Win98se dialup networking question

[rsales]

When I am connected to my ISP with the modem I noticed the send and recieve lights are constantly flashing even when I am not running any aplications that would be using the internet connection. If I check under the details on the connection I can see it's sending and recieving bytes of information. Looks to me like something is using the connecting when i can't find anything that seems to be running that would us it. Is this just some sort of constant handshaking that takes place when inactive? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[GT1999]

When you say constantly flashing, do you mean ALL of the time, or just once and a while? It's normal for it to flash every couple of minutes or so - probably something on your ISP's end to make sure your connection is still established. I know my ISP does it every 60 seconds. If the taskbar indicator is flashing constantly, and has happened after you've restarted your computer, etc, then there is obviously something eating away at your connection ...


G|T

 

[rsales]

I just reconnected and in four minutes it sent and recieved almost the same amount of bytes. >200k. I was not running any application during the four minutes. Sometimes it does this so much it affects my use of the connection. Slows down my access. When it makes the connection slower to my apps the CS light on the modem is going on and off. Now on this connection it seems to be doing it less than it was before and pages are loading normally. Right now the send and recieve lights are constantly flashing for long periods of time before they stop and start up again. Very strange.

 

[GT1999]

That is odd. I'd run an up to date virus scanner with the latest virus definitions just to be sure it isn't some sort of virus.

 

[rsales]

I have run the lastest Norton on the system. I have tried connecting to another ISP and it doesn't do it with the other ISP. Something related to that ISP which I can't log into since 5:30pm. They seem to have a problem with the login server I believe. When I am connected to the other ISP lights rarely blink until I access something. I also lost Outlook Express. Can't open it up. Don't know if it's related or not.

 

[UnixFreak]

check your username and password, you may be having an authentication issue, call your ISP and have them do a grep of the auth servers. They should have a radius utility that will check if you are authenticating or not. If your bytes TX and RX are the same you are getting "mirrored data flow" which could be an authentication error, or could mean an isp problem with your path, which you would need to refresh the gateway. I would call that ISP.

 

[rsales]

Just prior to this problem I had trouble connecting and they said they reset my account. Now I can connect. One of my connections at 28.8 was 856k bytes recieved and 817 k bytes sent in 4 minutes with nothing running that would use the connection.

Well the ISP didn't return my emails and I called them yesterday. I told them I tried different modems, computers and phone lines. Problem was still there but it wasn't as bad with a non USR modem. I tried another ISP and no data flowing until something requested data. So not on my end. They said nothing on their end would do that. They said it may be the dialup access service they use. They made it sound like oh well nothing I can do then. They said they would make an inquire to the dialup access service which provides the dialup access to their backbone. Their attitude sounded strange since they are paying for that service and that service is a subcontractor to them. I am thinking of switching ISP's. This one has dual modem dialup and that is my only choice for awhile if I want more bandwidth. Their is another I found which is cheaper but I am afraid they may use the same dialup access provider. I would have to check before I switched.

 

[Mytv]

Do some research on packet sniffers it show exactly what comes and goes from your pc ports. Here you go.
Once installed it will show clear as day what sends, where it sends to and so much more.

May be technical but it can not be any easier than seeing first hand what goes on.

 

[rsales]

UnixFreak,
I forwarded you suggestion to the ISP. They probably won't get it until Tuesday since they are not there in the evening and weekends. Thanks for the input.

Mytv,
I downloaded your suggestion and I will give it a try. Might be interesting and maybe revealing. Thanks.


This ISP's tech support has gone down hill in the last half year.