Modem woes: random disconnects plus lousy connection speeds...

[Sophia]

Previously I was using a a Zoltrix "piece o' junk" HSP winmodem(pci)that tended to randomly drop connections (it didn't actually disconnect, but the connections died for all practical purposes all the same).

I recently switched to a USR winmodem (isa) model 5683 I had hanging around, hoping my luck would improve. This one is also randomly disconnecting and often gives lousy connections speeds (around 30k, currently connected at 31200), though sometimes it connects as high as 50666.

I have tried a couple of sets of drivers for this one. What else can I do to get better and stable connections?

 

[michec]

If your phone line is crappy to begin with, even the best modem available won't help you get higher connection speeds. When I was using dialup, the fastest I could connect was 28800 with a USR External V.Everything Voice/Fax modem, though most of my connection were at 24000 or 26400. If you live in a suburban area, that's pretty much the best connection speeds you can get. I'm now using IDSL, which although it seems slow at 144k/144k, is 5x faster than what I was connecting with before.

 

[AKA]

Did you use to get better connection speed. Your probably not going to get better connection speeds.


But to narrow it down to what the problem might be:

Try different phone jack. Does that make a difference?

Try different ISP. Does that make a difference?

You have already tried different modem.

Find friend or family who does get decent connections and take your computer to them and try it from there. Does it make a difference?

Or have that friend or family member bring their computer to your house. Does that make a difference?

 

[Sophia]

The "facts":

I've used different phone jacks with the modem I was using previously and don't recall any striking change.

The old Zoltrix + my isp + my phone line yielded consistent connection speeds of 45333 or 46666 (give or take very little), though I always regarded it as a mediocre modem.

The "new" USR + my isp + different phone line in a different computer somewhere else yielded a regular, seemingly stable 50666 connection the few times I had occasion to use it.

The USR + my isp + my phone line yields many low connections and lot disconnections (far, far more than the previous modem). I've seen connections as low as 4800 (!) and as high as 115000 (obviously incorrect). 30000s have been common today, though right now it's 49333. The results strike me as unstable compared to the modem I was using before.

I have not (yet) tried all the other permutations.