Aol disconnects every 5 mins!

[j0n35y]

Hi, I’m new here, I’ve been reading some posts and realised so many people have the same problem as me, but with my problem it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, the connection will be lost after almost exactly 5 mins every time.

It did it on my old comp with the Bt Voyager 105, I now have a new comp and my m8 had a spare BT Voyager 205 laying about which was unused, so I tried that and the same happens.

One strange thing to add is that in about a week it will start working fine again probably, as it was ok last week but about a month ago I had the same problem. It seems to come and go weekly. But as my sister needs the internet for her school work, and my mum also needs to use it, I have to get it working properly ASAP.

So I’m guessing my phone line is fudged? I’m about one mile from the main Bt exchange if that matters.

If any1one can help it would be so much appreciated,

…one last thing, would getting a wireless router solve the problem, as I’m thinking about ordering a decent one today.

Thanks for your time,

Allan

[Shadow9684s]

check the usual spyware stuff and try it without firewall, make sure windows firewall is off etc these are some basic things to try to find problem, also don't use an extension cable.

p.s. just because the bt exchange is only a mile from you doesn't mean there there is 1 mile of cable between you and the exchange.

[j0n35y]

Thx for the quick reply, I’ve checked spyware as it was also mentioned in another post I read. I use Spybot and Ad-aware daily with latest definitions. And have no viruses either.

I’m using Norton internet security as it came with the machine, it seems fine, even though I normally hate Norton and its resource hogging software. I’ve tried it with the firewall disabled and I still get disconnected.

I’m going to give BT a ring, will they help me if I say I’m on AOL? Anyone got a number to ring.

I would ring AOL but 99% of the time I get through to someone in India and the line is so crap I cant understand a thing. And when I use the online help facility all they do is cut and paste instructions available on the help page of AOL, saying clear cache, rebuild adaptors etc, etc. Cant be bothered with them anymore.

Plus the majority of AOL staff that have tried helping me have are been mugs, signed up for bb about 4 months ago and still haven’t received a modem from them. Had to buy the voyager 105 myself from Dixons after a month and a half of waiting and no internet. I’ve checked with them a thousand times if they have the right address and every time they say they will send another one out, it never turns up. Cant wait for the contract to end. Sent a letter to head office a few months back about this and still no reply. Hate my m8 for making me sign up.

Thanks

Allan

[alex_m]

Allan if you have indeed purchased the modem yourself then there is no 12 months contract, I work for AOL and didn't even know that until the other night when reading through the external AOL website www.aol.co.uk.

If I didn't know it then how many other people don't realise that if you don't want the modem and buy a Voyager 105 yourself new of course, that there is no 12 months contract.

I suggest you tell them you bought a modem as you where sick and tired of waiting on the modem being sent out and so now after reading the contract you feel you shouldn't need to stick to the contract and you want it cancelled, has to be done in Sales & Billing, tech support can't cancel unless its for technical reasons i.e too far from the exchange.

I am quite surprised that nobody has been able to use our internal system to order you a modem, its only a couple of buttons we need to click, did they not give you a modem tracking code that you could have given to the local post office this would tell you where exactly the modem was, if ordered of course.

[j0n35y]

Hi, thanks for the reply, im not sure if I would be able to get out of the contract as they still say that they have sent out the modem. It just never turns up.

Never mind, im pretty happpy at the moment as i seem to have sorted my problem for the time being, I have installed my netgear dg834gt router and bought a belkin dsl cable that goes straight to my phone socket instead of through an extension cable the connection is much more stable now.

1 question is what db should my phone line be, my router tells me that the line attenuation downstream is 47db and upstream is 29db.

the noise margin for downstream is 21db and upstream is 27db.

do these sound ok or should they be lower

thanks

Allan

[cyberspacecowboy]

Hi Allan

The signal to noise ratio is the important db value and although no figures are set down anywhere by AOL or BT, I believe if you have a value below 10db then you may experience problems. Your SNR is better than mine and I dont experience noticable problems because of it. I've attached a pic of my values obtained using a screenshot utility (screenhunter). Your problems were probably caused by the extremely poor quality BT Voyager modem.

Click on the thumbnail to magnify the view.

Regards, C

[burt]

I am having the same problems that you are having with frequent drop out on AOL. I have the older BT Voyager 50 modem.

Can you explain what the router and dsi cable are. If this solves the problem, it is worth a try.

