Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a data communications device (100), such as a modem, to detect the loss of a telecommunications channel connection, in the absence of other notification signals. The apparatus and method embodiments of the invention utilize a near end echo in full duplex transmission, and compare (630) periodically sampled transmit data (610), preferably composed of an n-bit sequence, with sampled values of received data (620), to determine the occurrence of a match between the data received and the data transmitted (640). If a predetermined number of consecutive matches have occurred (670), then a loss of a telecommunications channel connection has occurred and is detected (680). Preferrably, the apparatus is embodied in a processor (108) or a processor (107) coupled with a digital signal processor (106), which are within the data communications device (100).