Modem question

[spiveyrat]

I recently purchased a new computer and I have noticed that, when online, I am only "hooked-up" at 26.4 bps. I beleive most (if not all) computers come with modems capable of 58 or 59 bps. Any ideas as to why I'm surfing at about half the capacity of my modem?

[PPHSfan]

The quality of your phone line, or the speed of your isp is what is limiting you. That and the distance from the phone switching station.

[spiveyrat]

Is there anything that can be done about the quality of the line? Obviously, the other things you listed are out of my control.

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
Is there anything that can be done about the quality of the line? Obviously, the other things you listed are out of my control.

Most likely not - that'll be up to the phone company.

[3afan]

complain, complain, complain !!!!! we did & they came out & upgraded some signal boosters on the lines & performance improves drastically - this was when we first hooked up to cable modem

[LH Panther Mom]

Spiveyrat, are you on dial-up?

[spiveyrat]

Maybe a better question is "Will the phone company come out to my house and improve the quality of my line?" If so, then there is something I can do.

[PPHSfan]

You could also switch to cable.:)

[spiveyrat]

Yes, dialup at home.

[LH Panther Mom]

Possibly. It won't hurt to call. They should be able to do something.

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by PPHSfan
You could also switch to cable.:)

Too EXPENSIVE!

[LH Panther Mom]

How about DSL?

[PPHSfan]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
Too EXPENSIVE!

Just borrow five grand from 3afan:D

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
How about DSL?

About the same as the price of cable.

[Ranger Mom]

My AOL is $28.90 ($5 charge for drafting my account) and my extra phone line is $19.99 plus tax.

I can get broadband (which is supposedly faster than cable or dsl) for $49.99 a month, which is basically what I am paying now.

I just have to come up with $318 for the set-up charge. That is what I have put on my Christmas wishlist!!

If I understand correctly, the broadband will be able to be used on ALL computers in the house!

Also, the phone company may have what is called a "dirty line"....like 3Afan said..complain, complain, complain!

I did and they didn't find anything wrong on the line, so I STILL connect at 28.8!:(

[PPHSfan]

Broadband rocks

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
About the same as the price of cable.

I'm wrong... DSL is a little cheaper.

After investigating a little, I've learned I need to get educated in all the avenues of internet connection... I think there may be some jargon overlap here that is confusing me.

Is cable and broad band the same thing?

Is a satellite connection and DSL the same thing?

DSL uses a phone jack? If so, how is it faster than dialup, then?

Help!!! :eek:

[PPHSfan]

You're right.

You are way behind the times spivey. We need to give you a crash course.

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by Ranger Mom
My AOL is $28.90 ($5 charge for drafting my account) and my extra phone line is $19.99 plus tax.

I can get broadband (which is supposedly faster than cable or dsl) for $49.99 a month, which is basically what I am paying now.

I just have to come up with $318 for the set-up charge. That is what I have put on my Christmas wishlist!!

If I understand correctly, the broadband will be able to be used on ALL computers in the house!

Also, the phone company may have what is called a "dirty line"....like 3Afan said..complain, complain, complain!

I did and they didn't find anything wrong on the line, so I STILL connect at 28.8!:(

RM, you're paying $28.90 for dialup? I'm paying about $10 for SBC Global.

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by PPHSfan
You're right.

You are way behind the times spivey. We need to give you a crash course.

Crash away!

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
RM, you're paying $28.90 for dialup? I'm paying about $10 for SBC Global.

It's actually $23.90 a month....I live in a dead spot and don't have alot of options. I tried to get on SBC, but is not available at my location!

[spiveyrat]

Oh! I didn't think about that! :eek:

[spiveyrat]

Well, I've done a little research and have learned a little about Digital Subscriber Lines (in case you were wondering yourself). I've been under the impression that DSL was satellite technology. But, I see now that is not the case. It apparently uses existing phone lines, but requires special filters on your phone jacks and a special DSL modem attached to your computer. It is actually priced just above your pricier dialup providers and can provide data in the range of 300 Kbps to 3 Mbps depending on your proximity to the DSL provider (as was said earlier by PPHSfan).

If you want to know more about DSL,

go here. (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dsl.htm)

[cdlvj]

Check out the number that you are dialing as the modem at the ISP may only be a 28K modem. If you look at swbell.net, they have sets of numbers for different speeds.

And the lines also will not handle the higher speeds, Here in SA on bitters road, which is a business area, all the lines connect at 28/33k, and they do that on purpose, so that the business's have to pay T1 access which runs into the hundreds of dollars a month. And of course DSL is not available there.

[SintonFan]

spivey, how far out of town do you live?

[IHStangFan]

Originally posted by PPHSfan
The quality of your phone line, or the speed of your isp is what is limiting you. That and the distance from the phone switching station. this man obviously knows what hes talking about....i second this all....how old are the phone lines that run to your house? the quality of the line can really effect your data rate. also as stated...the distance from the switch, etc.

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by SintonFan
spivey, how far out of town do you live?

