# Internet Connect Conspiracy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 9, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498 "2001-09-09T07:20:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BingoBurringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@BingoBurringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BingoBurringo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/1 "2001-09-09T07:20:41Z")
I have a 56K modem. Why does AOL say I’m connected at 115,200 bps? ---
**Author:** ![Corrvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Corrvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corrvin)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/2 "2001-09-09T07:34:08Z")
Because it defaults to that on some versions of the software, or because your modem string is set to report the port speed, not the modem to modem speed across the phone line. To change it, click on the Setup button on the sign on screen, click Expert Setup (I’m assuming you have AOL 4.0 or newer for the PC), and doubleclick the first number in the list there. Set the modem speed to something other than 115,200. Click OK. Repeat for the remainder of the numbers, then click the Devices tab on that same screen, click Edit, and set your modem itself to 57,600 as well. Click OK, then Close. If that doesn’t start giving you correct numbers (i.e. something under 54,000) then you’ll need to find a more precise setting for your modem. What kind of modem is in your computer? (You can find out by going to Start, settings, control panel, modems.) I’m sure either I or someone else can suggest a better setting if the above steps don’t solve the problem. Corr ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/3 "2001-09-09T07:37:11Z")
You wanna talk conspiracy? I have a 56K modem, but when I still used dial-up, it said I was connected at 28.8. Yeah, it annoyed me too… that’s why we got broadband. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![geepee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@geepee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geepee)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/4 "2001-09-09T14:53:09Z")
bah hate that , broad band isn’t in my area and looks as if its not ever going to come here ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/5 "2001-09-09T18:12:40Z")
Modems use compression to increase the actual bandwidth transmitted for a given line speed. The compression used in modems (V.32, etc.) is four-times at best, so if you have a clean line and data that can be optimally compressed, a 28800 bps modem will send 115200 bps over the line. It’s really only sending 28800, but this is decompressed by the receiver as 115200. Note that this relies on a clean line and compressible data. If you’re moving files which are already compressed (e.g. zip or JPEG), then additional compression will be ineffective. Also, if your line quality isn’t good, the modem will automatically decrease the transmission speed until it gets an acceptable error rate. That’s why a 56K modem may never connect at better than 24K if you location is far from the switch, your local lines are poor quality, or your house wiring isn’t good. No conspiracy, it’s just doing the best it can… ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Carpenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mr\_Carpenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Carpenter)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-connect-conspiracy/80498/6 "2001-09-09T18:38:08Z")
AOL. Before we all know it, whether we like it or not, AOL will have all our brains drained out over our computers. Hot wire, and fried and died with a live wire! :eek: