What is line noise?

Line noise is caused by a bad, noisy phone connection between modems. Line noise appears as garbage characters on your screen, and can generate garbage for both the input and the output (i.e., it will sometimes be sent as if you typed it, other times as if CIS sent you the garbage). Typically the following characters are associated with line noise, although this isn't always the case:
  ~r ^?} ok {x

What can be done about it?

Usually, line noise is the phone company's fault. The best thing to do is to complain to them. Unfortunately, certain areas around Columbus seem to have old phone equipment, so it may be that you could solve frequent line noise problems by moving. Short term, if you have a really bad connection, disconect and try again.

Last Update: 1/10/94 JGW

Original author: TAF