# New Modem ??

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248 "2003-04-30T23:52:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lampokey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4af34b/32.png) [@Lampokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lampokey)\
**Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/1 "2003-04-30T23:52:36Z")

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My Windows 95 PC experiences frequent problems with internet , namely , slow page loading ad also connection drop - outs : progress bar moves at geriatric speed , then the connection “dies” , accompanied with a “click” sound.

I’ve checked my settings - fine.  
I’ve adjusted modem speed - which has no effect either way on performance.  
Connections are ok - no loose wires- and the internet line is separate from the phone line.  
There is c. 300Mb of free memory.

I suspect a new modem is the answer.

Any ideas , please ?

Thank you for your help.  
😕

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**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/2 "2003-05-01T00:26:29Z")

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Well the real answer is a cable modem or DSL. The problems you list here are the same you are likely to have with pretty much any modem.

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**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/3 "2003-05-01T00:30:52Z")

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\*any dial-up modem

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/4 "2003-05-01T00:38:19Z")

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You can get a used US Robotics Courier on ebay or elsewhere for $15-40. This is a great value, as it’s an excellent business-class modem that normally retails for $200+. It will give you your best shot at a reliable connection.

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/5 "2003-05-01T00:50:49Z")

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Bear in mind that a great number of connection problems are caused by noise on the phone lines. If you can hear static, clicking, buzzing or other noises on your line, these can very well affect both your data transfer rate and your connection reliability.

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-modem/172248/6 "2003-05-01T01:10:43Z")

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The first thing you need to find out is the cause of the problem because it can be the line or the ISP and a new modem is not going to help.