Internet hangs after unpredictable intervals

Hello

This afternoon I got broadband for the first time. It's a 512k from
Tiscali. It works OK, but after a intervals which can range from a
few seconds to over an hour, the internet just hangs, and you get
time-outs on every page you visit. Then it won't connect to the pop
server to collect e-mail. Disconnecting and reconnecting produces an
error about Dial Up Networking not being able to get the protocols,
and the only way to get back online is to reboot the computer.

I'm running Win ME, with a Sagem Fast 800 modem. There is quiet a
long extension lead from the phone socket to here upstairs.

Is this a common problem and does anyone know how I can get rid of it?

Many thanks
--

Cliff Laine, The Old Lard Factory, Lancaster http://www.loobynet.com
remove any trace of rudeness before you reply
__________________________________________________ ______________
The majority of libertarians encountered through the Internet
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wrongly applied, much less wrong in theory.

Rich Puchalsky

> ...the only way to get back online is to reboot the computer.
> I'm running Win ME, with a Sagem Fast 800 modem. There is quiet a
> long extension lead from the phone socket to here upstairs.
> Is this a common problem and does anyone know how I can get rid of it?

This is a common problem with Speedtouch 330 modems, and is often related
to a VIA chipset on the motherboard (i`ve also had problems with a SiS
chipset), although I think this is the first time i`ve heard of someone
with this problem on a Sagem.

It may be related to the amount of current being drawn from your USB
ports, and it might be worth experimenting for now to see if anything
helps...

Disconnect all other USB devices you can (printers / cameras / webcams /
external storage etc) and see if the connection becomes stable. If it
does, then the problem is probably power related, and a powered USB hub
may be the solution (most cheap ones are "self powered" and do not have a
seperate power supply)

There`s a chance the modem itself could be faulty - can you beg/borrow
another machine to see if the same happens ? (or perhaps borrow an ADSL
modem overnight to see if another model works ok for you)

Last but not least, ditch the USB modem, buy a router / modem combo, and
kiss goodbye to all the hassle. I bought a cheap one from ebuyer (cost me
<£40 for a 4 port router) and its been worth every penny !

Try googling this group for reports on the Origo 8400 from ebuyer - most
people seem happy with them, and it won`t cost you a fortune, quick find
code 48449 / model = ASR-8400

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Colin Wilson <(E-Mail Removed)> - a made-up name if ever I've
heard one - said
>
>It may be related to the amount of current being drawn from your USB
>ports, and it might be worth experimenting for now to see if anything
>helps...
>
>Disconnect all other USB devices you can (printers / cameras / webcams /
>external storage etc) and see if the connection becomes stable. If it
>does, then the problem is probably power related, and a powered USB hub
>may be the solution (most cheap ones are "self powered" and do not have a
>seperate power supply)

Thanks for that Colin. I bought a powered usb bus and tried that and
had the same problem. Then late last night it went for over 2 hours
without hanging at all, so I wonder whether it's something to do with
the contention ratio, although, it must be a very poor contention
ratio to cause such frequent hangs.

A very Indian-sounding man called "Darren" at Tiscali said to try an
internal pci adsl modem, so I might try that, to possibly go down the
router, er, route.

>Try googling this group for reports on the Origo 8400 from ebuyer - most
>people seem happy with them, and it won`t cost you a fortune, quick find
>code 48449 / model = ASR-8400
>


Thanks - I've made a note of that.
--

Cliff Laine, The Old Lard Factory, Lancaster http://www.loobynet.com
remove any trace of rudeness before you reply
__________________________________________________ ______________
The majority of libertarians encountered through the Internet
argue like petulant children who have just discovered an ideology
that they think must cover all situations and which can never be
wrongly applied, much less wrong in theory.

Rich Puchalsky