PPP FAQ
If you have a problem setting up your PPP software, and find a solution to the problem, please post this information to the ppp-help@musc.edu mailing list, so others might benefit from your experience.
You can also visit the online PPP Information list at http://theory.cs.uni-bonn.de/ppp/
1. The PPP software connects to the server, but then while I'm using it,
it just stops working.
We have recommended speeds for 14.4K and 28.8K modems. Sometimes, due to your
computer, or the phone line connection between you and MUSC, the line can't
support our recommended speeds for extended periods of time. Try setting the
communication speed to 14,400 or 19,200 rather than 57,600 or 115,900. You'll
get somewhat slower performance, but you'll probably stay on-line (this has
worked for at least one Summerville resident).
If you have Call Waiting, and are not using *70, before the phone number,
then it might be the Call Waiting signal that is interrupting your call. Check
out the configuration settings on the Setting up PPP
section for the correct place to add that to your configuration.
Your computer needs to have a 16550 UART in the serial communications port
to support high speed communications. If you have an older PC, you might need
to upgrade that chip.
There is also a chance that there could be noise on your telephone line. You
should be able to contact your telephone service provider and have them check
your line. There may be a charge associated with checking the line, so be
sure to ask about that before they do anything.
2. When I connect with my PPP software, I hear the modems connecting, but
it doesn't connect.
This could be 2 possibilities. First you want to verify that you entered your
loginid and password correctly in the software. Since passwords are usually
not shown on the screen, you should retype it, just to be sure (make sure
your CAPS Lock is not on).
If the login id and password are correct, it might be a problem of modem speed
of phone line quality (see #1 for a possible solution).
3. The PPP software says my communication port is already in use.
If you are running other programs that use the modem, they might be locking
the communications port. This is true of phone dialers, answering machine/voicemail
programs, and fax software. Make sure those programs are not running before
trying to use PPP. You should also check for driver programs that load in
the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, and the Windows StartUp group.
4. I'm using the Trumpet Winsock to access PPP, and when I start TCPMan,
it comes up with a lot of lines that say CONFREQ ID=01, ID=02, ID=03... Then
finally I get the message that PPP is Disabled.
If you are using a computer system with Windows 3.1, we recommend that you
upgrade to Windows 95 or better. This message is the result of TCPMan trying
to request information from your modem, but it's not getting a response. Make
sure your modem is plugged in and turned on. Also check the serial port -
labelled SLIP Port in the configuration - try setting it to 2 rather than
1, if you're not sure which port to use.
5. I've been unable to connect to PPP. It just says "no answer" or gives
me a busy signal. I've been connected before - is it my phone line?
An easy test for this is to use your phone and dial 577-7276. If you get a
normal busy signal then all of MUSC's PPP connections are busy. If you get
a fast busy signal it could mean that all lines are full or that we have a
problem with Bell South. Please call 792-9700 and let our Help Desk know about
this situation.
6. I configured my dial up for a PPP account in Windows 98. Once the modem
has dialed in, it makes its usual initial noises, and continues in a flat,
high pitched tone that doesn't change. Windows puts up an error notice saying
the computer I'm trying to dial doesn't answer. However, my roommate's windows
95 setup for the ppp account has the same setting as mine (windows 98), and
works fine.
I have seen this problem before on Windows 98. Try going to my computer >
control panel > modems > properties and change the speed from 115200 to 38400.
It fixed the problem that I was experiencing with an inexpensive modem in
a new PC running Windows 98.
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