Help selecting new modem

[LurkingInNC]

Need a cheap new PCI v.92 modem. Reason I'm asking for input is that I live out in the sticks, all I can get is dial-up, and because of phone co. equipment between me and the nearest ISP server, the best I can expect is around 26Kbps (phone co. tested the line). It's already a painful experience, so I'm particularly sensitive to sensitivity, speed, etc. Want V.92 with V44 compression, voice, fax, call waiting/session interrupt capabilities (don't need caller id but don't think I'll get session interrupt options without caller id anyways).

btw, my system is greying around the edges, Athlon 1600+ processor overclocked to just under 1600 actual, XP Pro, and 512 memory.

Is there any general feel w.r.t. manufacturor chipsets in general (Agere vs. Intel Vs. Rockwell vs. Motorola vs. NetoDragon, etc.)?

How about modem makers? e.g., I found some very inexpensive Encore modems at Ichiban PC with all the above features I want and pretty much choice of chipset manufacturer. They even have an internal 'hardware' version with an Intel 536 Chipset. Any input w.r.t. that hardware chipset vs. say Encore Win modems with either Intel 537 chipset, NetoDragon Chipset, Rockwell or Motorola chipsets (don't know what versions)?

I can get the ENCORE ENF656-EHW-INPR for $8.50 shipped at Ichiban, or for $12.00 shipped at Newegg. I'm guessing that if people think this is a decent modem I should pay the extra $3.50 and go with Newegg?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Apocalypse X]

in your case brand makes no difference get whatever is cheapest.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Newegg has stats on all that. Get whatever's cheapest with the features you require.

 

[LED]

DO NOT get the NetoDragon and if your Puter is not that fast consider an external one...Rockwell would be the 1st on my list.

 

[Tostada]

Why do you need a new modem? My dad lives out in BFE and has the same problem with crappy phone lines and no broadband available. He also needs a new modem at least every 6 months because it's constantly getting hit by lightning and frying. He's gone through about 10 modems so we just get the cheapest modem we can. We just went ahead and bought 3 from newegg this last time to have spares.

The thing is, when you live in the middle of nowhere with bad phone lines, that poor line quality is often coming from unshielded lines. Sometimes there are places where the lines are just lying in a ditch. You might as well not spend any more than you have to when your modem is in for hazardous duty.

 

[LurkingInNC]

Originally posted by: Tostada
Why do you need a new modem? My dad lives out in BFE and has the same problem with crappy phone lines and no broadband available. He also needs a new modem at least every 6 months because it's constantly getting hit by lightning and frying. He's gone through about 10 modems so we just get the cheapest modem we can. We just went ahead and bought 3 from newegg this last time to have spares.

The thing is, when you live in the middle of nowhere with bad phone lines, that poor line quality is often coming from unshielded lines. Sometimes there are places where the lines are just lying in a ditch. You might as well not spend any more than you have to when your modem is in for hazardous duty.

You're right, I'm never gonna get anything great out here cause of the lines. But the phone co. tested at the box into the house and speeds are around 26 Kbps. At my computer I'm currently getting connection speeds between 7.6 and 12 Kbps. My modem is a V90 that has a chipset that allowed me to flash it to V92 (did it years ago). Problem is, thre are now multiple drivers associated with the modem (automatic update maybe?) & with the Win XP plug & play installation/ modem issues (couple of articles on modemsite.com) I can't control the drivers to get rid of one, let alone get the version I want.

I want a new V.92 with v44 compression to squeek out as much 'speed' (lol) as I can. I'd also like the call waiting/ session interrupt feature. I'm using a 'Catch-a-Call' hardware device that seems to work pretty well, but it would be nice to get something else off my desk, and I suspect the new modems will do even better.

Maybe my current modem has been partially damaged by voltage spike, I don't know.

Two questions about your dad's setup;

1) is his phone line into the computer running through any type of surge protection, and if so, does it seem to help at all? (I do have mine connected to a protector, maybe that's why I haven't completely burned out as many as your dad).

