FCC regulations that keep 56k dial-up below 56k...

[fitzm]

My school's server has never let me connect at more than 49,300bps. Until the other day my computer said I was connected at a whopping 115,00bps. Now I know it must have been a false reading because downloads/uploads was not noticably different. I remember someone in the computer lab saying that the speeds I actually see in the lower right corner of the taskbar is not a true reading at all. Why would it not be an accurate reading and what's the scoop with the FCC regulations?

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: fitzm
My school's server has never let me connect at more than 49,300bps. Until the other day my computer said I was connected at a whopping 115,00bps. Now I know it must have been a false reading because downloads/uploads was not noticably different. I remember someone in the computer lab saying that the speeds I actually see in the lower right corner of the taskbar is not a true reading at all. Why would it not be an accurate reading and what's the scoop with the FCC regulations?

The modem can report two connections speeds. One is the modem to computer connection speed, thats is where the 115,000 came from. The other is the actual modem to modem connecton speed. As you saw, that rarely hits about 50k or so. I don't remember the exact FCC regulations, but as I recall it had to do with outofband signalling requirements (and the neccesary bandwidth to support them). I'm sure someone will pipe in with a more accurate response.

Bill

 

[bozo1]

The .inf file that Windows installs for your modem contains a number of valid connect speeds. Commonly, not all possible speeds are included in that file. (getting an updated one from the modem manufacturer may contain all of the valid speeds) If the modem connects at a speed that is not listed in the .inf file, Windows defaults to reporting the port speed, 115...

What was reported to you about the speed you see in the taskbar not being right is partly true. While your modem may initially connect at 49,300, very often the modem trains down due to line noise, data retries, etc. It is not uncommon to connect at 49300 but be down below 40000 after a while. Windows doesn't update the speed reported. The only way I know of to determine your actual speed is to access the modem via Terminal after your session and enter in the proper AT code for your modem that has it report that last speed it was connected at. (AT codes for that vary between brands)

 

[WW]

the fcc limit was 53 kbps, but awhile ago they proposed lifting that limit:

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Common_Carrier/News_Releases/1998/nrcc8062.html

don't know whatever happened to that.....I don't think that proposal was accepted.

 

[fitzm]

Thanx to all that replied.