Q:
I have a dial-up internet connection and it hangs up all the time when I’m online. Why does this happen and what can I do about it?
A:
Some dial-up ISPs will disconnect if you are idle too long, but my guess is that you have call waiting. When a call comes in the call waiting disconnects your modem.
Fortunately you can disable call waiting in your modem settings so this doesn’t happen. Your phone company should have a code you can dial to disable call waiting—you’ll need it for this to work.
Windows XP
1. Go to Start/Control Panel and select “Phone & Modem Options”.
2. Next, choose the “Dialing Rules” tab and select your dial-up connection.
3. Click the “Edit” button. Under the “General” tab you’ll see a check box “To disable call waiting, dial:” When you check it, the box for you to enter the call waiting disable code opens. Select or type the code that disables call waiting there. Finally, click OK.
Windows 98/ME
1. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel and select the “Modems” icon.
2. Click the “Dialing Properties” tab and select your dial-up connection.
3. Check box “To disable call waiting, dial:” When you check it, the box for you to enter the call waiting disable code opens. Select or type the code that disables call waiting there. Finally, click OK.
Now, whenever your modem dials it will dial the code to disable call waiting and you won’t get kicked off.
~ David
David Samuel Thomas