Burt

I am having the same problems that you are having with frequent drop out on AOL. I have the older BT Voyager 50 modem.

Can you explain what the router and dsi cable are. If this solves the problem, it is worth a try.

Burt

Originally Posted by burt

i had the problem for over a year and aol blamed it on everything except the modems or the software. i brought a belkin router and did a format to make sure no aol software was left on pc and surprise surprise didnt drop once for a week but that didnt solve the crappy slow speeds they offer in comparison to other decent isp's.

IF YOU HAVE PERSISTENT CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS YOU CAN END YOUR AOL AGREEMENT WITHOUT BEING PENALISED! I.E. DODGY MODEM THAT KEEPS DROPPING CONNECTION!

[cyberspacecowboy]

All About Routers

A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP's network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect, and are the critical device that keeps data flowing between networks and keeps the networks connected to the Internet. When data is sent between locations on one network or from one network to a second network the data is always seen and directed to the correct location by the router. They accomplish his by using headers and forwarding tables to determine the best path for forwarding the data packets, and they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with each other and configure the best route between any two hosts.
The Internet itself is a global network connecting millions of computers and smaller networks — so you can see how crucial the role of a router is to our way of communicating and computing.

Why Would I Need a Router?

For most home users, they may want to set-up a LAN (local Area Network) or WLAN (wireless LAN) and connect all computers to the Internet without having to pay a full broadband subscription service to their ISP for each computer on the network. In many instances, an ISP will allow you to use a router and connect multiple computers to a single Internet connection and pay a nominal fee for each additional computer sharing the connection. This is when home users will want to look at smaller routers, often called broadband routers that enable two or more computers to share an Internet connection. Within a business or organization, you may need to connect multiple computers to the Internet, but also want to connect multiple private networks — and these are the types of functions a router is designed for.

Routers for Home & Small Business

Not all routers are created equal since their job will differ slightly from network to network. Additionally, you may look at a piece of hardware and not even realize it is a router. What defines a router is not its shape, color, size or manufacturer, but its job function of routing data packets between computers. A cable modem which routes data between your PC and your ISP can be considered a router. In its most basic form, a router could simply be one of two computers running the Windows 98 (or higher) operating system connected together using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing). In this scenario, the computer that is connected to the Internet is acting as the router for the second computer to obtain its Internet connection.

Going a step up from ICS, we have a category of hardware routers that are used to perform the same basic task as ICS, albeit with more features and functions. Often called broadband or Internet connection sharing routers, these routers allow you to share one Internet connection between multiple computers.


Broadband or ICS routers will look a bit different depending on the manufacturer or brand, but wired routers are generally a small box-shaped hardware device with ports on the front or back into which you plug each computer, along with a port to plug in your broadband modem. These connection ports allow the router to do its job of routing the data packets between each of the the computers and the data going to and from the Internet.

Depending on the type of modem and Internet connection you have, you could also choose a router with phone or fax machine ports. A wired Ethernet broadband router will typically have a built-in Ethernet switch to allow for expansion. These routers also support NAT (network address translation), which allows all of your computers to share a single IP address on the Internet. Internet connection sharing routers will also provide users with much needed features such as an SPI firewall or serve as a a DHCP Server.

Wireless broadband routers look much the same as a wired router, with the obvious exception of the antenna on top, and the lack of cable running from the PCs to the router when it is all set up. Creating a wireless network adds a bit more security concerns as opposed to wired networks, but wireless broadband routers do have extra levels of embedded security. Along with the features found in wired routers, wireless routers also provide features relevant to wireless security such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and wireless MAC address filtering. Additionally, most wireless routers can be configured for "invisible mode" so that your wireless network cannot be scanned by outside wireless clients. Wireless routers will often include ports for Ethernet connections as well. For those unfamiliar with WiFi and how it works, it is important to note that choosing a wireless router may mean you need to beef up your Wi-Fi knowledge-base. After a wireless network is established, you may possibly need to spend more time on monitoring and security than one would with a wired LAN.

Wired and wireless routers and the resulting network can claim pros and cons over each other, but they are somewhat equal overall in terms of function and performance. Both wired and wireless routers have high reliability and reasonably good security (without adding additional products). However —and this bears repeating — as we mentioned you may need to invest time in learning more about wireless security. Generally, going wired will be cheaper overall, but setting up the router and cabling in the computers is a bit more difficult than setting up the wireless network. Of course, mobility on a wired system is very limited while wireless offers outstanding mobility features.

