56k modem running at 28k - any ideas?

[Wookie]

Am chez Maman for a few days while I convalesce, and she's still using a dialup connection. I know the modem is a 56k, because I've had a look - however, it never connects at >28.8k

Being a broadband kid and a net geek, you can imagine how irritating it is being forced back into C20

Anyone got any ideas as to why this is happening, and more importantly how to solve it? The only reason i can think of is that there's 2 phone sockets in the house, one by the computer and one in the hallway for the phone - is this halving the available bandwidth? Short of removing one of the sockets, I can't think of a solution for that...

Any ideas and advice gratefully received.

 

[db]

Am chez Maman for a few days while I convalesce, and she's still using a dialup connection. I know the modem is a 56k, because I've had a look - however, it never connects at >28.8k

Being a broadband kid and a net geek, you can imagine how irritating it is being forced back into C20

Anyone got any ideas as to why this is happening, and more importantly how to solve it? The only reason i can think of is that there's 2 phone sockets in the house, one by the computer and one in the hallway for the phone - is this halving the available bandwidth?

no, the number of phone points will have nothing to do with your bandwith/connect speed.. obviously, if any of these are wired badly, this will affect your line quality, but there is no specific correlation between no. of points and potential connect speed..

it's many many years since i mucked about with dial-up, so i can't really remember anything about it in order to suggest anything helpful, i'm afraid..

what protocol is it using? if memory serves correctly, for 56k it should be v.90 or v.92.. if it is not either of these, the phone is likely defaulting to v.34 which was the standard for many years, and only allows 28.8k (or 33.6k depending on which revision of the protocol)..

as to where to look for these settings, i can't really help i'm afraid lol.. presumably there is a dialler that your ISP provides to connect over dial-up? should be in there somewhere.. or maybe look for more up-to-date drivers for the modem, to unlock the full potential..

 

[Wookie]

Am chez Maman for a few days while I convalesce, and she's still using a dialup connection. I know the modem is a 56k, because I've had a look - however, it never connects at >28.8k

Being a broadband kid and a net geek, you can imagine how irritating it is being forced back into C20

Anyone got any ideas as to why this is happening, and more importantly how to solve it? The only reason i can think of is that there's 2 phone sockets in the house, one by the computer and one in the hallway for the phone - is this halving the available bandwidth?

no, the number of phone points will have nothing to do with your bandwith/connect speed.. obviously, if any of these are wired badly, this will affect your line quality, but there is no specific correlation between no. of points and potential connect speed..

it's many many years since i mucked about with dial-up, so i can't really remember anything about it in order to suggest anything helpful, i'm afraid..

what protocol is it using? if memory serves correctly, for 56k it should be v.90 or v.92.. if it is not either of these, the phone is likely defaulting to v.34 which was the standard for many years, and only allows 28.8k (or 33.6k depending on which revision of the protocol)..

as to where to look for these settings, i can't really help i'm afraid lol.. presumably there is a dialler that your ISP provides to connect over dial-up? should be in there somewhere.. or maybe look for more up-to-date drivers for the modem, to unlock the full potential..

Cheers DB. I think I need to go and find an old copy of Internet For Dummies in a charity shop or something, I'm sure that would have a section on setting up modems
Can't seem to find the v.standard number anywhere. I have found that the driver it's using is dated 2003 and have found an updated driver on Intel's website dated 2005, so will try installing that tomorrow... otherwise I've got to ring BT and get them to tune the lines. Fun fun fun.

 

[db]

otherwise I've got to ring BT and get them to tune the lines. Fun fun fun.

are you really going to be there that long?? god, if i was caught without broadband for more than a week i don't know what i'd do lol.. probably plop down £15 a month for one of those HSDPA 3G USB modems from 3/t-mobile!

 

[Wookie]

otherwise I've got to ring BT and get them to tune the lines. Fun fun fun.

are you really going to be there that long?? god, if i was caught without broadband for more than a week i don't know what i'd do lol.. probably plop down £15 a month for one of those HSDPA 3G USB modems from 3/t-mobile!

Am here til @ least Friday cos I have another doctor's appointment at Gloucester Royal, but depending on how I am he might judge me not fit to travel and give me another sicknote for work. So it's all a bit up in the air at the moment.

Trust me, it's getting hard to have to wait an hour for a 10mb download Especially when you're trying to update Windows bits because MICROSOFT INSIST ON USING STUB PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF LETTING ME GO TO A CYBER CAFE WITH A PENDRIVE AND DOWNLOAD THE UPDATE THERE AND INSTALL IT OFFLINE WHEN I GET HOME!!!!
<deep breath>

HSDPA 3G USB, eh? Hmm... Don't know if it'd work down here in Laurie Lee country... How much does it cost and what sort of ISP arrangement do I need?

We're looking round for a good broadband deal atm, gotta be DSL cos we're not within range of cable. Anyone got any experience of Supanet? They seem to be the frontrunners with regard to price, speed and download capping... Anyone got any advice for a fast, reliable, uncapped, unshaped, cheap, good customer service broadband ISP? (he says hopefully... )

Alternatively, I'll just get a WiFi card and a copy of NetStumbler and hope for the best.

 

[Alan B'Stard]

BT used to split telephone lines (DACS) if there was a cabling problem and this would reduce speeds to 28k, used to be a real problem for some people back in dialup days 'cos BT's argument was apparantly they were only contracted to provide voice service & not data and people used to have a problem getting it changed. May not be your problem, but you never know. The only other thing is to see if there is a flash upgrade for the modem.

 

[Wookie]

Well, I upgraded the driver to the latest version, without any success. We *did* manage to connect at 40kbps the other day, but the miracle hasn't been repeated...

 

[Alan B'Stard]

The only other thing I would do is sign up for a few PAYG ISP's and see if you find any difference, may actually be the provider you are with & not the modem.