Broken Internet connection after 20mins 'idle' time.

Question

I have recently searched for, and found several postings on this topic, including this message board. They were written in the past year or two, but the advice given then does not solve this problem on mine. Can anyone suggest a solution?   I've recently been listening to BBC radio programmes I've missed through their online 'Listen Again' feature. Most of them are 30 or more minutes long. My internet connection, however, always breaks after 20mins, because there is a 20min 'idle' time limit embedded in my Internet Explorer/ISP connection software. This obviously makes for inconvenient listening. I am forced to reconnect and find the point at which the transmission was broken by using the 'fast forward' 15min and 1min buttons provided:- rather a hassle if I need to go 25 minutes into the broadcast! (A dialogue box does check whether I want to resume listening from where I 'left off' but the program always starts from the beginning again.)   From the postings I have read, I know where to remove the green check mark to de-activate the idle time limit, or how to change the limit to, say, 60mins. But this has no effect whatsoever. Indeed, it has the profoundly disagreeable effect of corrupting in some way my ISP authentication, so I cannot get connected to my server! I then need to undo what I've done with a System Restore in order to get connected again.   I've contacted my ISP support techie about this. He agreed there was a 20 min idle time limit. But he pointed out that my computer will NOT have been idle for 20mins if I have been listening to online radio - as data is being transferred into the computer. The server would not cut me off if data is being transmitted. (Sure enough, pulling the phone line out of the wall socket cuts the broadcast a few seconds later.)     He suggested it was a computer/software configuration problem: that one part of the computer was monitoring idle time and not correctly registering that data was being downloaded. (When I'm listening I do not touch any mouse or keyboard keys.)   So how can I get my computer to stay online for the duration of a broacast?   Suggestions would be most welcome!   Details:  Dimension 4600 Dell, Jan 2004, Windows XP Home Edition, with standard mouse and also tracker ball mouse fitted via USB socket. I use Internet Explorer. (Version 6.0 I think - though when I tried to check on this yesterday I couldn't find how to navigate to any window with the version number in it.)   Regards   Chris Richards

Mary G · Answer

You should touch the mouse every so often. You can play FreeCell or solitaire while listening, or just wiggle the mouse.This is your ISP's fault when they are monitoring of your system. The technician was wrong. They cannot know you are actually listening to a broadcast unless you are using your computer somehow.

Majestic · Answer

For the Internet Explorer version number just click on Help from the top menu and then select About Internet Explorer.  The version number will then be displayed.     As for your connection.  It's not unusual for dialup ISP to kill off inactive connections.  Most services only have a limited number of incoming phone lines and modems so they don't like them tied up by people not actively using the Internet.  Although you are receiving data while listening to the radio broadcast, their inactivity software may only be monitoring data received back from your system.  Back in my days of dialup I use to get around this inactive disconnect by opening Outlook Express and leaving it open in the background while I was on-line.   There is an option in Outlook Express that will allow you to change the frequency in which Outlook Express checks the mail server for new mail.  In my situation I changed this setting to every 5 minutes.   With that setting changed my ISP's disconnect monitoring software would think I was actively checking my e-mail every 5 minutes and the connection was kept alive.  Give it a try and see if it helps.

osprey4 · Answer

If your ISP actually admitted there is an idle time limit, I would suggest it violates their terms of service. "Always on" broadband services are supposed to be just that, always on. This is not the early days of AOL where they ran out of phone lines.

I would keep calling your ISP and escalating the issue to higher levels of authority.

chrisrichards · Answer

Thanks, folks, for these suggestions to date.

I like the idea about having Outlook Express on in the background! I'll give it a try and "report" back.

Now I know it's definitely in the control of my ISP I can take appropriate action as required.

Thanks, Majestic, for putting me on the right path to the I.E. version number.

Regards

Chris

chrisrichards · Answer

Yes, that's solved the problem!

I opened Outlook Express and changed the frequency of the email check-up time by going to Tools - Options. I reduced the time from 30 mins to 10mins.

I was able to "Listen Again" to the 45minute Radio4 Reith Lecture via Radio Player with no interruption at all to my internet connection.

Thanks again!

Chris

Windows General

Broken Internet connection after 20mins "idle" time.

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