Crappy modem?

Anyone have an idea why an alleged 56k v90 modem would never connect at greater than 26.4k (usually 24k)??

To make it stranger, the first couple o’ months after I got my new computer, it connected at 46-52k.

I know, I know, complaining about 24k vs. 56k is rather pathetic, but anyway.

(insert “Get a cable/DSL line” comment of your choice)
Thanks for any help.

A change in line conditions is probably the cause. Have you added any other phones to the line lately? it is also possible that the phone company has changed some lines or equipment or that a line has been damaged. Good luck getting them to fix it, though.

Here’s some suggestions for isolating your home (forgive me if this has been covered in a previous thread):
[indent][li] Use a seperate line. It isn’t that expensive and it solves a lot of problems if you have several extension outlets.[/li][li]run the line directly from the interface box to the wall adjacent to the computer. Not much help if you’re in an apartment. :([/li]Test the system by disconnecting all other phones in the house. You might have a bad patch cable between the wall and a phone somewhere or have one to close to a source of EMI. If you have one phone that causes a change in line conditions, replace the patch cable. If that doesn’t work, ditch the phone or plug it into the pass-through on the modem. Most modems disconnect the pass-through when the modem is off-hook.

Wow . . I can not tell you to what lengths I went to figure out/fix the same problem my computer at my parents house was having. 56k v90 modem and the quickest I have EVER been able to connect at is 28.8. I changed modems, changed computers, tested the phone line, installed noise filters, replaced jacks, tried all jacks in the house, switched IP and Network configurations to all possible combinations, tried various modem init. settings, switched isps, changed port settings, tried every known software claiming to improve/diagnose/correct connection settings, contacted the phone company, my isp, modem manufacturers and even installed brand new phone wire to the phone box outside! I still cannot confirm what the problem is, but I believe that it is related to there being additional analog/digital converters between my modem and the telco switch office. I believe that anymore than one such converter will limit your connect speed to 28.8. (I understand such converters are needed to boost the signal when one is located far away from the telco switch office).

Whats odd with your problem is the fact that you were able to obtain very fast speeds initially . . . I agree with sewalk that its likely changes by the telco to the line leading to your home.

Too far for DSL or Modem . . only option is Satellite . . which is about twice the cost of DSL and half the speed . . and uploads are still done through your phone line . . bummer . .

      • I would try a hardware modem. New external serial port ones cost ~$100 US, but old used internal ISA slot 33.6K’s go for ~$25 at computer shops that sell used stuff.
  • Do not buy an external modem with a USB connection. Either buy one with a serial port connection, or buy an old internal ISA slot modem.
  • If you buy a used internal modem, know that your PC needs a free ISA slot (usually at the “bottom” of the motherboard as installed, and bigger than the rest of the slots) and that hardware modems do not require accompanying driver files at all, you just plug it in and make a few settings in the OS. There is no “driver disk” involved. You also can have more than one modem in a PC (Win95,98,98SE,2000,XP,+Linux), you don’t need to remove the old one to use the new. To use either on the same phone line, you just daisy-chain them together.
  • Re- Used Modems, -ask them to test it in front of you first, before buying it. This should take all of 60 seconds of their time and if they won’t do it, don’t buy it -it probably doesn’t work.
    !
  • MC