connection problems, and I think its my modem?

[mindless]

My old modem (SupraExpress 56e) died on me a couple months ago and not willing to go without internet I bought the most reasonable external modem CompUSA had, a Viking external 56k. Ever since I bought the thing Ive had minor, well now major problems. Starting about 2 weeks ago after the modem was on for a day or so I would have problems connecting, well not connecting, transfering. It would connect just fine but would only transfer anything for the first 3 or so seconds and then stop. This would only happen every couple days, then last Wed or so it happened daily until Fri when now it does it no matter what. Ive tried going through PSI with Netzero and Megapop with my work but both do the same. I can check when Megapop is fine with my work and whenever I have the problems its fine, so I know its me and not the ISP.

Heres what Ive tried to fix it:

Installed the latest drivers, ran the Win2k repair (the one where it basically does an install over your existing one but keeps all preferences), left the modem off for over 12hours, bypassed all surge supressors so it ran directly into the wall, and uninstalled Zonealarm.

System Config:
Abit BX6 R2
Celly 300a @ 450
Win2k with SP1
Viking external 56k

I am out of ideas to try, theres no firmware to upgrade and their site has no helpful information. Is the modem dead?

 

[mindless]

anybody???

 

[office boy]

Hope it's still under warrenty :Q
Doesn't sound good

 

[ViRGE]

Humm, try GH, you'll probably get a better response.

 

[Viztech]

Mindless-

Modems are unreliable by nature, so here is a Link to 56k=v.unreliable I have found oodles of info here that has helped with modem issues.

Uhhh, you may want to start at the beginning, and make sure that your com port is set properly. I have also found that dumbing down the modem to V.34? or to force X2 or K56Flex protocols (using init string tweaks) has suprising results.

I have an external 28.8 that I could send you to help troubleshoot. Just having a known good part to play with is sure helpful in these situations.

Good luck dude.

viz

 

[mindless]

Thanks guys

Viz, that page has alot of info on it, and according to its interactive troubleshooter its a connect speed problem which is definatly something I do not want to hear. My connet speeds are low enough already, dropping them down will put me back close to what I used to connect to aohell with ages ago If I start having to connect at 19.2 just to surf I don't think I will ever leave work.

 

[Technonut]

I have had similar experiences with changing modems. I was running a SupraExpress 56K USB modem that worked great, is fast, and reliable. I found a good deal on a USR 56K voice external serial modem, and thought it would be better. It was fast, and seemed to work, then I started to notice connect problems and freezing in downloads and IE. I thought it was a problem with my ISP since I installed the USR properly with the latest drivers, and had no conflicts. I tried both a straight serial hook up, and running it through a USB hub with a serial plug in.

Just to try it, I plugged my SupraExpress back up and the problems went away. I now am back to fast, reliable access.

 

[blade47]

Why did your old modem die? If lightning run in on it, maybe it damaged the lines coming into your house.

Another question would be what chipset does your new modem use and what did your old modem have?

I can tell you from my experience with problematic phone lines that USR based hardware modems work the best on bad lines. I've tried Lucent, Rockwell & USR and the only one that'll connect at my house at all is the USR. The modem I'm using in two different systems on different but equally noisy lines are Archtek 5634BTS USR based hardware modems. I think they were between $40-$50 each.

 

[mindless]

Technonut

hmm maybe its not the modem but not getting old drivers completely gone?



blade_47

Im not sure what caused it, but my guess is having it set to retry 99999999 times wasnt a good idea. I just came home one day and it didnt work, windows wouldnt detect it anymore, tried another puter as well but same stuff, if I added it manually it wouldnt dial

My old modem has a Rockwell chipset in it, new one has a Lucent

Ive heard that too but my old one worked great and was cheap. USR's are too expensive for me, Im not gonna pay $150+ for a modem.

 

[blade47]

mindless

I guess you didn't notice the price of the modem I mentioned was $40-$50 not $150. I wouldn't pay that either.

The modem I use is a USR based Archtek not an actual Us Robotics modem. The one I had before the Archtek was an old 56k-flex hardware based Rockwell and it worked great until I moved. The phone lines in my new house were just too bad. At my old house the Rockwell worked perfectly, it connected at 44k-48k everytime on the first try. I tried a Lucent winmodem there and it got 38.6k-40k and sometimes wouldn't connect at all.

 

[mindless]

your right I didnt :Q

But after what I found out today I don't think it is my modem, I think it is the lines themselves. I downloaded a modem diagnostic program off a link on that page viztech posted and after connecting and not being able to transfer Id disconnect and run that proggy and found some interesting information.

This is from during the day, I couldnt do anything online. I disconnected and got the info five times during the day, one right after the other pretty much and got this in the last connection properties:

Estimated Noise Level 98
Estimated Noise Level 105
Estimated Noise Level 170
Estimated Noise Level 114
Estimated Noise Level 141


Then I did the same thing (only once though) right before I left for work (about 1.5hrs ago) and could surf fine:

Estimated Noise Level 39

Thats quite a bit of difference, line noise is over three times as much during the day as it is at night. I am thinking it is causing my problems. Also I noticed I was connecting at 24k and 26.4k during the day and 31.2k (my normal rate) at night.

Now how do I go about contacting SW Bell about this? Should I just call them up with this information and ask for them to do a test on my lines during the day?

Thanks guys I appreciate all the help.