Help needed to optimize performance of USR modem . . . PLEASE!

[WJB05]

I live in the boonies and DSL or Cable are not available. A few months ago I bought a couple of USR Model 2976 (not winmodem) modems for a couple of new systems. These are OEM modems and new drivers for WinXP are not available on the USR site, therefore, I am using the driver supplied with WinXP. I am using a dedicated tel. line with no telephones or other tel. devices on the modem line. We constantly have slow connect times and connection speeds are never over 32kbs (sometimes 32kbs appears to be slower than 29kbs). We have neighbors who live further from the local tel. exchange than we do and they say their spped is in the 40-45kbs range. Does anyone know of any "tweaking" we can do to improve our modem performance? Did I make a major mistake by buying OEM modems rather than a retail model? Following is the invormation from the USR modem identification wizard:

Product ID: 66297600
Model No.: 2976
ATI3 U. S. R 56K voice INT V5.20.1

OK
AT17 Configuration Profile. . .

Product type: US/Canada Internal
Product ID: 66297600
Options: V32bis, V.80, V34+, x2, V.90
Fax Options: Class 1/Class 2.0
Line Options: Caller ID, Distincitve Ring
Voice Options: Speakerphone, TAD
Clock Freq.: 92.0Mhz
EPROM: 256k
RAM 32k
FLASH date: 7/5/0
FLASH rev: 5.20.0

DSP date; 7/5/0
DSP rev: 5.20.1

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[XBoxLPU]

Nothing can be tweaked. That modem is excellent ( now running the 2977 ). I had one but lost it to thunderstorm. What the problem is, bad lines.

 

[WJB05]

I had suspected bad lines to be the problem. The addition of a dedicated line helped some - from 24kbs to 32kbs. I doubt the telco will string new lines any time soon.. All I can hope for is wifi or better satellite service. Thanks🙁

 

[Xenon]

Have you tried using those drivers from the usr site anyway? Says for win98, nt, 2k. Its worth a shot? You could always go back to your generic drivers if there is a problem.


edit: also try out this interactive troubleshooter. ------> here.

 

[WJB05]

Thanks, I'll give this a try when I am home from work - almost anything would be an improvement!

 

[MWink]

I know 90% of the people who read this aren't going to/don't want to believe this but USR modems (especially the newer ones) are TERRIBLE with noisy lines. I know plenty of people who could not get anything above 28.8 with a USR 56k PCI (Win-modem or hardware). I upgraded them to a Creative 56k modem and they almost always connected at 40-52k.

TRY A DIFFERENT MODEM!!!

 

[toadstool]

Include me in that 90%.

In the last month, I have tried USR 5610B.........USR 5686D..........Zoom 3049..........Best Data external..................... the only ones that regularly connect at 49 or above were the USR models. Many times I got connected at 50 or higher.The Zoom connected pretty high also, at 48 most of the time, but I had to take it back because it would "lock up".......just stopped loading pages. The Best Data modem is lucky to get 48..................seems to connect at 46 half the time.

I have still yet to see a company that makes modems as well as USR. They may have crappy customer service, but they still know how to make a good modem.

 

[WJB05]

Well. . . Seems that a debate over the quality of USR modems is in progress. Does anyone else have any thoughts or experience to validate the quality of USR. I'm not rushing out to buy a new modem yet. . . but, may try that if all else fails. 😉

P.S.,
Xenon, I tried the interactive modem troubleshooter, and can only complete part of the process without subscribing to Modemsite.com.