection just drops out, and I get a little pop up on my screen saying that my remote access has been disconnected  "You have been disconnected."   I go to the Remote Access window here it says my status is Idle,  and click Connect, and can stay on for another period of time.  

(sigh)
Sooz