2) Is your dad using any kind of 'acceleration' software, either from his ISP or one of the stand alone products? They actually make a significant difference in web browsing, especially if I set the picture resolution to the lowest setting. If there's something I want to see in full resolution I can update one picture or the whole page using the right click on the mouse. Doesn't help with file transfers or stuff from secure sites, however. Still, I used a connection utility to test speeds and with the accelerator off, it indicated a connection speed of 9.6 Kbps. With the accelertor on (and set at lowest image resolution) the utility indicated a speed of around 40 Kbps. I know the actual line speed is the same, but that does seem to be about right w.r.t. the speed I can browse the web with the accelerator vs. without it.

The next thing I'm going to do is start using Opera or Firefox. I've read that they render web pages faster than IE. Don't know how much faster, but I'll take anything I can get. And thank god for the ability to open multiple windows so I can browse one site while others download or I'm sure I'd have torn all of my hair out by now....

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: LurkingInNC
...Problem is, thre are now multiple drivers associated with the modem (automatic update maybe?) & with the Win XP plug & play installation/ modem issues (couple of articles on modemsite.com) I can't control the drivers to get rid of one, let alone get the version I want.

Are you saying half the reason you're buying a new modem is to avoid reinstalling Windows?

Originally posted by: LurkingInNC
1) is his phone line into the computer running through any type of surge protection, and if so, does it seem to help at all? (I do have mine connected to a protector, maybe that's why I haven't completely burned out as many as your dad).

It was, but that didn't help. I just figured if the electricity is going to arc through 5,000 ft. of air there's not much a surge protector can do. I guess you could get one of the expensive ones that actually gives you insurance. I know that the legitimate lightning protectors that go on antennas have some weird gas charged cartridge and you have to replace it every couple lightning strikes, but it actually works. I haven't seen anything like that for a phone line, though.

Originally posted by: LurkingInNC
2) Is your dad using any kind of 'acceleration' software, either from his ISP or one of the stand alone products? They actually make a significant difference in web browsing, especially if I set the picture resolution to the lowest setting.

No. A friend of mine used an early version of that Earthlink Accelerator thing and it kind of screwed the system up. It's a good idea, though... Is there decent accelerator software out there that isn't ISP-specific?

 

[LurkingInNC]

Not just to avoid reinstalling windows, cause that might not even help. I reflashed the original V.90 modem years ago to V.92. No idea any more how I did it. But I do know that I'm limited to using a LT driver version 8.12 or earlier in order to get V.92 with the Mars2 DSP I've got on my modem.

It's also apparently a recognized problem (several articles about it on modemsite.com) to pick a specific driver YOU want for a PCI modem under XP, even with a clean XP install (you'd have to read a couple of the articles on modemsite to appreciate what a PITA it is; unbelievable the hoops some have had to jump through to get the driver they wanted rather than the one XP picks).

Given that I've lost track of the steps I've taken to upgrade the original V90 to V92 and threfore can't even do an easy reinstall of the modem, combined with the fact that it may well be partially damaged from voltage spikes (have had it out here in the country for about 4 years), plus it still wouldn't have the optimal characteristics I want, it's well worth the $12 to get a new one with latest technology & software and go from there. I've already spent WAY too much time d**king around with this thing.

I do run the phone line through a surge protector, realize it isn't foolproof, but who knows, it might have saved me from some smaller surges.

a.f.a. the accelerator software:

I've used a package through my old budget ISP (access4less.net) and now Earthlinks (a4less sold out to EL & I stayed with them cause they give me the 'accelerater package' account for $13/month.

Everything went fine until I think I ran into some conflicts caused by Norton Systemworks software and some of the options (anti-virus, spyware tools, etc.) available with Earthlinks Total Access software. THAT was a real pain to clear up too, getting the Norton stuff off was a thread in itself. Not positive but I don't think it was the acceleration software that caused the problem, though. Combined, I had used both versions for well over a year with no problems.

I do know there are independent software acceleration products out there, as a matter of fact I recall one of the tech sites reporting on them awhile ago (couldn't find it off hand, though). You might research that a bit; it really does make a huge difference for me w.r.t. most browsing (again, no help at all for file transfers or secure sites, though).

Good luck, it's a PITA to be so far away from access to decent equipment, on the other hand, I live on a lake so that makes up for alot .

 

[alimoalem]

i'm pretty sure all the new modems are pretty similar in performance. go for the cheapest