I don't. I'm a city dweller.

[SintonFan]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
I don't. I'm a city dweller.
.
:eek:
Who's your provider?

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by IHStangFan
this man obviously knows what hes talking about....i second this all....how old are the phone lines that run to your house? the quality of the line can really effect your data rate. also as stated...the distance from the switch, etc.

My house is 20-25 years old... I imagine the phone lines are too.(?)

On a related note, it would seem to me that the speed of your DSL would also be contingent on the quality of the phone lines. Is that correct?

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by SintonFan
.
:eek:
Who's your provider?

It was Verizon. Now, it's SBC Global.

[PPHSfan]

Go to the Lowe's and buy you some good cat-5 cable, and a new phone jack. Run you a new line from the grey box outside of your house thru the wall and into a new phone jack. Plug a new phone line into the jack and your computer. This should help. If you need some help doing this, ask the kid at the Lowe's to tell you how to do it. If he does not know, tell the manager to hire someone that can do more than help you look for things.:D

[SintonFan]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
It was Verizon. Now, it's SBC Global.
.
Do you live in Jasper?

[spiveyrat]

:D

[PPHSfan]

Originally posted by SintonFan
.
Do you live in Jasper?

I thought Wichita Kansas was the Air Capital of the World.:D

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by SintonFan
.
Do you live in Jasper?

No. Wichita, KS.

[SintonFan]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
No. Wichita, KS.
.
I'll be back and have some options for you.
It's luchtime.;)

[SintonFan]

Originally posted by spiveyrat
No. Wichita, KS.
.
Ok, on your connectoid(geek term for DUN(geek term for the connection thingy:D )) if you are using 316 522-0118 for your access number the fastest connection you can have is 33.6.
The 56K connection number is 316 522-0118.
When you change the connection number you don't need any dashes or spaces.
If you are already using the higher speed no. then we have a few more options we can try.
BTW, how long is the cord that is connected from the wall jack to the back of your computer?

[spiveyrat]

Originally posted by SintonFan
.
Ok, on your connectoid(geek term for DUN(geek term for the connection thingy:D )) if you are using 316 522-0118 for your access number the fastest connection you can have is 33.6.
The 56K connection number is 316 522-0118.
When you change the connection number you don't need any dashes or spaces.
If you are already using the higher speed no. then we have a few more options we can try.
BTW, how long is the cord that is connected from the wall jack to the back of your computer?

:eek: How'd you find that out??? :eek:

I don't remember what the phone number is. I'll have to check when I get home. Did you realize you typed the same number for the 33.6 and the 56K?

How long? I'm not too sure. It's not one of those "drag-the-phone-across-the-room" cords, though. I'd say 3-5 feet, maybe.

[SintonFan]

Goodness, I didn't even notice!:eek:
Here is the link for the website I found.
access numbers (http://public.swbell.net/cgi-bin/findpops.cgi)
.
Well, having the same numbers could be a big problem.
That size phone cord is perfect.
.
If I can't find any more numbers call SBC and have them give you ALL the local numbers. Insist on it. When I last talked to a SBC tech a few weeks ago they were having big problems with their dial-up networks.
.
One more thing spivey, 26.4 is not a true connect speed. It's hard to actually get a true connect speed with all the WINmodems and all, nowadays.

[SintonFan]

spivey, I have to get back to work and will be back on this early evening. We'll get this problem solved.:)

[SintonFan]

PM me your ph. no and zip code and I can research more fully your access numbers. I promise I won't sell them to telemarketers.;)

[SintonFan]

spivey, give me about an hour(I have to cook and research something for you) and I'll contact you.:)

[cdlvj]

Originally posted by Ranger Mom


I just have to come up with $318 for the set-up charge. That is what I have put on my Christmas wishlist!!



The $318 is outrageous. You should be able to get a free self install kit, pretty simple to set up.
And don't buy the BS of the provider setting up a network for you.
Some of them even charge a monthly fee to be on a wireless network.

Checkout Earthlink or some other providers, A good dialup is Everyones internet if available.

[jason]

Originally posted by cdlvj


A good dialup is Everyones internet if available. :confused: :doh: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[cdlvj]

Originally posted by Ranger Mom
If I understand correctly, the broadband will be able to be used on ALL computers in the house!



You can use all computers even on a dialup. You have to be networked.

Each computer has a network card, which is cabled using cat5 to a router.

You can go wireless with a Cable/DSL router, and each computer has either a wireless card, or USB NIC.

Two ways of connecting to the internet. One computer dedicated for the connection via modem or the Cable/DSL modem, and Windoz has a special program to direct all the other requests. Means that this computer has to be on for the others to get internet.

The Cable/DSL router is a much better option as it does all the routing to the internet.

The router runs about $30, and each device can be had for $20 on sale. There are two protocols, the older stuff and the new 802g which is much faster, but also more expensive.

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by cdlvj

Checkout Earthlink or some other providers, A good dialup is Everyones internet if available.

That's the problem....i don't WANT dial-up!! I HATE IT!!!!