Classic: How can I speed up my modem.

[RemyCanad]

Here's the situation

A friend of mine got a computer awhile back. (Some HP junker, and yes I feel sorry for him)
The internet connection was nice and speedy.
The computer got struck with lighting.
He had the modem replaced.
The internet connection is back to normal.
Its been a year or so and now the connection has gotten really slow.
I used Cnet's "clock this download" to test the bandwith on it. It reports 11.7kbs.
The check is also erratic.
I pinged a few sites and I got the same result. A very irratic ms times. And on a few, the first packet sent out was a request time out.
So I go to replace the modem with one laying around my house. To my surpise it uses so close to the same drivers for the modem he already had in it that windows thinks the drivers for his modem are supposed to go to my modem. I cannot unistall his drivers becuase he does not have his any more, nore does he know what kind of card he has.
I take the computer to my house to test it out.
I first use this computer (my PC) to do a test at Cnet to see get a base for what kind of speed I should be getting from my house. This computer gets a 37.4
I then used my mac to get another base. It also got a 37.4
I then tested his machine and got a 33 even.
So it looks like it may just be his phone lines. Or the service provider. But I want to get as much as possible out of this machine.
I also use the same provider as he does, so that kinda rules out the provider.
I have switched the cable running from the wall to his machine (at his house, and there is nothing inbetween like a surge protector).
What should I try next?
I am going to get a supra max usb modem. (I thinks thats the name. Its a really good modem, it speeds up my connection considerably) and try that out.
Do you think its just his lines? If so why would it get worse?

 

[John]

Sounds like a definite line noise issue to me. You can have him call the phone co. and b!tch, and maybe they will roll a truck out.

 

[Lord Evermore]

The phone company technically doesn't give a damn, as long as his voice calls aren't having any problems, they don't HAVE to work on it at all. That being said, they'll usually test it, but if it's within specs for voice calls, they might not do anything about it.

You should also remember that the online download tests are wildly unreliable (cnet has never awed me with their bandwidth, either that or no place I've ever tested from has ever had a good path to cnet). The best I've found are Speakeasy's (meant for their customers but they're good for others). http://bos.speakeasy.net is the nearest one for me, they have links to their other sites. They're pretty reliable.

 

[RemyCanad]

I tried out that link you gave, and it looks to be pretty reliable. I will use it monday at his house. Thanks

Also I have seen the line noise lowering contraptions in tiger direct. Do these help at all?

 

[Lord Evermore]

I doubt it will reduce it very much. I've never seen them though. However all it could be is a filter, it can't clean up a corrupted signal, so if the data is getting interfered with on the line, the filter would still be receiving and outputting corrupted data. It certainly wouldn't allow for 56k speeds.

 

[RemyCanad]

Thats what I figured.
When I go back out there, I am going to use the phone and call someone, and try to tell if there are any crackly or poping on the line. If I cannot hear anything then I probably will not contact the phone company.

Also, do you think a better modem will be able to get past some of the problems? I am doubting it, but I am going to try anyways. (kinda a last resort.)

 

[RemyCanad]

Also will it cost me to have the phone company check the phone lines for spec?

 

[BeauJangles]

How can I speed up my modem?

Go to cable, DSL, T1, T3, etc.

 

[Lord Evermore]

A better modem MIGHT make a difference, however if the line is just plain bad enough that the signal can't maintain integrity at higher speeds, then it's not going to make a huge difference.

The phone company won't charge you to do a test from their office. However if they send a technician out to check the lines and find that there's nothing wrong, then they might charge you a fee for the dispatch. Doesn't hurt to ask, and given that it was hit by lightning, they may be totally willing to check on it.

 

[RemyCanad]

Well, I guess I will give the telephone company a call tomarrow. And sence I have the better modem I will just try it. Right now its at school. I have been using it for some projects.