I have been successfully using my speedtouch usb 330 for years.

Now suddenly something weird occurs. I manage to stay connected a few minutes, afterwards the line drops down and I can't reconnect.

I switched the connection script to "verbose mode" and what I get is

andreaeddye@Carciofino:~$ sudo pppd call speedtch
[sudo] password for andreaeddye: <pswd>
Plugin pppoatm.so loaded.
PPPoATM plugin_init
PPPoATM setdevname_pppoatm - SUCCESS:8.35
using channel 2
Using interface ppp0
Connect: ppp0 <--> 8.35
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <magic 0xb00ab40a>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <magic 0xb00ab40a>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <magic 0xb00ab40a>]
sent [LCP ConfReq id=0x1 <magic 0xb00ab40a>]
<some more iteration of this line>
reached timeout
modem hangup


It seems that I can't get an answer from the provider, but if I reboot it connects at first attempts, but the connection falls down again after a few minutes.

I have dual boot. No similar problems is affecting the connection under Windows, so some hardware fault is ruled out as a possibility.

Any ideas?

I don't know your isp. What's their policy on linux? At least one Irish isp has strong objections to a mail server (sendmail or postfix) running. Check the logs for details of how long you are connected.

I stay connected just for a few minutes.

My Isp says explicitly that it supports Linux.

Believe it or not, there was a pppd mailing list of forum. When pppd broke compatibility with previous versions back a disgustingly long time ago, I needed help & they sorted it for me there.

Where was this mailing list? In linuxquestions or at your Isp site?

OK, I sorted out the problem, it was more simple than I thought.

My ADSL modem was conflicting with a new USB printer that I bought because it does not like to have that kind of printer in a USB socket ending in the same termination.