Hi to everyone who has responded - it is *FIXED*!! (cheers from the gallery)

I apologize if ticking everyone in the invlovement list is not the thing to do, but this "fix" is so unusual I wanted to be sure *ALL* who cared so much were aware of it.

I tried a new coax cable and T-connector with no luck - same as before!

I checked settings all of you suggested and mine were similar enough as to be comfortable.

In desparation (truly!) I thought further about the software I installed *since* I last saw the net working properly. The one which kept coming back to me was Combat Flight Simulator (and I don't play games at all on the PC, but others here do). I had lost the network some time ago under Win95 and that plus a few othewr troubles had prompted me to go to Win98.
It seemd plausible that my loss earlier (Win95) may have coincided with installation of Combat Flight Simulator *and* the ForceFeedback Joystick to go with it. Nothing concrete mind you, but the timeframe seemed to fit.

So I add/REMOVED *both* (damned - should have done one at a time, but anxiety breeds hurry) and re-booted. I'm *guessing the Joystick, but who knows.

UNBELIEVABLY, my full network was back in full bloom.

So you all should consider adding this as another possible cause of network difficulties. Who would ever have guessed?!

Once again I thank you all for your assistance and support through this. Yet another fine example of what a superb group of people comprise the VFP user community!

Cheers (most cheerily this time, to be sure),

Jim N