AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection".
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AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection".

 
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Guest






Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 5:20 pm    Post subject: AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

Dear all,

AOL has a lot of troubleshooting help on this error but it all seems
geared towards DSL *never* being connected. I have a different problem
as the error only occurs the first time I try to connect from XP. But
if I then cancel the error and try again a couple of mins later I can
get into AOL OK. Once I've finally got into AOL I can come in and
out of it all day.

On things is : if I start XP and wait a ridiculous amount of time (eg
10 mins) I can usually get in OK the first time - but it's not very
practical of course.

The standard things AOL has recommended to me include:

- reinstall BT Voyager drivers
- repair ACS files via control panel
- reinstall whole of AOL version 9.0

but they make no difference and are maybe not that relevant if I can
get in eventually.

Could "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection" come if
there is some other process running or something in my Startup either
missing or which shouldn't be there. For example, should AOLDIAL.exe
be in the startup...?

I don't have any firewall installed at the moment, so that's not an
issue.

I'd be very grateful for any ideas. thanks, Mark Stratford
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Nigel Curtis
Guest





Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:47 pm    Post subject: Re: AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

mark_stratford98 wrote:

Quote:
AOL has a lot of troubleshooting help on this error but it all seems
geared towards DSL *never* being connected. I have a different problem
as the error only occurs the first time I try to connect from XP. But
if I then cancel the error and try again a couple of mins later I can
get into AOL OK. Once I've finally got into AOL I can come in and
out of it all day.

On things is : if I start XP and wait a ridiculous amount of time (eg
10 mins) I can usually get in OK the first time - but it's not very
practical of course. [etc]


FWIW, I had this error om AOL but *only* when there was a genuine
connection problem. When I fixed that, the DSL connection worked well
every time without the problems you had. I guess that AOL online help
and that "chat-help" are more geared towards solving generic problems
rather than strange things like you're seeing (the first attempt always
failing).

Sorry I can't help - hope someone else in comp.dcom.xdsl can. ANy
theories about long-running startup jobs which might be causing the
connection to fail...?


cheers, NC
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GlowingBlueMist
Guest





Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:55 am    Post subject: Re: "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

<mark_stratford98@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1133092261.431014.94290@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
Quote:
Dear all,

AOL has a lot of troubleshooting help on this error but it all seems
geared towards DSL *never* being connected. I have a different problem
as the error only occurs the first time I try to connect from XP. But
if I then cancel the error and try again a couple of mins later I can
get into AOL OK. Once I've finally got into AOL I can come in and
out of it all day.

On things is : if I start XP and wait a ridiculous amount of time (eg
10 mins) I can usually get in OK the first time - but it's not very
practical of course.

The standard things AOL has recommended to me include:

- reinstall BT Voyager drivers
- repair ACS files via control panel
- reinstall whole of AOL version 9.0

but they make no difference and are maybe not that relevant if I can
get in eventually.

Could "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection" come if
there is some other process running or something in my Startup either
missing or which shouldn't be there. For example, should AOLDIAL.exe
be in the startup...?

I don't have any firewall installed at the moment, so that's not an
issue.

I'd be very grateful for any ideas. thanks, Mark Stratford

I have seen similar problems occur when the servicing ISP's DNS server was

flakey. We installed the (free for educational or home use) TreeWalk DNS
program on his computer and let it take care of the DNS problems as they
occurred with his ISP. The home page for that program is at
www.ntcanuck.com if you are interested in trying it.

Another had the user idle time disconnect set way low at the host DSL
router. On that one we just turned on a Keep alive feature in his DSL modem
that basically sent out a ping somewhere often enough to keep the link up
and active (as far as the ISP was concerned), with or without the user's PC
powered on.

Try looking at the modem software or if you have a router attached for a
"Keep Alive" option and give it a try.
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Guest






Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:22 pm    Post subject: Re: "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

Thanks for your help "GlowingBlueMist"...!


