Q. I'm being disconnected a lot. It seems to happen when I check mail. What's up?

A. The Community Network provides 3-hour session limits. That means that if you're disconnected involuntarily after being online for less than three hours, a setting on your computer, or your modem, or possibly your telephone line, has caused the disconnection.

Most email programs have an option that tells the computer to check for new mail, then disconnect immediately. Even if there is no mail on the server, the connection will be terminated by Outlook Express if that option has been selected, whether or not the user is aware of it.

Q. How do I check this?

A. Open Outlook Express and work offline (you don't need to be connected to change settings). In the Menu Bar, click "Tools", then "Options". Click the "Connections" tab. If you see a checkmark beside "Hang up after sending and receiving", remove it, then click "Apply" & "OK".