Probs with SMC 7004BR over a PPPoE DSL Connection

Hi everyone. I'm having problems with my 7004BR router connected to the internet through a DSL network. 3 computers are connnected to the router through cat5 cables. 1st computer is athlon 1.33/winME, 2nd (mine) is athlon 900/XP and 3rd is P2 350/winMe.
First of all, on my computer (2nd, running winxp) icq and msn messenger frequently get disconnected for no reason at all. And second, once every week or so, the router just does something funny, again all by itself, and just stops the internet service altogether to all the computers. I have to reset the router each time that happens to enable the service again.
does anyone know what the problem is? a timeout feature of some sort? or defective router? please help.
ps. Larry I think you're doing a great job with this forum. Keep it up!

1. RE: Probs with SMC 7004BR over a PPPoE DSL Connection
lbyard May-10-02 01:25 AM
In response to message 0

>frequently get disconnected for no reason at all.
Could you be more specific? Do you maintain connection to other sites? Larry

2. RE: Probs with SMC 7004BR over a PPPoE DSL Connection
rockthishouse May-10-02 11:57 PM
In response to message 1

i can still browse web pages albeit the disconnections to icq and msn.
when i'm browsing web pages, sometimes a page wont load at all and i have to keep hitting reload until it finally loads.
and for icq and msn, spontaneous disconnections. all the time. it happens when i leave the icq and msn clients alone for more than a minute or so. so i'm suspecting a timeout setting in the router that can be tweaked.
the cables should be fine. used them without problems with my old cable internet provider. the whole network has been troublesome ever since i switched to DSL..

3. RE: Probs with SMC 7004BR over a PPPoE DSL Connection
lbyard May-11-02 00:20 AM
In response to message 2

It seems to me that you have a service problem. How do things work when the MODEM is connectd directly to a PC? Larry

4. follow up
rockthishouse May-28-02 09:34 PM
In response to message 3

solved the problem. in icq, theres an option somewhere to "keep connection alive" or something like that. as for msn, i think i did something to the virtual servers in the settings of the router. details to this remedy can be found on the tech support area of the smc website.