What app (other than Thunderbird) useful to keep a dial-up connection?
 

I'm wondering what other package would, after set-up, automatically maintain a dial-up connection by doing something (maybe a time check, etc.) every X number of minutes. I know that Thunderbird does this but I'd like to know a second package that does this. [In my state, the main landline phone company has for some 14 years now been charging everyone in the state for every single local phone call made. This is why I don't like to be disconnected and have to re-dial in.]

[My OS is SimplyMEPIS 6.0]

Thanks

IF you are using Kde, and IF you dial out using kppp or kinternet, you are probably also using wvdial as the dialer.

In /etc/wvdial.conf, there is an option: IDLE_SECONDS. If the connection is idle for the specifiec amount of time, the modem automatically hangs up. Set that value to 0 to disable automatic disconnect.

You might also check the man pages or other documentation for kppp, kinternet, wvdial, or whatever else you're using for a 'keep alive' feature.

There's no wvdial.conf in MEPIS 6.0
 

I looked for wvdial.conf but there is none used by the kppp that comes with my OS, SimplyMEPIS 6.0. [I do use kppp to dial-in.] And there's also no kinternet and no man pages for kppp in MEPIS.

I don't know what components of kppp were used in creating it but, if it might help someone help me, MEPIS is Debian based and is now - with 6.0 - also using Ubuntu packages.

Found another file that might be the one
 

I just looked over the installed files that go with my kppp. I found, in /etc/ppp/peers, one called ' provider '. It says this-- note the last line:

# These are the options to dial out to your default service provider.
# Please customize them correctly. Only the "provider" file will be handled by poff and pon (unless with extra command line arguments).

# You usually need this if there is no PAP authentication
noauth

# The chat script (be sure to edit that file, too!)
connect "/usr/sbin/chat -v -f /etc/chatscripts/provider"

# Set up routing to go through this PPP link
defaultroute

# Default modem (you better replace this with /dev/ttySx!)
/dev/modem

# Speed
38400

# Keep modem up even if connection fails
persist


Is that last line the important one that says kppp will maintain my connection or does it just mean that the modem stays open if the dial-in connection is lost? [Also, why is the speed so low? I'm sure my external, serial, USR modem goes to ~50+ K.]