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The most common cause for disconnects is line noise. There are many causes of line noise inside and outside of your house, some of the most common are:

* Dampness and moisture in the phone lines - i.e., the weather!
* Old or low quality phone lines.
* Cordless phones attached to the same phone line may cause some interference.
* Phone cords longer than 12-15 feet.
* Phone cords that get stepped on or crimped behind/under furniture.
* Phone cords wound in a bundle can act like an antenna.
* Phone cords next to power supplies, radio, speakers, or other sources of electrical interference.
* Splitters and phone line surge protectors can add to line noise.

Keep in mind that there are times when line noise is worse than usual. If you've ever been talking on your phone and can hear other conversations, static, hissing or popping, your modem will 'hear' the noise as well. Additionally, noise that affects your connection also occurs beyond the range of human hearing.

Below are some suggestions that may decrease line noise:

* Make sure the phone cord to the jack is as straight and short as possible.
* Keep the phone cord at least 2 feet away from power cords and speaker wires.
* Unplug equipment from the phone line when you connect that is not in use, such as fax machines and cordless phones.
* Keep the phone cord away from "high traffic" areas like doorways and under chairs.
* Remove line splitters and phone line surge protectors.
* Unplug all other devices (like extra phones, answering machines and fax machines), then reattach them one at a time to determine if one may be causing the problem.
* Consider purchasing an additional phone line that is dedicated to your data needs.
* If you hear noise on your phone conversations you may want to contact your phone line provider and let them know you may be experiencing some interference. This may prompt them to improve your line condition, thus improving your connection speed. It is important to note that phone companies do not guarantee line quality for data transaction, only voice. Further, if the line noise is attributable to inside wiring, the phone company will charge you for repairs.
* If line noise from other phones/devises is a problem, try to determine which device is creating the noise and replace it or unplug it while connecting. Alternative solutions might be to use a simple double pole toggle switch (from Radio Shack) or a "Privacy Switch" or a Line Restrictor (p/n 43-445) (both can be purchased at Radio Shack). The Line Restrictor will disconnect other extensions while your modem is using the line.

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