Hi

I am using nikotel IP telephony through a Cable Broadband connection for international calls (Its a great deal!). I have Windows XP Professional installed, and am using znet free firewall. I use Spybot regularly to check for spyware. Ok enough background!!

The problem is that when I make calls via Nikotel (Using the Xlite softphone), I am able to make the calls for say between 5 and 7 minutes (sometimes less, sometimes more) and then the connection is disconnected (the broadband connection). I have tried turning the modem on and off, unpluging it from the wall, from the modem, from the computer and any variation of the above but the only way I can start using the connection again is to restart the computer which is very frustrating and VERY slow.
I have read in several places that it could be a firewall because sometimes it interprates the IP telephony as a spyware or some such thing. When I found this out I deactivated the firewall from windows and installed the one from znet that allows you to add authorized programs, which I did. When I contact Nikotel they insist it must be a firewall. I am very frustrated as I have no idea why it disconnects.

Does anybody have any ideas to stop the disconnection?? If not does anyone have any suggestions other than restarting the computer to reconnect the broadband connection??

Any help will be very welcome
Thanx

how much does that thing cost? and where are you calling? cus there are some really good places to get international calls for cheap, I rang my (now ex) girlfriend in South Africa for 8p a minute when she was out there via a company called Planet Talk :)

Have you tried Skype. I use that regularly without a problem (and free calls between Skype users). I've got Zonealarm firewall and built in firewall on my wireless router and it works without issue.

Hi
Yes I've tried Skype but it wont even connect. Is there any way to program the firewall on the modem (Motorola)? (maybe this is a silly question but you never know till you ask :) )
In regards to the previous question its a great deal. Am paying 5cents a minute to Portugal, which at the low dollar exchange rate of the moment is around 2.8p a minute.
Thanks for all help

OK yeah, thats pretty damn cheap, calls to portugal on planet talk (www.planet-talk.co.uk) are 5.01p a minute, which is nearly double... but you'd be able to call for as long as you like ;) btw I don't work for them or anything, I just think they're great value for money and I've used them a lot with no trouble!

I've just checked on my ADSL router and there is no rule allowing Skype which means I didn't have to configure anything to run it. Not sure about a Motorola modem though but I thought modems didn't have built in firewalls. Are you running a firewall on your PC such as the XP security firewall or Zonealarm ? If so, this may need to be configured to allow Skype.

Hi
I dont know if a cable modem has a firewall or not :(. I do have zonealarm and have added skype as authorized, and disactivated the standard XP firewall but have had no success. Thanks for the "People talk" at 5 p a minute. The problem is I dont have a phone line to make "regular calls" As I have only installed the cable Broadband so that I can use it for the internet and for calls and avoid a phone line that would cost £10.00 in line rental alone!!

Thanks

@ xafier

South africa - 2p/min using telestunt.co.uk

access number: 0844 462 51 51

No other costs.