AOL

  • Many people say AOL detracts from my online experience. I have dsl with AOL as my Broadband provider. Bell South in Florida -Ft. laud. Question - can i bypass AOL to play online poker at partypoker.com, or am i forced to use AOL by definition as it is my provider?


  • You can find your answer here: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=319393


  • thank you, i will 20 tip if you can get a layman to understand what is going on? i went to the link, no good narrative though of the situation. i.e.: 1. since a.o.l. is my isp ( i pay them 20 for aol plus 30 for broadband, using dsl line of my bellsouth fl line), does that basically mean i need to change i.s.p., fire them, to get better service - or is a.o.l. just as good as anyone in terms of who i pay my money to monthly? in other words if i get online without a.o.l. software being open, am i still 'using' a.o.l. since they are my i.s. p. anyways? 2. the link was very techical but i couldn't find the problem which that link was trying to fix - i.e. was the person getting periodically knocked off like i am. 3. my basic problem is that i play 3 separate simultaneous games of online poker, much clicking, much movement (simple graphics though, not really animated). so if i get bumped off once a day for 45 seconds it still is a major problem to me.


  • mdpa173.. Let's look at your questions: 1. Using PPPoE, you are still using AOL as your provider, yet you are not using the AOL interface, you would be using another browser for your gaming, such as Internet Expolorer. 2. The link shows how to utilize AOL as your provider and not have to use the AOL interface to access the net. DSL is an always on connection, so you should not be getting knocked off. That is another issue entirely. From reading your question, I was under the impression you were looking for a way to access the net via AOL but not use the AOL front end interface. Let me do some digging and see if I can find info on people getting bumped from AOL DSL


  • thanks. the basic issue is what can i do to avoid getting bumped off-line. so many people mention a.o.l. when the topic arises, that i assumed that if there is nothing involving a.o.l. in my online connection to partypoker.com, then it would at least rule out a.o.l. as the culprit. l. if a.o.l is my online provider, am i avoiding anything a.o.l. even if i do connect without using the a.o.l. software? i.e. what does it actually mean if a.o.l. is my provider - am i using any a.o.l. equipment outside of my computer? 2. do you think i need to switch to cable versus d.s.l. - i understand it is faster, but is it also any more failsafe to avoid a disconnect? i appreciate your help, i am definitely not much of a computer expert,


  • Your internet connection, if you are using AOL Broadband, is provided to you through AOL. Now, with that being said, what do you do when you access the internet? Do you use the software AOL provided you? What I would recommend trying would be the step-by-step solution outlined on http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,6332885~mode=flat and access partypoker.com via Internet Explorer instead of the AOL interface and see if the bumping continues. DSL, by definition, is always on and should not disconnect. Sure, service may pop in and out on occassion, but not on a continual basis. As for switching from DSL to cable, that is a personal preference. Typically, cable is faster, but depending on where you live, may also be more expensive.


  • for tarheel - i was able to get online with a.o.l. software closed. my final question - am i really completely avoiding a.o.l. this way, or are they somehow involved in the connection, as a.o.l. is still my broadband provider?


  • AOL is still your provider for internet access. As an example, let's say that you were using Time Warner's Roadrunner cable service. Even though you aren't using a particular piece of software from TWC to access the internet, they are providing your access TO the internet. Your situation is the same with AOL. Even though you aren't using the AOL software, they are still providing your access, which is what you pay for. I am glad you got taken care of. Anything else, please let me know. -THV


  • thank you, i accept the answer as xclent, will tip as promised. what does aol is my 'service provider' actually mean. do my signals go thru an a.o.l. server, or do the signals use a.o.l. specific telephone lines,or is it just a financial arrangement and the signals on the dsl all follow the same path despite the name of my specific provider?


  • mdpa173.. I am glad that through our discussions you have been able to get online to your satisfaction. To respond to your inquiry regarding how AOL fits into your access, yes, your internet connection goes through AOL servers, though the physical connection is not owned by AOL (they contract the actual line usage out to local phone and cable companies). When you are connected, however, the router (the box that sits between your computer and the connection from the wall) is configured to to send your signals through AOL's network of routers, which are the "traffic contollers" for the internet. When you send data to or receive data from the internet, you are using AOL's network of connections. In other words, the first stop your data has before it goes to the internet is AOL and the last stop for the data before it reaches your PC is AOL. Another example would be if you wanted to connect to Google, you would type www.google.com and then hit "go" on your browser. When you hit go, the first place that signal goes is through a router that is controlled by AOL. From that point, depending on how the router is configured, the signal you sent bounces around other routers that make up the internet. Eventually, it hits a router that sends the signal to Google. Then, the computers at Google send the signal back. The first place the signal hits when it leaves Google is a router controlled by Google. It bounces around other routers (not controlled by Google or AOL) until it reaches AOL controlled lines, then back to you. A great place to learn how the internet works can be found at: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm I know it is confusing, but rest assured, if you are paying AOL money for acess each month, you are using AOL lines at some point. -THV


  • in your opinion, if aol is my provider, but i access the internet thru internet explorer, with my aol software closed, is my dsl connection any more ore less likely to get knocked off than if i am using a non -aol isp. thanks


  • Thank you for the high rating and generous tip. I am glad I could help. -THV


  • I don't think you are more or less likely to be knocked off using AOL DSL than you would be using any other DSL provider.