Modem connection problems

[Monstermile]

I'm having serious issues with my modem. First off this is a new build. The modem us a USR V.92. I am using Earthlink and just installed their newest software version. Well the first few days were fine. I was connecting at 48 and sometimes 49.3 with no issues. Now all of a sudden it takes forever to log onto the network. It just hangs for about 2-3 minutes before completely logging in. Also sometimes it lets me on and then boots me and other times it won't connect at anything higher than 20kbs. This is what I have tried:

-Uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers/modem many times
-Moving the modem to another PCI slot
-Completly uninstalling the Earthlink software and using Dial-up Network to make the connection
-Running the phone line directly to the Keptel box outside
-Calling Earthlink support

I notice that the modem is installed using COM3. Is that where it should be and is there any way to change that if not. That is where it defaults to every time I try reinstalling. I have never had any experience with tweaking or troubleshooting modems as I have never had any issues. My other PC connected just fine on the same line using a USR V.90 on older Earthlink software.

Any suggestions??? Is there someting I may not be configuring that I need to??

Specs:
MSI KT4 Ultra
Athlon 1700+ tbred B
512MB Kingston HyperX PC2700
WD 80g SE
Excaliber 9000 PRO 128MB
Win98SE

[SPEEDO]

Go to your dialup preferences and make sure that log on to network is unchecked and try that.......

[rockpile]

If you call Earthlink customer support they make you wait 10 minutes before they even answer your call so I would use them as a last resort.

[phlatline]

Have u tried COM1? Is there anything installed on COM1? If there's nothing already there, I would try uninstalling driver/modem, & then rinstalling in COM1 (or 2 if 1's in use). Win should ask u which port u wanna use during the installation process. See if that helps.
good luck

[DoctorReno]

It really shouldn't matter which COM port you are using so long as it is an open port. You should be perfectly fine using COM 3. If you want, like phlatline states, you can go into your modem properties and change the COM port to one of your choosing.

I'm curious if you are using the internet at the same time of the day as earlier.

You also might call your telephone provider and ask them to check the phone line. For no charge they should come out and check your external line. It's possible that construction or some natural incident has damaged the line or is causing interference that is causing your modem to back down in connection speed inorder to "reliably" transfer data.

[dunbar]

Setup a free Netzero account, complete with advertisement bar and whatever NetZero tells you to use to let you have 10 hours a month for free.

Connect to the net through NetZero servers, surf for a half hour, see what your bandwidth amounts to. Same hardware, same init strings, different servers.

I was 14.4k or booted with local ISP, 43k+ all the time at NetZero.
Before I tried NetZero, my local ISP had me reinstalling my OS and my modem drivers and upgrading the modem drivers and installing service packs and upgrading Interknot Exposer and when it still failed, they still blamed my hardware for the errors.... unitl I told them that NetZero was 43k+ and demanded a refund for their ineptitude. I left the inept ISP a few days later. Never got the refund, though.

[Monstermile]

Thanks for the responses and sorry for the delay in responding myself.

It can't be the line because I am connected now on my old computer at 48k. And for some reason on this (the new one) modem you can't change what port it uses.

SPEEDO: I don't have that option for some reason. UInless I am looking in the wrong place.

[SPEEDO]

Take a look here...............

[Grinder]

Monstersmile,

I know it's been quite some time since your Earthlink modem post. I'm not sure if you were able to resolve your issues but I just wanted to comment on your smiley faces, yapping, banging and crying! I had Earthlink TA 2004 and TA3 and am currently trying to remove all traces traces from my Win98SE registry.

Hope all is well!