Nigel Curtis wrote :

Quote:
"I guess that AOL online help and that "chat-help" are more geared towards
solving generic problems "

Yes - you're right there. They just repeat the same manta about
re-installing and repairing ACS. I think I'm commited to 12 months with
them - but maybe I'll jump ship. Have people found that other providers
like BT provide good support with DSL-type questions..?

thanks
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cosdocs@yahoo.com
Guest





Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 9:20 am    Post subject: Re: AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

You might ask your DSL provider to recertify the line.
Things like distance from the central office, quality of the copper
lines, bridged taps and load coils all contribute to poor quality of
lines. If you happen to have a marginal line quality it takes longer
for the modem to symc with the DSLAM on the other end. If a tech
checks the line for the above issues he may be able to increase the
quality of the line.

You might also help your self in verifing that EVERY device that may
touch your telephone lines is filtered...

" Answering Machine
" Caller ID
" Cable TV receivers
" Fax Machine
" PC Modems
" Security System
" Satellite Receivers
" Surge Protector
" Telephones

The line from the telco outlet shouldnt be over 6 feet if possible.

This is only a partial list of the hardware side of the issue, there
might be something else going on also.





On 27 Nov 2005 03:51:01 -0800, mark_stratford98@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

Quote:
Dear all,

AOL has a lot of troubleshooting help on this error but it all seems
geared towards DSL *never* being connected. I have a different problem
as the error only occurs the first time I try to connect from XP. But
if I then cancel the error and try again a couple of mins later I can
get into AOL OK. Once I've finally got into AOL I can come in and
out of it all day.

On things is : if I start XP and wait a ridiculous amount of time (eg
10 mins) I can usually get in OK the first time - but it's not very
practical of course.

The standard things AOL has recommended to me include:

- reinstall BT Voyager drivers
- repair ACS files via control panel
- reinstall whole of AOL version 9.0

but they make no difference and are maybe not that relevant if I can
get in eventually.

Could "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection" come if
there is some other process running or something in my Startup either
missing or which shouldn't be there. For example, should AOLDIAL.exe
be in the startup...?

I don't have any firewall installed at the moment, so that's not an
issue.

I'd be very grateful for any ideas. thanks, Mark Stratford
Back to top
Ranger-24
Guest





Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:35 pm    Post subject: Re: AOL : "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

Hi,

Good advice in the previous mail, however the terminology is a bit
American specific. For the UK (BT) you really could do with knowing the


- DSL line length - this is the distance from your local exchange where
the DSLAM will be located to your master socket.

- Quality of signal - If you are using the supplied modem chances are
this info is not readily available as they tend to be pretty basic.
Look for paramenters such as Signal to Noise Ratio, Attenuation, Noise
margin etc.

- When trying to connect (and failing) check to see if the modem DSL
led is on. If off or flashing then your modem is having trouble
syncronising with the dslam. Suggests in correct settings (unlikely),
or poor line quality.

Also ensure all phones & faxes are connected to the phone line via a
filter.

Bridge taps are not used much in the UK so are unlikely to be the cause
of the problem, but the quality of copper in the UK varies hugely.

Hope this helps a little.

Pete
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w_tom
Guest





Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:18 am    Post subject: Re: "Modem was unable to establish a DSL connection". Reply with quote

Until you take steps to definitively define what is and is
not working, then everything will be only speculation. First,
do you have a sufficient DSL signal or are 'mystery' items
eating that signal? Eliminate everything in the house as a
suspect. Connect that modem as close to the master socket as
possible with nothing else inside house connected to same
master socket. What happens to DSL signal? If good, now you
can stop wasting time fixing software and start looking for
that hidden signal eater.

This is the procedure. Step through looking for where the
xDSL signal does exist and where is no longer exists. Once we
have established signal integrity, only then move on to other
suspects such as software install.

Next step (or previous step) would be to confirm connection
between modem and computer. Another example of breaking the
problem down into parts and only testing each part.

mark_stratford98@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
Quote:
Yes - you're right there. They just repeat the same manta about
re-installing and repairing ACS. I think I'm commited to 12 months with
them - but maybe I'll jump ship. Have people found that other providers
like BT provide good support with DSL-type questions..?

thanks
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