OT: Anyone else experiencing problems with AOL?

[Porsche911NYC]

Lately, AOL has not been functioning properly. Log-on speeds are v-e-r-y s-l-o-w, and it boots itself off many times.

Here's my set-up: brand new state-of-the-art Dell 8200 series desktop w/ 1.8GHz Pentium 4 chip, AOL v.6.0, standard V90/56K modem (have had this for a few months with no problems).

Problem: Have always been able to log-on at a speed of 48,000-53,000 bps; now only 16,800-19,200 bps. Have tried new access numbers to no avail.

Dilemma: Have had AOL for many years with relatively no problems, and would hate to give up my AOL e-mail addresses that everyone already has. Plus, there are not many ISP's with a history of reliability.

DSL & Cable is out of the question as my company was hurt by the WTC attack; have to be extra frugal financially these days - will still be another 19-23 months before I'm back to where I was on Sept. 10th.

Any suggestions?

[jrdavid68]

I would start by checking your phone line. It sounds to me like you may have some static on the line which is preventing the higher speed connection. Do you have a phone on that line? Make a normal phone call from that line and see if you hear anything. You could also call your phone company and have them ping the line to see if there is any resistance.

JrDavid68

[boyo]

Might also want to check an AOL related bulletin board. They probably don't know a thing about 911's though.

-Boyo

[Porsche911NYC]

It's a separate dedicated phone line just for the modem. I'll have the phone company run a check on it anyway.

Thanks.

[jenmcd]

AOL was virused not long ago. It may be why everything is slow. The small company I use (3.500 customers) had the same problem. My DSL is acting like a dial up connection.

Keith

[john walker's workshop]

AOL dumps me all the time. i thought it was just the way AOL works. call them up and they blame microsoft, call microsoft and they blame AOL. ever since i got XP, i have to restart the computer quite a bit because AOL freezes. this is technology?

[cegerer]

"Anyone else experiencing problems with AOL? "

Yeah, they send me junk mail and CD's about every 2 weeks. It's a real problem carting this stuff out to the trash all the time. -- Curt

[nostatic]

Originally posted by cegerer

Yeah, they send me junk mail and CD's about every 2 weeks. It's a real problem carting this stuff out to the trash all the time. -- Curt

But the cds make great party coasters. Or if you dip the edges in glue and ground glass, they make a festive throwing stars. They are also a dessert topping...and a floor wax.

Great bass! mmmmmm

[widebody911]

AOL sucks. AOL is the 77 Gremlin of the internet world - great for a first car to learn to drive in, better than walking, but eventually you realize you need something more reliable and that you're not embarassed to be seen in.

AOL handles load balancing by arbitrarily dropping connections. They handle email overload by returning 500-series error codes to SMTP when the server is too busy. Imagine if a shop took your car in, then crushed it because they didn't have time to work on it that day.

I manage a mailing list for VW buses similar to rennlist (but *MUCH* smaller) and with all of the heartache AOL has caused over the years, the policy for AOL people having problems is "Change Providers".

And if you went with a real ISP, you wouldn't have that dog-slow, ad-laden interface!

[Porsche911NYC]

Phone company just ran a check on the line; sure enough, they register some abnormal resisitance on it. Repair guy will be here later to fix it.

Also, plugged my other phone line into the modem and it worked fine: 49,333 bps.

Thanks for everyone's help. This board is so amazing.

[John Brandt]

A better question would be to ask if anyone is NOT experiencing problems with aol

THEY SUCK GET RID OF THEM!

[jrdavid68]

911NYC - I used to go through that about once a year or so and the phone company would always find something amiss outside the house. Hope it works out.

With all the extra complaining above, it turns out not to be AOL's problem - imagine that. I also have a bad taste in my mouth for AOL, but I do recommend them for the the "timid" computer user just getting started. Once comfortable, I then recommend changing to a real ISP.

This thread is similar to a call I just had from a user practically screaming at me about what a crappy computer, printer, network etc. we have. She was trying to print some pages (pages 44 - 52) of her document and they aren't coming out!!!! Turns out her document is now only about 30 pages long - go figure.

Many times the problem that people have with the computer turns out to be:

"A problem with the interface between the chair and the keyboard."

JrDavid68

[Porsche911NYC]

Believe me, I'm no timid computer user by any means, but I'm a very busy person, I don't sit in front of a computer screen all day but when I do, I need to know it's going to be there. For the most part, AOL has served that purpose.

For $23.90 a month, I have unlimited usage which is important to me.

Would love to know which ISP's other Pelicaneers (Pelicanicians?) recommend, how much you pay and is it unlimited usage?

[GB83SC]

Here in south Florida Adelphia power link is 42.95 for 24-7
On all the time and you dont tie up the regular phone line.
AOL at 23.00+18.00 for dedicated phone line guess whats a better value. Speed+++++++ u bet.
GB83SC

[widebody911]

PacBell/SBC DSL for $49.99/month

In NorCal, Calweb.com for $18/month unlimited - and no bu115h1t interface.

[Barber Dave]

Originally posted by GB83SC
Here in south Florida Adelphia power link is 42.95 for 24-7
On all the time and you dont tie up the regular phone line.
AOL at 23.00+18.00 for dedicated phone line guess whats a better value. Speed+++++++ u bet.
G
B83SC

Figure this in Northwestern Ohio Adelipha power link is $39.95. ????????? they must think yours is better, or there priceing plan is what the traffic will bear. Dave

[N11Porsche]

I've been using AOL for 15 years and have had very few problems with the service. (about 5 years ago, there was a problem getting busy signals but AOL added millions of modems and that problem has gone away) I use a 56k modem on a shared line and have no problems, I always log on at over 50kbps. I use Windows XP, not perfect but a very, very good operating system. Go to "Modem" in Windows Control Panal and che to see if the driver is a Windows XP driver. If not, find out what brand modem is in your system and go to the manufacture's website and dowload their Windows XP driver. Hope this helps.

[red-beard]

AOL - -laugh-

Wow! These old threads are hilarious!

[jcommin]

I have an AOL account a very long time that is my primary email.. What I'm experiencing is allot of spam lately. I am considering using one of my other email addresses.

[masraum]

Wow, I'm not sure what's crazier, this old thread or the fact that it was revived by Red instead of some random SPAMmer.