My abysmal internet connection keeps disconnecting applications...

[alman7272]

This has been going on for some time but now it's just getting ridiculous.

Applications such as AIM, Xfire, and mIRC can't go more than three minutes of disuse without disconnecting randomly. And as for Xfire, it'll even disconnect while I'm using it. Strange thing is, I don't think this problem occurs with other computers on my LAN (they're not mine and I use them sparingly so I'm not completely sure).

I assume this has to do with my router, but I don't know what setting to alter.

This is my router, by the way: BEFSX41 (http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1130276636538&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper)

[Togakure]

Perhaps this might help?

http://www.gammadyne.com/conkeep.htm

It says "for dial-up users," but it definitely reduced my drop rate from MTW-VI games, even though I was using DSL (over wireless).

Credit goes to 4Horseman_War and 4Horsemen_Pestilence; they pointed this out to me. Worth a try at least ... I hope it helps.

[sapi]

Try going in to your wireless properties (i'm presuming that you're running wireless) and making sure that none of the 'disconnect after x minutes of inactivity' options are ticked.

Failing that, go into your wireless software (if it isn't xp's) and lock your connection speed to something like 6 or 9mbs. As long as you don't do much transferring over the LAN, your internet connection will be the bottleneck even at that speed; and locking it means that you don't get 'spikes' when it's readjusting the speed after losing or gaining signal.

If that still doesn't work, dump the bundled software and use sp2's wireless features - that's what i had to do :laugh4:

[alman7272]

The amazing thing is it isn't wireless. I told my dad when he bought the router that it was shite...

[BlackAxe3001]

Make sure that power saving is turned off on your NIC. Also, a firmware upgrade might fix some things too. Read the change log before you upgrade to see if it might fix anything. Also, make sure you don't have a bad cable either... that will cause lots of problems too. Worst comes to worst, back all your data up, format, then install your OS again... see if that fixes it.

[caravel]

As I understand it your applications are disconnecting, not your connection dropping out completely? I'm not all together sure what is causing this, but it could be that your router needs some reconfiguring or a firmware upgrade. I have never had this problem with Linksys routers in the past, but who knows.