Connection status indicator shows online even when disconnected.

[ankan]

Hi

The problem is that the connection status (Dial Up Networking) keeps showing that a connection is there even when actually I've been disconnected.
Thus whenever the pages do not come up either due to high traffic (and thus taking sometime) or because the connection's not there anymore, I do not have any option but to manually disconnect and redial (because I have no way to know whether I am really connected or not):-(
What do I do to make sure that the indicator shows up correctly?

Please Help. Thanks in advance.
Ankan. Please do correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Comtech]

If the indicator is there, you're connected. You just have no data flow.
This can happen for any number of reasons.
Phone line noise.
Busy ISP.
Modem retraining.
Wrong phase of the moon.
Not holding your mouth quite right. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[mcvpjd3]

Start, Setting, Netork & Dial Up Connections, Select the connection, right click, select Properties, and ensure there is a check in the "Show Icon in taskbar when connected" box.

HTH

Patrick

 

[ankan]

Hi

Hey Jim (Comtech), I was of the same opinion as you are until recently. But ... I took the phone (the one connected to the computer) when this problem showed up, dialled a friend, talked, then hung up. And guess what? All the while the status indicator still showed that the machine was online.

And yes the "Show icon when connected" is ticked. It has always been.

It seems that the modem does not get the point that it got disconnected. But the question is how do I make it understand. huh?? If its important, its an internal modem and the correct drivers are all installed too.

Thanks. But still need help.:-(
Ankan.

Please do correct me if I am wrong.

 

[mcvpjd3]

Do you have a network card installed in your PC? Patrick

 

[Comtech]

OK, the modem is not getting the signal from the ISP, or if it does, it's not letting windows know.
What kind of modem (chipset) is it?
Have you uninstalled DUN and reinstalled?
Have you tried making a whole new connection?
What version of Windows are we talking about?
And, yes, do you have a NIC in there (used or not)? Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[jakrabit]

i'll bet you a buck it's a winmodem...

suggestion... replace the winmodem with a modem with it's own processor... your system will thank you, and your connection will seem (note i said SEEM) faster, because you are not hogging system resources to to keep your modem connected. Shane
and now for the impressive abbreviations:
DOA, SOL, AWOL, PEBKAC, id10t, FUBAR

 

[Comtech]

So, it may be a winmodem...

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[jakrabit]

i was merely making a suggestion....

ok... try downloading updated drivers... quite possibly the current drivers he has have bugs...

is there a timeout setting for inactivity? to tell, try configuring the dialup you have created and click on the modem configure button... go to the connection tab, and uncheck the setting "Disconnect a call if idle for more than __ mins". -- it may be that it is going idle, disconnecting, and forgetting to refresh the systray.

try taking the modem and installing it in another system... see if the problem transfers to the other system...

the BEST solution i could recommend is to SPEND MONEY... with the cost of modems coming down (as highspeed access is more readily available) he should be able to get a modem (NON-WinModem) for less than 50 dollars... small price to pay for improved performance, IMHO...

Shane
and now for the impressive abbreviations:
DOA, SOL, AWOL, PEBKAC, id10t, FUBAR

 

[ankan]

Hi

There are no network cards installed apart from the internal modem which is mainly used to connect to the net.

I had uninstalled DUN and reinstalled, but it didn't help.
A whole new connection did not help either.
The OS is Windows 98 SE.
Its a 56Kbps internal modem (DAX WINTMODEM - so says the manual)(PCtel HSP56 MicroModem 7.66-9K-01 Data/Fax/Voice/Speakerphone/V.80) and the machine's a PIII on an I810 based board.

There are no timeouts. Not in my machine. The "disconnect if idle..." is unchecked. And this problem is not due to inactivity because it occurs even say while refreshing a page or when a file is being downloaded.

The thing works fine as long as its connected, but like I said earlier the indicator keeps showing online even after getting disconnected from the ISP.

Anything??

I'm waiting.
Ankan.
Please do correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Comtech]

This sounds like a Windows bug, but could easily be attributed to the modem. Yes, it's a winmodem, and one of the worst (IMHO).
Actually purchasing a new modem might be your best option, but don't just run out and buy one, you may end up with another lemon, let us know.
As to the problem:
What driver version do you have?
What are the ATi3 and ATi6 responses?
Is it "timing out" at specific intervals, or randomly?
Here's the drivers:

http://www.modem-help.freeserve.co.uk/chips/pct1789.html#drivers

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ankan]

Okay. The answers first. This is what the response was using HyperTerminal connected direct to COM3 (i.e., the modem):
----------
ati0
56000
OK
ati1
A97/C02
OK
ati2
OK
ati3
PCtel HSP56 MicroModem 7.66-9K-01
OK
ati4
PCtel HSP56 MicroModem Data/Fax/Voice/Speakerphone/V.80
OK
ati5
V.90
OK
ati6

OK
ati7

OK
at+fclass=?
0,1,8
OK
ath3
V1456VQH-P2 V3.1 052900
----------
Its not "timing out". Sometimes the connection remains for a long time without any probs, sometimes it does not - random that is. Whatever happens the status indicator continues showing online.
The driver version as it seems from the ati3 response is 7.66-9K-01. In the link you provided its written to be a Win 2000 driver. While mine is Win 98 SE. Could this be a reason?
Anything else??
In the meantime I'll try updating the drivers and keep you informed (thanks for the link to the drivers and for the help).

bye.
ankan.
Please do correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Comtech]

Start with the driver. Once it's installed, let us know if the problem still occurs.
Yes, an incorrect driver can cause all the grief, because DUN is different between 2k and 98.
Have you checked at Intel and at PCTel for any known issues with the i810 chipset? Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ankan]

An update. After combing through the net I finally found a driver at

http://www.pctel.com/downloads/drivers_download.htm

The site has different drivers for Win95/98/Me for the different PCtel modems.
The appropriate driver (specfic to my OS and modem) I downloaded from here does not have this problem. Thankfully.

Just for the records the modem is HSP56 MicorModem (PCtel PCT 789T). I took it out of the cabinet to make sure. And it seems to be working fine now. Must have had something to do with the OS I guess.

BTW Jim (/reboot/comtech) after surfing through your sites and all, I could figure out that you are quite an expert on modems. But what I could not figure out is how did the last line of the first paragraph of my second mail (dated Jul 17) in this thread disappear?? I wonder if u know?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Bye.
Ankan.
Please do correct me if I am wrong.