I forget the file and the line because I deleted the line - I think it was /etc/ppp/pppscript with a line about 'timeout' or something. I had a problem that sounded a lot like the problem you were having with the other modem. However, I specifically got a 'modem hangup' message when the connection died after a few seconds. If it *is* your server, this doesn't apply. Anyway - I tried setting it to a higher value which didn't work, deleted it in frustration, and I've been able to connect and stay on ever since. Might work for you. Though there must be a better way, to say the least.

To all who have responed with advice on this problem::::::
I believe the problem to lie in the hardware. I have two machines that I use one has RedHat 8.0 the other Mandrake 9.0 and until recently neither one would connect to the web. Each had it's on problem, well on the Mandrake machine I removed the hard drive that Mandrake was installed on and replaced it with a larger one [40GB out 60GB in], installed the Mandrake 9.0 on the new hard drive, no problems at all and darned if it did not connect to the web on the first try out the box. I have no idea where the problem was at, all I know is now the one machine does connect fine to the web. With this in mind I loaded the Mandrake 9.0 into the machine that was RedHat 8.0, it still would not connect to the web, in fact I noticed that one particular part of the program that was present on the first machine did not appear on the second one. The part that asks which ttySx and what network connection