Call waiting doesn't work when I'm online ??????

[jacobnero6918]

This problem started a couple weeks back as far as I can tell. If a phone call came in I would get diconnected and then the phone would ring. I don't have the star 70 checked in my setup and I've gone through my entire setup several times to make sure that call waiting wasn't disbaled.

I keep missing phone calls because of this, people say the phone just rings and rings. Anybody know what the cause may be ??????

 

[Crimson]

Yes, your modem is doing exactly what its supposed to do.. correct for errors. As far as your modem is concerned a call waiting BEEP on the line is just an error, it corrects for it, and keeps going.

The only way I know to "guarantee" a disconnect is to disable error correction on your modem, and when it encounters something like a call waiting beep, it will just disconnect.. OF course, when it encounters line noise, static, whatever, it will probably disconnect as well..

The obvious answer is to get a 2nd line.

 

[sciencewhiz]

The other answer is to get DSL. I pay $40 a month which is only slightly more than 2 phone lines + ISP.

They also make a call waiting modem that I heard about a while back. It allows you to answer the phone and talk for 7 seconds before it disconnects from the internet.

 

[Zorba]

i think modems are pretty iffy with call-waiting. Sometimes they'll disconnect, other times they won't. Best thing to do is get a 2nd line, DSL, or an Answering service that will pick up even if you are online (They are pretty nice, because they will pick up no matter what you are doing to your phone).

 

[jacobnero6918]

It use to work just fine with my old ISP. Ever since I hooked to a new ISP it doesn't work anymore. I will check the error correction to see if it's enabled.

As far as DSL, I've been waiting for months to get installed but my local phone company (Ameritech), choose the worst time to start running like crap. I've heard some people can't even get lines installed for weeks. A friend didn't have a phone for 3 months. It's this big SBC company which took over Ameritech that is causing all the problems. Oh well stil waiting for cable as well which was suppose to launch in August but nobodies sure when they'll finish testing there equipment. Maybe by christmas I get DSL/cable!