No internet connection on Dimension 4100 / Windows ME

"DTR" is "Data Terminal Ready".  That comes from the PC saying it's ready to send data.  However, you must have "DSR" Data Set Ready which comes from the modem, too. 

But, if it's not detecting DTR that means there could be a problem with your Dial Up Network connection or set up as it would set DTR when it tries to dial.  It will acually send DTR (if you have DSR) and then in the "handshaking" sequence the computer will set "RTS"  Request to Send and the modem will respond, if it's connected to the ISP's modem, "CTS"  Clear To Send and then the PC will respond with whatever data it needs to send to make the connection, or whatever data it wants to send.

One issue, many times is the "Winsock" file gets corrupted and you need to create a new one.  You need to first delete the Winsock file (I don't remember if it's winsock.ini, or what the extension is) but I think it's in the Windows/System folder - do a search for winsock and you should find it.  Rename it winsock.old.  Delete the current DUN (Dial up network connection), create a new Dial up network connection and when you do that, Windows will create a new winsock file.  Many times that will fix it.

Thanks for replying, Fireberd. I'm getting pretty discouraged with this problem. I just downloaded a bunch of diagnostic programs from download.com.

I'll try out your tip tonight/tomorrow and see how it goes, but I have done something similar to this as recommended by NetZero tech support and by HijackThis.

The modem interfaces with the motherboard via a serial port.  There is a specific chip that provides that connection.  If you took a lightning hit, the chip could be blown.

You didn't say if the modem was internal or external.  If internal try moving it to another slot in the PC and reconfigure.  If external and you have only one serial port, you could be shot down.

If external and you want to find out for sure get a serial port tester.  It's been years since I've used one but you might find one at Radio Shack or a similar tech store.  The tester will show the conditions of the various leads on the RS232 interface.

Thanks for your input, Rem3006.

Not only have I have bought a new modem (replaced my Dell-installed LT Winmodem with a USR Winmodem PCI), I also tried inserting it into another PCI slot. As before, when I try to log in, I'm connected for about 1+ minutes, then the connection drops. I don't even get as far as seeing any webpages.

Can you take your computer and modem to a friends house that has a working line? If it works there, could be your phone line.

If your line has a frequency response issue the modem will not work.  It may log-in then disconnect. Phone lines should have a relatively flat response of about -5db at 300 to no less than -13db at 3,000 hz.   A 56k modem uses a multiplex of 5 frequencies and if one or more of the 'bands' has severe attenuation you got a problem.  Try turning up the modem speaker volume and listen.  If the tones go back and forth more than once or twice the modem is having a problem connecting at speed.  It will keep trying lower speeds until it connects but may drop off in a few seconds to a few minutes.

Two things can happen in your line to cause frequency problems.  (1) Half Tap: when the cable pair is spliced to form a "T" or dead end leg of significant length.  This dead end leg, like going down a new street, throws the freq response off.  (2) Load Coil: A coil placed in the line to balance normal capacitance on a long line.  These are required when the line is more than about 2 miles long (from the CO).  However, if the company puts one to the FIELD of your house, (you are between the coil and the CO) your line will not transmit high frequencies.  Sometimes your TT dial will become unreliable, giving you wrong numbers at times.

You could also be working through a SLC (Subscriber Line Concentrator).  This is in effect a multiplexor to compresses voice conversations allowing more customers to be fed from congested cables.  Usually, this just limits your speed to 28k but there could be an issue with the channel you're on.

Understand the phone company usually does not 'guarantee data integrity' of your line.  If your phone works, they have met their commitment to service.  Having said that you may be able to convince them to run some frequency response tests.  From old Bell System standard there should be no more than 8db difference anywhere between 300-3000 hz.  A good line will be from -5db at 300 to no less than -13db at 3000.

Hopefully, this long winded response will give you enough lingo to get the phone company to at least test your line.   Be aware if the problem is in your house wiring they can charge you!  My problem actually was in the attic wiring.  Fortunately, I kept some tools and wire when I retired.

Good luck.

I think you may be on to something, Rem3006.

I tried some things last night. First, the tip suggested by Fireberd (delete my DUN connection and replace the Winsock file) - that wasn't the problem.

Then, I ran a few tests. I connected to NetZero, then checked out the log. Here's the ATI6, attempt number one:

OK

U.S. Robotics V.92 Fax Win Int Link Diagnostics...

Chars sent 3007 Chars Received 499
Chars lost 0
Octets sent 905 Octets Received 298
Blocks sent 86 Blocks Received 33
Blocks resent 0

Retrains Requested 0 Retrains Granted 0
REJs Received 0 Blers 5
Link Timeouts 0 Link Naks 0

Data Compression V44 2048/255/8192 / V44 2048/255/8192
Equalization Long
Fallback Enabled
Protocol LAPM
Speed 44000/21600
Last Call 00:01:20

Disconnect Reason is DTR dropped

OK

I'm real curious to know how this worked out.

