Internet Kick-Offs
Automatic disconnection from the internet is a common problem for many internet users.  If this happens to you frequently, you know how frustrating it can be.  Luckily, there are many things that can be done to help solve this problem.

Determining the Cause
The first step you need to take toward stopping the disconnects is to find out why they are happening.  
All internet service accounts through MWSI are unlimited.  Since we have no reason to monitor the duration of our customers' online times, we do not disconnect our customers.  While occasional server crashes are not unheard of with any ISP, if you are being disconnected on a regular/frequent basis it is time to begin the search for the problem so you can enjoy your internet time without interruption.

The Basics
Your internet service is dependent upon your phone lines.  (No, this isn't the standard "passing the buck" you get from a lot of ISP's, it's the first step in determining your problem.)  It only makes sense that, since the information transferred to and from your computer during internet connection travels through your phone line, if you have a poor phone connection to begin with you are going to experience more internet kick-offs.  Do you hear static during phone conversations?  Are your phone calls ever disconnected for no reason?  If your answer to either of these questions is "yes" then you also have an answer to your internet kick-off problems.  If this is the case, the only way to improve your internet service is to have the faulty phone lines serviced by your phone company.

If you don't have a problem with your regular phone service, the next place to look for problems is the wall jack your modem is connected to.  To test the jack, unplug your modem and plug your phone into the jack.  Use this jack to make a few phone calls.  Do you have problems during these calls?  If you are disconnected or if you have a poor connection due to static using this jack, this is why you are having disconnections while online.  

Next on the check-list is the cord connecting your modem to the jack.  Take the cord from your modem and replace your regular phone cord with it.  Make a couple of phone calls.  Do you have a poor connection using this cord?  If so then you just need to replace the modem cord.  

Another phone-related reason for internet disconnects is Call Waiting.  If you have Call Waiting with your phone service, it remains active during internet connection unless you disable it when you dial into the internet.  If this is the case, whenever a phone call comes in, your internet service will be disconnected as the Call Waiting attempts to "beep in."
To disable Call Waiting during internet connections, double click "My Computer," double click "Dial-Up Networking" and right click on the MWSI icon.  Go to "Properties."  You should see the dial-in access number.  Before the first digit of your access number type in *70,,   (Those two commas are very important, don't forget them).  Click "Okay" and then close out of Dial-Up Networking and My Computer.   This will disable Call Waiting for all future internet dial-ups.  

Computer Problems
If you haven't performed a thorough Scan Disk recently, you should do this now.  Make sure to run the scan which "Automatically Fixes Errors."  Many times a simple disk error can cause connection problems.
  
If your Scan Disk is negative, we move on to a couple of computer settings that could be causing disconnects.   You will find the first setting within your Internet Explorer program.  Open it up as usual and then click on "Tools" at the top of the screen.  Choose "Internet Options" then click on the "Connections" tab.   Click "Settings," then click the "Advanced" button.   You will see an area to set how many dialing attempts your modem should make when connecting to the internet and how many minutes it should wait between attempts.  Below that, you will see an area that says "Disconnect if idle for ___ minutes."    If there is a check inside that check-box you should either remove the check or change the number of minutes to a higher setting, depending on your internet habits.  Click "Okay" and then close out of Internet Options.  
If there is not a check inside the box, or if the minutes indicated with a check are adequate for your online needs, you should check your modem settings next.  
Click your "Start" button, "Settings," and then open your Control Panel.   Double click the icon for "Phone and Modems" or "Modems."  The modem you use should be highlighted.  Click on the "Properties" button.   At the bottom of this box you will see the speed setting for your modem.  This setting should be at 57600.  If it is set at a higher speed, change the speed to 57600.  
This is a very common cause of internet disconnections.  Many people change the setting to the highest speed thinking it will increase their connection speed.  This is not the case.  Most modems are 56K.  If you set your modem speed higher than your modem capability, your computer tells your modem to transfer information at the higher rate of speed, the modem can't transfer at the speed and it malfunctions causing the connection to be lost.  

Modem Problems
If your phone service is good, your Scan Disk is negative, your computer settings are all correct and you are still experiencing disconnects while online, the problem is probably your modem.  
Modems are very fragile and can become damaged during moving of the computer, storms,  or even by a bug crawling over the modem.  Luckily, in most cases they aren't very expensive to replace.  

Micro Wise offers on-site and in-office computer service.  This includes free in-office modem testing.  We replace modems at a discount for our internet service customers.

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