What did network connection do to my modem, HELP

  • Thread starter Thread starter teighs
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teighs

I built a new computer last fall with Win2k pro as the OS.
It has a 56k modem that reliably connected at 48k all fall
and into the winter. My employeer is my ISP, so I brought
it in to the IT people so they could add it to the network
so I can access my work files from home. Now it only
connects at 21.6k, occasionally 26.4k.
The modem dials, beeps and instead of instantly connecting
as it used to, now it pauses for a few seconds, then beeps
again and waits, then beeps again and waits, seems like
each time it beeps it gets slower until it finally
connects. What is the networking software doing to slow it
down? and what can I do to speed it up?

I have two access numbers, one going south, one north from
the house, same situation on each.
 
This behaviour is automatic and does not depend on software.
Your modem is trying to connect at best speed. It's speed depends on:
a) line quality
b) your modem's quality
c) quality of modem on the other side
To manually check how it connects, go to Accessories, Hyperterminal and
connect to your modem.
Then issue command ATDTnnnnn (nnnnn is phone number you want to dial). Watch
the response messages (e.g. CONNECTED 41000 MNP).

Dusko Savatovic
 
But it connected for 3 months, unerringly at 48k. Now it
connects at 21k, occasionally 26k. The change took place
after enabling the networking. Therefor I strongly believe
that it has something to do with the networking.

My old computer with the 33k modem still connects at 28k...
 
What software does is that it sends a series of AT commands to modem. These
commands were initially designed by Hayes company. Over the period of time
some new extensions were added to these commands to introduce new features
like error correction and compression.
If you have external modem, then there's really no additional software
involved, apart from software that uses modem's functionality.
However, if you have internal, so called winmodem, then part of the
functionality is performed by modem driver. In that case you may search for
a new, updated driver. You may find it at manufacturer's web site or on
windows update web site. If you suspect that a newer modem driver is
performing worse then old one, Windows XP has a feature "Roll back driver".
Open Device manager, select properties of your modem and click this command
button on Drivers tab.
As a test, you may try to test your modem on another location, on another
computer (friend, at work after hours).
You may also try to dial another ISP's number. All ISP's in my area have so
called guest dial in number that allows people to dial in anonymously ie
without registration. These connections are more expensive than those for
which you have to register.
I have seen problems with degraded performance in certain areas:
- where two subscribers shared one line.
- where part of line was transferred using some sort of radio frequency.
- in offices were you have to go thru switchboard to access outside line.
- once I fixed the problem by soldering the wires at the entry point to the
building.
BTW on ordinary (ie V90) modems I have never been able to achieve full
56kbps speed. To achieve that speed, there must not be additional
digital-analog-digital conversion between your modem and ISP (IOW the
connection between your modem and ISP must go thru only one switching
station). I usually manage to connect at 42 kbps.

Dusko Savatovic
 
Why are you still using such unhandy thing as Hyper Terminal? Recently
I've found an interesting program - Flash Terminal. It is really Hyper
Terminal killer. With Flash Terminal you can chat and exchange files
via modem (including v.90, ISDN, ADSL, GPRS) and null-modem
simultaneously without Internet! You can exchange up to 255 files at
once with unlimited transfer resuming after connection break. Program
includes large amount of nice avatars.
Direct link for downloading:
http://www.qwertystudios.com/FlashTerminalSetup.zip
Direct link for Win95 version downloading:
http://www.qwertystudios.com/FlashTerminalSetup_w95.zip
Developers site:
http://www.qwertystudios.com/
More info:
http://www.qwertystudios.com/products.php.html
 
Thanks for the pointer, but I don't want to install new software on each PC
I visit. I use Hyperterminal because it is already there and only when I
want to prove that no other software is getting in the way with
communications. With Hyperterminal you can connect directly to the modem and
issue some old fashioned AT commands. The command for dialing a number is
ATDT or ATDP followed by a number. The nice thing is that modem will dial
and report exact achieved speed without any software standing in between.

Another place where Hyperterminal may be handy is when you need to service
some comms equipment which provides access via serial comm ports.

Apart from this, I don't need other nice features that the suggested
software offers.

Dusko Savatovic
 
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