Cannot connect to ISP with USR V.92 internal modem

[Ryan Cabanas]

My mom's computer had an Actiontec V.92 PCI Pro internal modem and she's had
trouble connecting to our ISP since day one. Either it would not connect,
connect and then drop, or if we were really lucky it would connect for a
little while at a speed of 36K. These days it just won't connect.

So I went and bought a USR V.92 internal PCI modem (V.92 is all they sell
these days as far as I can tell). The model is the 5699B. I followed the
installation directions and then when I tried dialing to my ISP, it wouldn't
connect. So I rolled back the driver and just used the generic driver that
XP installs upon detection. I did an 'AEI7' from hyperterminal and here is
the modem profile:

--------
U.S. Robotics 56K Fax Win Configuration Profile...

Product Type US/Canada Internal
Product ID 265699A
Data Option V.32bis,V.34+,V.90,V.80
Fax Option Class 1/Class 2.0
Voice Option Speakerphone, TAD
Line Options Caller ID, Distinctive Ring
DSP Freq 34.0Mhz
DSP Ram 32K

Code Date 08/23/2000
Code Rev 4.11.021
--------

Now that I've rolled the driver back to the generic one that XP installs, I
can connect to my ISP, but still only at 36K. I brought my laptop over and
used the same jack and phone chord and I can connect at 52K, so I know it's
not the wiring or the chord. My laptop is a Sony Vaio and it uses a
Conexant modem. I've read about these modems and everyone says they're not
very good (and I did have trouble with it in the past), so if it can connect
at 52K, I don't see why a USR wouldn't connect at that speed too.

Is there some changes that need to be made to get this to connect at a
faster speed? Also, is there a way to determine what standard my modem is
currently connected to my ISP with? (For instance, is there some way to
tell if my modem right now is connected using V.34 or V.90?) I'm thinking
that since I can only get 36K, maybe it's only connecting with V.34.

Thanks for the help.

Ryan Cabanas

 

[Aaron Casper]

I feel your pain. Some time ago, USR sold good modems.
They may still sell a few. The problem is, most modems on
the market today are so-called "WinModems". That doesn't
mean that they are made specifically to work with Windows
based OS's. WinModems are in actuality only half of a
modem. The required hardware for a modem can be cut down
and some of it replaced with software, which results in a
cheaper modem to manufacture and sell. The problem with
this, as we are all aware, is that software does not
always do exactly what is expected of it. Hardware more
or less will. My recommendation, shy away from anything
that even remotely sounds like a "WinModem". Other than
that, you may have to suffer slower connection speeds.

 

[Ryan Cabanas]

Unfortunately, I probably have that kind of modem. And the Actiontec modem
she had was probably that kind of modem too. It says on the USR box "56K
Faxmodem PCI for Windows". That seemed to be all that was offered at the
stores. Everything is V.92 and I'm sure that all of the V.92 are probably
these cheap modems you've described. Oh well. Maybe I can find an older
PCI used 56K original internal modem without all the software junk. Thanks.

Ryan Cabanas