Why did the FCC put a cap of 53k on dial-up modems?

[JEDI]

if it wasn't for the cap, i would think modem speed would be 112k or better by now.

so why is it capped? and why wont they remove the cap?

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

they are mean...

 

[hoihtah]

rather than the cap themselves...
i'd be more frustrated by the fact that you never see more than 5k on dial-up.

but who uses dial-up nowadays anyhow?

 

[Crimson]

Speeds are capped at 53k, but realistically you are NOT going to get much higher on an analog line, regardless of the FCC rules.. We really are up against a technological barrier, not a government one. Analog technology can only go so far.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: hoihtah
rather than the cap themselves...
i'd be more frustrated by the fact that you never see more than 5k on dial-up.

but who uses dial-up nowadays anyhow?

I do at home.

nik

 

[MacBaine]

I recall hearing that it has something to do with the amount of noise produced on the line, and how it screws things up if there is too much.

 

[AzNmAnJLH]

fiber optics and wireless should be the only things to consider in the coming years anything else would be old technology

 

[UberDave]

Radio waves and such ...interfering

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: UberDave
Radio waves and such ...interfering

^^

Pretty much anything over that speed can theoretically cross with other signals from other lines.

Besides, DSL and Cable are a MUCH better alternative to dialup...

Contemporize man, contemporize!

 

[UberDave]

Originally posted by: Radeon

Originally posted by: UberDave
Radio waves and such ...interfering

^^

Pretty much anything over that speed can theoretically cross with other signals from other lines.

Besides, DSL and Cable are a MUCH better alternative to dialup...

Contemporize man, contemporize!

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Well considering dialup costs $9.99 and cable/dsl costs $49.99, why not squeeze as much out of it as you can?

 

[dman]

The limit on electrical power was originally set, as I once read a long time ago, because operators who used to do manual switching were at a higher risk of hearing damage and perhaps other problems when patching the lines. I don't know if it's true, but, that was one reason I read. I couldn't find anything to back that up in my search, so it's probably an 'ol techies tale.

I was able to read that in many cases you wouldn't get 56K simply due to line noise and other factors. As it stands, I barely ever get about 48K connections from anywhere to any provider's number. 53K is a dream connection. So, it's quite possible we'd get a few more K/s rates if the power was bosted, but, the chance of getting a 56K connect is pretty slim.

 

[Colt45]

When I used to have dialup i was getting 52,333, and that was with netzero! :Q

I was pretty surprised about that.

but uh yeah, over the 53k it must bump the freq high enough to distrupt other stuff i guess.

 

[shurato]

The majority of the Internet users in the world do not connect by Broadband...so I think some of you people should think twice about making comments about who would use dialup. Oh don't mind me...I had cable modem for 3 1/2 years and then had to revert to dialup after finding out that my new apt could not get broadband...yet like 2 minutes down the road is the county line (i live in the city) and they can get broadband.

And yes I thought I could get DSL before I moved in...the stupid rental office people specifically stated to let the alarm company know if you get DSL because it cause problems with the alarm...well sh!t...if you can't get DSL in the first place around here what the hell is the point in emphasizing that to me. Just made me believe DSL would be available...guess my stupid mistake for jumpin on a great deal on an apt before checking myself if I could get broadband :/

 

[broon]

It's the technology. Your phone line is built for 64k. That's the required bandwidth to accomplish a phone call. That's all the bw the phone co. will give on that line. 56k is the limit for dial-up because the other 8k is required for header information on that line. In addition, the further you live from the phone co. central office, the lower your speed will be. 52k is exceptional. Even if there wasn't a cap, you'd have to be next door to the CO to get max speed.

 

[ScottyB]

I remember about 4 years ago an arch nemesis computer nerd was telling me I was lying about my modem speeds (48K), because it is "impossible" to get over 40K. I was like just come over an watch me download at 4.8 ~5.0 K and he said the windows was misinforming me of the information. I was then like "whatever; you're a moron, and Gateway sucks" (he is a strong advocate of Gateway), and he got all pissed.