Internet access - help please

[Richie]

I often need to have several attempts to connect to the internet. This is a fairly new problem and is seriously irritating.

This is using Explorer under XP into an ISDN line.

I don't think is the ISP because I setup an account with another provider and had the same problems.

SWMBO uses AOL and has no problems.

Anyone any ideas? Settings, tweaks or do I need to reinstall or replace with another browser?

Thanks all

Richard

[Scuby]

What error does it give? When you're using AOL is that on the same computer or same line? Could be something like poor line quality on the extension you're using. It shouldn't (in theory) be a pure software problem - if your settings were "wrong" then it would likely either always connect or always fail.
One problem we had recently with out line (using ADSL) was that BT have upgraded a lot of exchanges recently to take 2MBit ADSL connections - now our line was badly affected by that and we have significantly higher signal-to-noise ratios on the line - there could be some similar affect on your ISDN line? Might be worth calling BT to ask if there's been any changes made that could cause a problem?

David

[Richie]

The message is simply "unable to establish a connection".

I'll try BT because we can see the line as a dirty green thing disappearing into the trees and they have been bringing our exchange up to ADSL standard.

Thanks

[StuartC]

I used to have Home Highway (ISDN), and this was not so sensitive to line quality as to be intermittent. It's generally all or nothing. Intermittent problems are more likely to be either your hardware or software settings, or your ISP account.

Do you have a shortcut icon to "dial-up" the ISP and actually establish your connection, or is this automatically done when you launch your browser?
(there may be a shortcut named for your ISP under Start/Settings/Network Connections)

If this is present - launch the connection process to establish a connection to your ISP.

If this process appears to work consistently, then it's unlikely to be a problem with your ISDN line and BT service, and more likely to be either your ISP or browser software.

Trouble-shoot the ISP and browser settings by trying to ping things once the dial-up connection is established:-

start/Run/cmd (enter) will open a command prompt (DOS box) window
type: ping www.bbc.co.uk and hit enter.
if the response says
pinging www.bbc.net.uk [212.58.224.121] (or something similar) then your ISP is assigning your PC with the correct DNS settings and the browser should work OK.

if the browser then doesn't work, then you'll need to post back with more information.

it may also be useful if you can establish a connection to your ISP, then go to the command prompt window and type:
ipconfig /all, and then post up the details that appear next to your dial-up adaptor entry. If these are blank or zeros then your ISP may not be assigning your network settings properly when you're connecting.

The best way to fix this may be to uninstall your ISDN card from Windows, reinstall the drivers for it and setup your dial-up settings to the ISP again.

[Richie]

Thanks Stuart - a busy evening beckons....

[John Touhig]

Originally Posted by Richie

SWMBO uses AOL and has no problems.

Here in could lie the problem, AOL used to do all kinds of crappy things to your windows setup for dial up accounts. It used to replace some of the core software used to communicate with the internet with its own version, rendering all other dial up accounts dead. I'm not sure if it still does it but I would be surprised.

If it is AOL thats causing the problems then its a real pain to get rid of.


John

[Finless]

Originally Posted by Richie

The message is simply "unable to establish a connection".

I'll try BT because we can see the line as a dirty green thing disappearing into the trees and they have been bringing our exchange up to ADSL standard.

Thanks

Sorry, I didn't read all the thread properly but, it could just be your ISP is busy? I get this some times around peak times of the day with the service for my business.

At abt 16:30 I have had to redial as many as 4 times before I could establish a connection.

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by John Touhig

Here in could lie the problem, AOL used to do all kinds of crappy things to your windows setup for dial up accounts. It used to replace some of the core software used to communicate with the internet with its own version, rendering all other dial up accounts dead. I'm not sure if it still does it but I would be surprised.

If it is AOL thats causing the problems then its a real pain to get rid of.


John

Oh yes AOhell could be a major cause if its the same computer with both on, I had to format a laptop to get rid of AOhell and the problems it caused.

[StuartC]

Originally Posted by Finless

Sorry, I didn't read all the thread properly but, it could just be your ISP is busy? I get this some times around peak times of the day with the service for my business.

At abt 16:30 I have had to redial as many as 4 times before I could establish a connection.

IIRC we had that with Freeserve at one time. Ended up finding an alternate dial-up number to use and never had any problems after that.

If AOL is on the same PC, then I'll bow out and defer to others who've suffered trying to fix it. Never been near it and the more I hear of it, the more I'm glad of it.

If you suspect the ISP is busy, then have a scout around for some pay as you go dial-up providers and open an account with one of them as a backup service (I used to use www.jolt.co.uk for this as the sign-up was pain-free and was no commitment.) This will at least get you on for web access, but won't allow you to access your ISP mail service without a bit of tinkering with your mail software account settings.

Some of the advice provided is assuming that you have an ISDN adapater attached to your PC, rather than an ISDN router.

[Richie]

Originally Posted by Finless

Sorry, I didn't read all the thread properly but, it could just be your ISP is busy? I get this some times around peak times of the day with the service for my business.

At abt 16:30 I have had to redial as many as 4 times before I could establish a connection.

Thought about this but the same problem arose at 06:00 and 8:30 so unless they're doing back ups..