I had the exact same problem with my Dimension 4100, Windows Me. Since the end of July I could not get a good connection. If I got connected at all, it was at a low rate (12,000 bps) and then would disconnect me in a minute. THIS SEEMS TOO COINCIDENTAL.

I have a different modem then you (conexant HCF V90 RDAT PCI Speakerphone).

I updated the driver (now using a generic one).

Now I can connect and stay connected, but even though it appears to be connecting at 46,667 bps or 33,000 bps, etc., the real throughput is horrible. What I observe is about 2-3 seconds where I receive anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 bytes followed by about 12 seconds of receiving nothing. So, at best this is only around 4,300 bps.

I was thinking of upgrading to a V92 modem, but based upon your results I'm wondering if it would make any difference.

JW_JW, I am curious what ISP you are using. I am using SBC Yahoo! in the 516 area code.

I'm trying to figure out if it has something to do with the ISP (they've said no of course) or perhaps a Windows update to Me that occurred around that time, or just noise on the line.

Please let me know what you've come up with. Thanks.

Hi jhg,

I'm using NetZero in the 416 area code and they, too, tell me it's not them. I got a Bell telephone technician come over to check things out, and he said that there's a problem inside with the telephone wires - I didn't have him fix it, since it would have cost me $90. So I'm pretty sure that's the problem for me. As I mentioned before, I'll be moving anyway, so I'm going to make do using my internet access at work in the meantime.

Many homes are wired by the electrician who have no clue how to run telecom wire or what material to use.  Some even use door bell wire!

I suggest go to Lowes or some other store that sells communication wiring and purchase a box of Cat-5.  Run a piece from the Telco demark to your modem jack.  This will eliminate any possibility of an in-house problem.  I had this happen to me, fixed it.

Thanks, Rem3006. I don't have much experience with communication wiring. How hard is this to do for someone like me, do you think? Is it easy to spot where in the demarcation point I should be hooking up the wiring?

FYI, I figured out what was wrong with my connection.

It did indeed turn out to be noise on the line. After I moved my computer to every jack I had, I still had the noise. Before calling the phone company to check the lines though I had done a bit more research and came across these ADSL filters for the phone lines (they're meant to be used on the phones you talk on, to block out the DSL noise from them), but that got me thinking about putting in an RF filter. Then it dawned on me that about a month ago I had turned on this amplified FM antenna I had connected to my sound system. I turned it off and, low and behold, I got my good connection back. I'm guessing that the main phone line coming into my co-op unit is in the wall that this antenna was next to. Oh well, at least I took the time to upgrade to a V.92 modem and added another 256MB of RAM to my PC, so now it's much better than before.

Thanks for the tip, jhg.

I live in a detached house right now and I didn't bring anything into the house that might give off RF interference. I don't know what kind of range the interference might have, but one of my neighbors might have gotten a new antenna or something.

Anyhow, I'm going to switch to cable for a couple of months and see how it goes. I can always cancel if it's not worth the cost - we have an ultra-lite cable service in our area for a little bit more than what I now pay for dial-up.

Hi Rem3006,

I think I figured out what's causing interference with my phone line / modem -- the home alarm system that was activated recently!

I read on a website that the solution is to install a signal splitter at the alarm. Another site says that the only solution is to get a 2nd phone line. What do you think? With my circumstances, a signal splitter seems the better option (depending, too, on the price). Is such a thing simple to do?

Message Edited by JW_JW on 08-31-2005 08:43 AM

Message Edited by JW_JW on 08-31-2005 03:01 PM

I don't have any experience with alarm system 'signal splitters'.  Suggest contact the alarm company for advise.

Most alarm systems use a special jack that permits the alarm system to pre-empt the line and prevent someone taking the phone off the hook thus disabling the alarm.  When installed properly the alarm system will not interfere with the phones.  I believe the designation is "RJ31x", I'm not sure.  If you can find your alarm system manual there is probably a diagram.

Most modems have a built in exclusion feature.  Look for two jacks on the back of the modem.  One should be marked "line" or "In" and the other "Tel" or "Set" or "Out".  Run the line from the Telco demark to the "line" jack on the modem (1), then connect the alarm (2) to the "station" or "Tele" jack.  Tele sets (3) then connect behind the RJ31x.   When the modem is in use (active data) it excludes or cuts off the alarm and tel sets.  When the alarm is active (modem must be idle) the phones are excluded.  For the phones to work both modem and alarm must be idle.

You have to think about what you want to take priority on the phone line, modem (1), alarm (2) or tele sets (3).  Wire them in series per your preferences.

Or purchase another line.  My choice would be to put the alarm on it's own line.  In this case I would then bring the line "in" to the modem and "out" to the sets.  Keeps others in the house from picking up the phone and ruining your data connection.

Or buy DSL or cable.  What the heck, it's only money !