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mich43L
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 3/19/2005 10:35:43 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
I posted this on another forum but did not get an answer so here it goes.

I have recently setup Modem-On-hold in my house and it's working well. However, the amount of time my internet connection is on hold while I take another phone call is only about a minute. My other isp gives us about 6 minutes - which is a more reasonable time for a conversation.

I contacted my ISP tech support and they guy wrote back this:

quote:

That would be true if we ran Windows. We run linux here so unfortunately it can't be done. It is dependant on many other factors such as phone, phone company, your modem ,and last your ISP.

This just doesn't make sense to me as I perfomed tests from different locations/computers and the hold time is always the same (less than 1 minute). The same holds true for my other isp where I get 6 minutes.

Does anyone know exactly what does the amount of time the internet connection is place on hold depend on? Is it easy for them to configure their servers to increase that time?

When reaserching the whole MOH thing I found this which maybe the reason why they only give us such a short time:

quote:

The Modem-on-Hold feature allows modems to stay connected "on-hold" while you take an incoming call waiting call, or initiate an outgoing voice call (works only if V92 server modem is configured to allow this feature). The amount of time you can place your Internet connection on hold while taking another call will be up to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).The V92 Modem recommendation permits ISPs to set their modems to wait for 0 to 16 minutes, or, to wait indefinitely. V92 client modems may include software that will warn the user when the ISP determined timeout approaches, as well as to display call waiting caller ID info (requires telco call waiting/caller ID service). ISPs have an incentive to limit the use of this feature: when a call is placed on hold, the ISP modem remains unavailable to take other calls. The ISP may need to add more modems to maintain quality of service if this feature is enabled. The ISPs also have the posibility of do not accept modem-on-hold if the total time of modem-on-hold in the same session is greater that a determined value.

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 3/19/2005 2:37:10 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
It is up to the ISP to set their modems for the hold time and it has nothing to do with Windows/Linux.

Aloha! Richard.

mich43L
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 3/19/2005 3:45:20 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
quote:

It is up to the ISP to set their modems for the hold time and it has nothing to do with Windows/Linux.

That much I gathered. I guess what I'm really asking is if it a lot of trouble for them to increase that time and why? Should I try pressuring them some more?

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 3/21/2005 5:11:22 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
No, it's simple (just a software setting) to change the MoH time.
As you saw, to the extent someone is 'on-hold' that would otherwise have disconnected, the ISP has a line inb use - however, I don't think it's really an issue unless the ISP is over-subscribed or close to being over-subscribed in which case they probably would give you some busy signals already.

Why should they? To remain competitive - dial-up access customers are declining as more and more seek higher speed alternatives.....

Aloha! Richard.

mich43L
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 3/21/2005 5:36:59 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Thanks for the responses.

quote:
Why should they? To remain competitive - dial-up access customers are declining as more and more seek higher speed alternatives.....

Where I live, broadband isn't available (you can get satellite but it's way too expensive). Dial-up is the only way. To add to that, there are only two local ISPs. Earthlink and the one I currently have - MercuryLink (http://www.mercurylink.net). Both charge about $20/month. I didn't choose EarthLink because their local servers don't provide v.92 support.

When I contact support I always get to some guy who doesn't know what he's talking about. Do you think that they will let me talk to a guy who is actually in charge of maintaing/configurig servers? I'm guessing they only lease them and don't know squat.

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