Here's a link to the web site that provided the above description.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/..._routers.shtml

Regards, C

P.S. Voyager modem connects via a USB port, your pc will need a separate network interface card to connect a wired router, alternatively you can connect wirelessly via a USB port wireless adapter. These devices are much more reliable than the poor quality BT Voyager ADSL modems. If you are going to replace the Voyager ADSL modem with a router you need to make sure you purchase a router with a built in ADSL modem to interface directly with your telephone connection.

[j0n35y]

Ok the router i have is netgear dg834gt http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?NGR-BUN111

I bought this belkin ethernet cable to connect the router to the pc http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?BEL-102636

And i bought a belkin dsl phone line cable from pcworld for about 20 quid, cant find any on the web.

The connection hasd been very stable and hasnt disconnected once. Fingers crossed its ok from now on.

Allan

Ok the router i have is netgear dg834gt http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?NGR-BUN111

I bought this belkin ethernet cable to connect the router to the pc http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?BEL-102636

And i bought a belkin dsl phone line cable from pcworld for about 20 quid, cant find any on the web.

The connection hasd been very stable and hasnt disconnected once. Fingers crossed its ok from now on.

Allan

Originally Posted by j0n35y

My router worked great too, but AOL refuse to give any technical support if you are not using their supplied gear, but the supplied bt voyager 105 modem disconnected all the time then hung my system so I had to turn it off at the switch causing damage to my cpu

IF YOU HAVE PERSISTENT CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS YOU CAN END YOUR AOL AGREEMENT WITHOUT BEING PENALISED! I.E. DODGY MODEM THAT KEEPS DROPPING CONNECTION!

[Chiltern PC]

my client had the same problem - the 5min disconnect - what ever equipment we used (standalone routers, PCs with dumb dsl modems) after lots of soul searching and ****ing about with software - we got BT in to check the line.
This client lived in a block of flats and the wiring was dodgy. the building had telcoms wiring put in before broadband was around and so the was crap (basically) BT corrected the wiring a(andcharged a fortune) and now works as it was supposed ti

[Fatcook]

I had exactly this problem - this solved it for me - temporarily

I went to control panel locate 'system' icon clicked on it, then to 'hardware' clicked on it located 'device manager' opened it then went to 'usbs' double clicked on each device and unticked power management. I then went to 'network adapters' double clicked on the 'modem' an unticked power management that has stopped the problem.

This gave me a short term fix by problem is back so now at a loss.........

Update 18 July 2006 - after persisting with AOL technical support - they have provided me with an ethernet modem (BT Voyager 190) which has so far solved the problem. So well done AOL!

[Zer02004]

Installing up to date motherboard chipset drivers may cure this.

updating mobo drivers doesnt do it, netgear router is pants for wot i want to do, aol dont supply proper technical assistance, the "person" iwas in contact with tonight didnt kno anything, he was reading from a script, my probs with the router was uploading was ok, downloading wasnt.. was given the damn router as a replacment for my voyager 100 which is having probs like every1 else, but tonight they now gonna give me a voyager 190 ethernet modem so fingers crossed this works

[plasticman]

Allan if you have indeed purchased the modem yourself then there is no 12 months contract, I work for AOL and didn't even know that until the other night when reading through the external AOL website www.aol.co.uk.

If I didn't know it then how many other people don't realise that if you don't want the modem and buy a Voyager 105 yourself new of course, that there is no 12 months contract.

I suggest you tell them you bought a modem as you where sick and tired of waiting on the modem being sent out and so now after reading the contract you feel you shouldn't need to stick to the contract and you want it cancelled, has to be done in Sales & Billing, tech support can't cancel unless its for technical reasons i.e too far from the exchange.

I am quite surprised that nobody has been able to use our internal system to order you a modem, its only a couple of buttons we need to click, did they not give you a modem tracking code that you could have given to the local post office this would tell you where exactly the modem was, if ordered of course.

Originally Posted by alex_m

I would disregard the majority of this post. The no contract only applies if you are migrating to AOL from another provider not simply if you purchase the modem and start with no adsl on your line.
The cancel of your braodband will not be done in sales and billing as this is as the name suggests for sales and billing issues (and far too many other things to list) you would infact need to speak to cancellations.
Also modem tracking codes have not been used in over a year now since the delivery company was changed from royal mail to a 3rd(more reliable) party.
Also dont buy a voyager 105 modem so many better options available. AOL no longer ship the v105 instead a v190 or netgear Netgear DG834G v2 is now sent
If you call AOL you can have the router free but you will have to agree to a new 12 month contract first of all.

