In your Utilities folder (within the Aplications folder) there should be a folder entitled Java. There should be a file in there called Java 1.x.x Plugin Settings. The most recent version is Java 1.4.2. Use your software update utility (from Sys Prefs) to update Java if needed. Glad to know I'm not the only one on a dialup modem! Is that the internal modem that came with your computer or an external one? Hope it's not an external usb modem. Have you had any difficulties with other net apps? In your Sys Prefs & Network, click open the modem section, have you set it for Enable Error Correction & compression?

It sounds like a modem problem to me. Hopefully when murasame gets back (joke from his temporary 'lost in Olympics' or dog paddling (drowning) in the sea. He will have some other ideas.