2 Internet Connection Questions

[kduncan5]

Forgive me for not posting these questions at Tech Support, but I have a pretty good feeling I'd get a better, quicker response here at OT.

Just got done formatting my hard drive, getting rid of alot of excess baggage. Always before, in Network Connections, I used "Client for Microsoft Networks", but for some reason, this time, I'm using "Microsoft Family Logon". My first question is in regard to this, and is in the form of several questions: What is the difference between "Client for Microsoft Networks" and "Microsoft Family Logon"?
Is one better than the other for a single home computer running Win98SE and 2 basic ISP's with a 56K winmodem connection? Is there any connection difference?

Question #2 has to do with connection speeds: Is there a reason why I should connect to a 56K capable ISP at 24bps, disconnect, reconnect at 26,400bps, disconnect, and reconnect again at 50,666bps? The ISP in question has only one access number.....

With my other ISP, there are several access numbers. Sometimes I connect at 28,800bps, sometimes at 31,200bps, but never at the full 56K?
I don't get it! The only response I've ever been able to get is that it has to do with the load (or number of connections at any given time). The only suggestion I've ever been able to get is to try one of the other access numbers.....

I'd really like to get a 56K connection..... -kd5-

 

[radiocore]

IMHO, I believe that line speed connection also depends on your line quality and the amount of noise. If there are alot of traffic running through your lines, you will connect at a slower speed. But when there isn't, you'll connect higher. Another factor could be the access number that you're calling to, they might be handling different amounts of volume when you connect and reconnect.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

You will never get a 56K connection over a phone line.

You'll get 53K at the most, I believe.
Reason? I thought it was because the phone lines could not physically handle 56K. But, then, "why are modems made faster than what the phone lines can handle" you ask?

Good question.

 

[Pretender]

<< why are modems made faster than what the phone lines can handle&quot; you ask? >>

I'm not a genius on modems, but I'd guess they did something (maybe improve modem data compression or something), because all new modems seemed to double or increase by 150% (e.g.
9,600 * 1.5 = 14,400
14,400 * 2 = 28,800
28,800 * 2 = 57,600)

 

[Pretender]

<< why are modems made faster than what the phone lines can handle&quot; you ask? >>

I'm not a genius on modems, but I'd guess they did something (maybe improve modem data compression or something), because all new modems seemed to double or increase by 150% (e.g.
9,600 * 1.5 = 14,400
14,400 * 2 = 28,800
28,800 * 2 = 57,600)

 

[vi edit]

As others have stated, a lot of factors determine your connection speed. If you are out in the country, or have very bad wiring in your house/neighborhood, you automatically take a hit in how fast you can connect. Some other factors that can make a difference in your connection speed is the weather as well. If you've had a lot of rain, and your lines aren't insulated very well, the moisture can get in the lines and cause interferance.

You can also have problems at the ISP's end. The more users they have, the lower amount of bandwith they have to distribute. Depending upon how the ISP is setup, they might only have an X amount 56k modems, and X amount of 28.8k modems. Sometimes you might hit the 56k ones, sometimes you might only hit the 28.8 ones.

Inconsistent line connections are just something that you have to put up with modems

 

[Rogue]

FFMCobalt, you are wrong. 56k is possible when using the Flex protocol. I have seen several 56k connections made using a Diamond Multimedia 56k modem using a Rockwell chipset.

kduncan5, you don't need anything but TCP/IP and Dial-Up Adapter in Network properties for a straight ISP dial-up, unless your ISP specifies otherwise. You only require Client for Microsoft Networks if you are actually logging on to a network (ie.-RASing in to work or something). Now, if you just have TCP/IP and Dial-Up Adapter installed, Windows will try to tell you, &quot;Your network is not complete. Do you wish to continue?&quot; when you click OK. That is fine, go for it.

As for what everyone else said about line conditions, etc., that stuff is correct.

 

[piku]

56k isn't possible _at all_. In fact, anything over 53k is ILLEGAL. Why? Because anything higher and the feds can't trace it.

 

[GammaRayX]

Pika, its not because of the FBI tracing thing that limits the connection to 53K. (Watching to much X-Files?)

Its because of an old FCC rule that limits how much poweer can be sent through the phoneline that limits the bandwidth. The limit on power limits the number of constelations a modem connection can have, and hence connection speed. KFlex have a complex coding scheme that does 56K while still within the FCC rules.

For multi-linking, goto Dial Up Networking, Select your connection->properties->MultiLink and add your devices you want to use along with the conneciton. (eg adding the other modem)

 

[RSI]

FCC regulations don't allow connections higher than 53kbps. If FCC regulations changed, then we'd be able to get all 56kbps I believe.

Analog modems suck anyway, everybody should have broadband for free.

 

[etech]

kduncan5, what kind of modem are you using?

You might try the troubleshooting page at this site and see if it helps.
56k unreliable