The following is from the t&c for migration to aol
"Order must be accepted by 02/10/06. Only available to existing broadband subscribers switching from their current broadband supplier to AOL using the Broadband Migration ("MAC") process. New members only. No 12-month contract for customers who already have an AOL Broadband supported modem. Where customers need a modem, a free wireless router and installation pack will be supplied by AOL (worth over £55, excl p&p). Here a 12-month contract applies. This modem and installation pack must be returned if order is cancelled or rejected – charges apply where they are not returned."

[islelassie]

Well, this is my second attempt because I was disconnected when I tried to submit. What I would like to know is , is there any investigation into AOL's poor record or is it just down to individual complaints?

I have been a subscriber for a very long time ( before there was flat rate options!) but since Broadband I find I have a very slow and unstable service, with it disconnecting at least half the time I press ' send' be it an online order or an e-mail and in this case, trying to submit a reply to this site.

I have 5 months to go on my subscription, and am wondering whether AOl gives any recognition of the disconnection problems in terms of cancelling a subscription without penalty ahead of time. If so, how do I go about it?

[Zer02004]

IsleLassie, what equipment do you use to connect, what package are you on and what's the exact nature of your problems?

[islelassie]

I have Broadband silver, aol 9 softwear, BT voyager 150.

My connection goes almost every other time I click on ' send' for an e-mail or in the middle of trying to order stuff online. I do live about 5/6 miles from the exchange but if the connection is OK until I click on send, then I am not sure what is the cause. I don't know if it is my computer, I have had it for 4 years and during this time it has had to be taken back to factory settings twice, and may be the hard disk is dying on me. Do you think replacing the hard disk might help?

PS have Medion PC with athlon tower, 512mb memory
and have windows professional XP, and office 2003 installed

[Zer02004]

Hi again IsleLassie. I think that if line length (Attenuation/SNR etc) was an issue, the disconnections would be more of a random nature so let's see if you have anything untoward on your system first.
Install CCleaner, set it to delete temp files immediately, run the cleaner and then run the issues section several times until no more results are found.
Install Ewido, update and run it and delete anything it finds.
Run Kasperskys Online Scanner and carefully note anything that it finds.

When you've done that, post back and we'll see where we go from there.

I have Broadband silver, aol 9 softwear, BT voyager 150.

My connection goes almost every other time I click on ' send' for an e-mail or in the middle of trying to order stuff online. I do live about 5/6 miles from the exchange but if the connection is OK until I click on send, then I am not sure what is the cause. I don't know if it is my computer, I have had it for 4 years and during this time it has had to be taken back to factory settings twice, and may be the hard disk is dying on me. Do you think replacing the hard disk might help?

PS have Medion PC with athlon tower, 512mb memory
and have windows professional XP, and office 2003 installed

Originally Posted by islelassie

Hi,
Is this topic still alive? Are you still having problems? Cause I had the same until I found out that AOL software is not compatible with windows XP service pack2. I dont remeber exactly what I did (it was almost year ago), but I think you just need to go to AOL keywords, find there a topic with this problem and just get a patch from them, install it - it works straight away with no problems.
Regards

[curlygirlie]

i had all manner of problems with the connection for what seemed like ages...and one of my probs was just the same as youve described...aol help said it was my pc/ os etc.....i decided to get a better router modem...i now have no problems whatsoever...

hi im on wannadoo 512k, and i connect wirelessly to another computer which uses a belkin wireless modem. i have the same problem my inernet disconnecs every 5 minutes , i was wondering if anyone knew how to fix this problem?

it didnt used to happen when i first got the modem abot a year ago.

i would really appreciate some help if possible.

nice1 peeps.

i have this problem as well - but what ive noticed is that (since it has happened to me twice now) my connectivety problems only starts AFTER the 12 month contract is passed, it worked fine for the first 12 months then started to go up the wall, i sais i would leave aol, but being the money hogs they are they said WAIT we'll give you a new netgear whateverthehell if you stay and renew your contract. I thought that sounded fair, it has worked fine for 12 months now - and NOW the problem starts again - right after 12 months has passed

this may not be the problem - but it seems very likely that aol just cba with giving you a good connection after the contract has passed