Modem disconnect problem

This thread is just a contribution to the dial up modem troubleshooting community. Can't find the cause of frequent disconnects that follow no pattern whatsoever? Maybe this will help.

I was having intermittent disconnects from the internet using a dial up modem. The problem started 2 months ago and has been getting steadily worse. I tried new modems, new ISPs, new phone wires. I had the inside wires checked and a new jack installed 6 months ago b/c of unrelated issues so I new the inside wires were fine. I had isolated the issue to being outside of the house because my modem still dropped when I plugged directly into the gray phone box on the outside of my house (everyone has one but I'm not sure it is always gray).

I ran AT%Q and AT%L commands in hyperterminal (These tests are a primitive way to use free stock Windows software to test line signal strength and line noise on a phone line. For more information on the tests and how to perform them, and anyone with any computer know-how can, check this link) and when my internet was running well, they showed normal levels. After I would drop, I would reconnect and run the tests and they showed terrible numbers. These tests were conducted when my modem was connected to the outside gray box. I believed the issue to be moisture in an underground line because I was told such a disturbance would affect connection stability intermittently as the earth dried and saturated. After the phone company came and tested the line and it gave normal readings as I expected (gave normal readings most of the time) I decided to look into digging up the line and doing what they would not. I traced the phone line through my house out to the gray box and up to the roof and out to the telephone pole. I noticed that a tree had grown in such a way that it pushed the phone line into the power line in two places. I remembered reading earlier that your inside phone line (external to the jack) should not be wrapped around power cables because the electromagnetic field can cause line noise. I climbed the tree, bowsaw on my back and cut down the branches that were pushing the phone line into the power line. It separated back to its ~2ft normal distance and I haven't had any issues in a week since.

The moral of the story is don't go troubleshooting dial up disconnects until you have done a bit of reading as to what might cause line noise and look at the most obvious issues first. I recommend tracing your line. Good luck 56kers.

 

Yes that is a helpful issue to all you 56k users, the few of you out there