There is a programe called "connection keeper" that sends a small packet of info every so often to prevent idle disconnections (whether or not the ISP disconnects idle users I don't know). You can download the programme from:
www.gammadyne.com/conkeep.htm
The following is a copy and paste from an email I received from Dragonlogos:
Quote:
Here's a few tips that we have found successful for cutting down on Infinitcall disconnects:
1) Spyware and Viruses need to be sorted, Spybot Search and Destroy is good for getting out the spyware. Norton and AVG together seem to whack the Virus front. Up-dates are essential
2) A good firewall, it has been noticed that on Mweb, ABSA and Telkom networks, the firewall tends to work over time, it is not fully clear why this is, one would think that each organisation would like to police their Networks to some degree, and that they might want to have a look see, also you might have hackers buzzing around (the Telkom network particularly seems busy, with IP hits coming from Telkom admin addresses) Also note that SA is a known soft target, mainly because of lack of expertise - ie PCs are easy to get into, and also that there are a lot of users on-line on infinetcal which are basically hanging around like sitting ducks. It seems way better to go through a service provider that is on a bigger backbone (ie Telkom) but you got through their system first, that way when the main backbone chucks it's toys out the cart you are held in place by your ISP... also they tend to have their own hi tech firewalls which are good at fending off any attacks
3) You might want to think about using what is called a Net Drive or Net PC... Basically either a Hard Drive or PC that is just used for the Net. You might want to switch to Linux, one problem is that there are not many Linux Soft Modems, so you need to get a more expensive modem to use Linux with the Net.
4) Try and get a V92 modem, for example the CN5614RV internal CNet 56K Modem. You should be able to pick one up for about R 100,00 or so. The V92 is designed to be able to answer the phone while you are on the Internet ( a protocol that Telkom does not support... I wonder why) Anyway because of this it has been noticed that they are more line resistant, one of the things they could be fighting is metered pulse, this is a old bit of technology that Telkom appears to still have in place, basically it is a pulse that happens every metered unit, it was used to activate the old electro mechanical unit counters, they were used in Hotels (and other places) and would count the number of units that you used, this has long been computerised... There are other of course many other things that can cause problems. For example, line conditions.... Telkom for example uses microwave links in some places instead of fixed line, they tend to work well most of the time but go down when there is a dust storm (this would not disconnect you off unless your primary link was via the microwave link)
5) Phone the Fault centre and tell them that you are on Infinitcall and do not want you line checked while you are on the Internet as it causes you to be disconnected. Make sure you have call waiting disconected (if you have it) before going on to the net.
6) Make sure that the auto disconnect is disabled, In Windows goto Internet options, goto the Settings of the default connection, goto Advanced, un-tick disconnect if idle for more than 20 minutes, un-tick Disconnect when no longer needed.
7) Make sure your line is clean, dial 0 and check that you have no snap, crackle and pop (or hum)
I think line quality is the primary reason for disconnects (though I still have not ruled out the possibility of my deliberate disconnects theory!).
The most crucial thing, and I say this from experience, is to ensure that you have a clear line. Call up Telkom and get a technician sent around (alternatively, hijack a technician the next time you see one working on the box that serves you). Get him to plug that cool little toy of his into your line. It tests for the amount of 'earth' on the line and some other reading. Get him to find a totally clear line, and have him reconfigure the 'channels' (I'm trying my best here, but am most likely not using the right terminology).
When I abducted a technician and asked him to check my line, he couldn't believe that I was even able to connect to the internet because the 'earth' reading (A-channel I think he called it) was over 95%, and the other reading (B-channel...I think) was hovering between 70 and 80%. This, he said, was the reason for my disconnections. The wonderful guy spent over half an hour finding clean channels for me, and I have not experienced a single disconnect since (*bye bye* to that deliberate diconnection theory....almost!).
Note that Telkom will charge you to call out a Technician if the line is in working order, even if it is poor quality. See if you can negotiate with them, otherwise, pay a technician who's mulling around the area to do it for you.
