Dial-up modem speed problem!

[slunk]

I finally talked my girlfriend's parents into letting me build them a computer system. Before this they never had Internet access. I cannot get their system to connect any faster than 28k. I even brought over a laptop and couldn't get it to connect any higher either. They have older phone lines in their walls, the kind with four prongs. They have the adapters on them for modern phones. My girlfriend called SW Bell, and a rep told her the speed wasn't because of the old phone lines but beacause of her distance from the nearest switch. I know that is a problem with DSL, but I have never heard such a story on dial-up. Is this a possible problem, or are they trying lure them into signing up for DSL? I would think if they were telling the truth, I would have heard more stories of people with similar problems.

 

[Ladi]

Help for slow connects (or why doesn't my 56k modem connect at 56k?)

56k connections depend upon high-quality phone lines as well as the least possible (no more than 1) digital/analog conversion between the end-user and the modem pool as well as other factors as outlined in the FAQ above.

~Ladi

 

[Rendus]

Telephone line quality can definitely be due to distance to the switch. People who live out in the boondocks experience this all the time. The length a signal has to travel determines how much noise can get into the signal. Too much noise and you won't be able to connect at all. Amplifiers and other switching equipment on the line will also eat your connection for lunch. On top of that, pair gain (the practice of splitting the frequency given for a phone circuit in half, allowing the telco to run more phone circuits with less physical lines (I don't remember the exact details. This is all telco side, and not something I've ever had to deal with personally.)) will also give you a max of 28.8 if you're lucky.

Trying to replace the wires wouldn't hurt, though. May give a more reliable connection even if it doesn't improve speed.

 

[dullard]

<< Help for slow connects (or why doesn't my 56k modem connect at 56k?)
~Ladi >>



The fastest/cheapest check is from that site:
&quot;Try disconnecting additional telephony devices (fax, phones, answering machines, alarm systems, etc.) from the phone line, even if they're in a different room. I've heard from readers whose connect speed jumped 10K when they unplugged a fax machine or cordless phone in another room.&quot;

I've seen a 56k modem connect at around 28k when my mother purchased a phone at a garage sale and connected it in her bedroom. These things can add noise to the line making a good connection impossible. Note: I've also heard of a phone filtering noise, allowing a modem to connect at faster than without the phone.