John in Kansas, there is only dialup out this far in the sticks, but your experience sounds about like mine. Here the frequent crashes are blamed on old phone lines, likely true, since the drier and calmer the day, the better the service is. Wet and windy is worst. I also get those hang-ups that the computer doesn't notice, but I thought that was my antique computer. I usually have to reboot after one of those. My landline (not a portable) also picks up strange voices, crackles, and whines in bad weather.

Bobad, I got AVG7.5 today and it is free, honest. ;-)