How to automate a broadband connection?

Question

I would like to have my PC automatically connect (at a certain time every day) to the Internet while I'm away. I have an ADSL broadband connection. I thought about using 'Scheduled Tasks' from Control Panel but I can't find the executable assigned to the DSL dialer. Thanks.

bibek · Answer

The executable has to be set up like this:   'Shortcut to DSL dialer' /Dial /Entry 'Name of the connection in Network Connections'   For example, I have the target set up like this:   'C:\Program Files\Alcatel\SpeedTouch USB\stdialup.exe' /Dial /Entry 'BT Openworld Broadband'   The first part is my dsl dialer. And then, in control panel --> network connections, I found the exact name of the connection which the dsl dialer should dial.   When this is executed, your connection should automatically connect. Setting it up in scheduled tasks is a simple process but post back if you are not sure.

alegator · Answer

Could you explain better what you mean? - How do I create an executable? With Notepad? - I cannot find an 'exe' file associated with the DSL dialer, otherwise there wouldn't be any need to create an executable at all, I would just use Scheduled Tasks to target this exe file. - You mention: 'C:\Program Files\Alcatel\SpeedTouch USB\stdialup.exe'....I made a search in my PC for 'stdialup.exe' and found nothing. Thanks.

alegator · Answer

If it had been that easy I would've already done it without the need to post the question here. The problem is that when I click on Properties for the desktop shortcut for the DSL dialer it directs me to the same shortcut in the "Network Connections" (which again is another shortcut, not an executable). Also, I did not install any ISP software, I just used the Windows Connection Wizard to generate the dialer.

And regarding my need to do this is that for some reason my ISP disconnects me from the service at a certain time everyday, and their support is useless, so I'm better off automating the reconnection, which motivated this post.

Thanks.

thanhvn · Answer

dsl connections are supposed to be 24/7. the only times when you need to reconnect is if your connection is dropped due to 1) power or hardware failures or irregularities, 2) software problems, or 3) timeouts. the third reason is the more likely of the three. the best option is talk to your isp on how to prevent disconnections due to timeouts.

if you really want to, it's easy to find the executable associated with your dsl dialer. assuming the shortcut for the dialer is either in your programs menu or on the desktop, just right click on the shortcut, choose properties, and look in the target box. if there is no shortcut, go to the folder where your isp software is installed (if you forgot where it is, go browse your c:\program files folder), look at the executables there and guess which one it might be (it may be hard to find and you may to launch the executable to see what it does).

RichardLusignan · Answer

Hi,

I don't know if this has been verified, but what about puting a check on the box "automatically redial if connection is lost" or something like that in the properties tab of your DSL connection in the Network section of Control Panel ?

I enable this option for most of my network connections and it does the job well, I set it to redial 3 secs after the connection is lost, but you can adjust the delay.

Regards,

Rick

alegator · Answer

Rick, That works only when you dial and you can't connect, then it redials. But once you connect, if after some time the connection is broken, it won't redial.

RichardLusignan · Answer

Maybe a workaround then: What if you configure Internet Explorer to connect/use automatically your DSL connection, and then place IExplorer in a scheduled task at the appropriate time ? Regards, Rick

RichardLusignan · Answer

I see.... strange because if I unplug my RJ-45 cable and plug it again it will reconnect... I though that loosing the connection would have the same result... my bad...

alegator · Answer

Rick, That works only when you dial and you can't connect, then it redials. But once you connect, if after some time the connection is broken, it won't reconnect.

alegator · Answer

Rick,

Yes, good idea, I did that long time ago, I scheduled IE to open at a certain time each day (setting a certain homepage) and that would trigger the DSL dialer to connect. But for some unknown reason this stopped working after a while. So now I'm looking for a root solution, scheduling the dialer to connect.

I thought about writing a script to create an executable and then schedule this executable (and I am sure you can do it this way), but I lack programming knowledge. So I found this cool application, it's called :"Workspace Macro", it will automate the mouse movement and clicks. So I recorded a session in which I move the mouse pointer to START then CONNECT TO and then click my DSL dialer. The program then creates a script for this session which can be scheduled.

I would love to have that script written by myself!!!

Thanks.

Windows General

How to automate a broadband connection?

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