Phone Lines

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It is possible that phones lines can cause a problem. This could be because of actual problems with the line itself, or it could be a Custom Calling Feature like Call Waiting that causes a modem to disconnect.

If you have call waiting on the line your computer uses you should be sure your modem is set to automatically disable it when it dials. You can check this setting by going to your Dial Up Networking (DUN) folder (My Computer | Dial Up Networking) Right click on the DUN connection you are currently using. It is probably called Kentec or KCI. The code to disable the feature is published in your phone book. In the telephone number box type: *70 in front of the telephone number followed by a comma. *70,5216300

Problems with the line itself are not common but do occur. A good way to check whether your line has a problem is to physically connect your modem to a different line. One way of doing this is to find a friend who doesn't have problems connecting from their location and carry your computer to their site. Although this is inconvenient, it can tell you a lot about where your problem may lie. If your friend doesn't have any trouble using their computer from their site but you try your computer from their site and still have problems, you can be pretty confident the problem lies somewhere in the configuration of your system or your modem. If you don't have problems from their site you can be pretty sure it has something to do with your phone cables. One way to test your computer at another location is to take advantage of our free carry-in configuration service. We will test your setup using a standard phone line to ensure your modem is working.

If you do have problems with your phone cables the problem could be due to either the inside wiring of your home or the lines provided by the telephone company. Your phone company should be able to determine where the problem lies.

If a problem isn't found in the phone line then your next bet is a wiring problem within your home. In-home wiring problems can be due to poor connections made when splicing wires, faulty or sub-standard equipment, cables run too close to a power source, or sub-standard cable used to wire your home. Generally the telephone technician will be able to discuss your options regarding the repair of inside wiring problems.

Electric Fences (in rural areas)
Apart from poor phone line quality and distance from your local telephone exchange, electric fences are perhaps one of the most common reasons why people on farms or in rural areas either suffer from poor connect speeds or have problems with being disconnected from the internet. Emissions made by the electric fences generate noise on the phone lines that interrupts data transmission particularly at fast rates. This is usually enough to disconnect your modem from the Internet.