Connection stable at only one speed (dial up)

[boongles]

I am unfortunate enough to live in an area that dial up is the only
sort of internet connection available (aside from satalite, which I am
not interested in). This has worked fine for me for the previous 7
years except for lately.

My connections have always been between 40.0kbps and 48.8kbps.
Obviously, I preferred the faster connections, but even if I dialed up
a slower one my connection would still be stable - just a bit slower.
Lately, I've found that the only time my connection is stable, that is
my connection is not dropping out or giving me lag spikes, is when my
connection is exactly 45.2kbps. Anything lower or higher causes
problems. This wouldn't be so bad except that it sometimes takes me 20
to 30 minutes to get this connection after repeated attempts.

I've tried checking for line noise, plugging in to different jacks
while having the others disabled, changing isps (twice), checking IRQs
and modem settings, and updating modem drivers. Also, I have dialed up
from 3 other computers on the same phone line (as well as a different
phone line connected to my house) and, while my connection speeds vary
in the same way, stability is fine. Through these such tests, I think I
am correct in assuming the problem lies somewhere in my computer.

The only thing I can think of relates to some settings I had changed in
the past. For a brief period of time I tried using a wireless
broadband internet service available in my area. Supposedly due to
interference, my connection to their access point dropped out very
often, so after 2 months of service I dropped that isp and went back to
dial up. During the time I used the wireless service I attempted
gearing my internet connection towards broadband by using TCPoptimizer.
This program was supposed to improve internet connection by tweaking
such things as my MTU and receive window. Shortly after going back to
dial up, I noticed the problem I am complaining of, and quickly assumed
it was due to the settings I changed in TCPoptimizer so I used it again
to revert back to windows defaults. Unfortunately, this did not help.
So, I decided to use the same program to gear my modem for optimal dial
up speed. Strangely, my modem is no longer available in the program's
network adapter selection so I cannot use the program to tweak it's
settings.

I am only assuming this is the cause of the problem - it may have
nothing to do with it. If anyone could suggest something else to try
I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Pop`]

I am unfortunate enough to live in an area that dial up is the only
sort of internet connection available (aside from satalite, which I am
not interested in). This has worked fine for me for the previous 7
years except for lately.

My connections have always been between 40.0kbps and 48.8kbps.
Obviously, I preferred the faster connections, but even if I dialed up
a slower one my connection would still be stable - just a bit slower.
Lately, I've found that the only time my connection is stable, that is
my connection is not dropping out or giving me lag spikes, is when my
connection is exactly 45.2kbps. Anything lower or higher causes
problems. This wouldn't be so bad except that it sometimes takes me
20 to 30 minutes to get this connection after repeated attempts.

I've tried checking for line noise, plugging in to different jacks
while having the others disabled, changing isps (twice), checking IRQs
and modem settings, and updating modem drivers. Also, I have dialed
up from 3 other computers on the same phone line (as well as a
different phone line connected to my house) and, while my connection
speeds vary in the same way, stability is fine. Through these such
tests, I think I am correct in assuming the problem lies somewhere in
my computer.

The only thing I can think of relates to some settings I had changed
in the past. For a brief period of time I tried using a wireless
broadband internet service available in my area. Supposedly due to
interference, my connection to their access point dropped out very
often, so after 2 months of service I dropped that isp and went back
to dial up. During the time I used the wireless service I attempted
gearing my internet connection towards broadband by using
TCPoptimizer. This program was supposed to improve internet
connection by tweaking such things as my MTU and receive window.
Shortly after going back to dial up, I noticed the problem I am
complaining of, and quickly assumed it was due to the settings I
changed in TCPoptimizer so I used it again to revert back to windows
defaults. Unfortunately, this did not help. So, I decided to use the
same program to gear my modem for optimal dial up speed. Strangely,
my modem is no longer available in the program's network adapter
selection so I cannot use the program to tweak it's settings.

I am only assuming this is the cause of the problem - it may have
nothing to do with it. If anyone could suggest something else to try
I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

It sounds like you've done all the right things, and a couple more to boot.

First, I'd remove and reinstall both your modem hardware and drivers.
Then visit your modem mfg's site and see if they have any update drivers.
That may not fix your problems, but it -will- give you a known good
starting point.

Based on your comments, I would assume that what you've encountered is a
sort of incompatability between your modem and the ISP's modems. IF it's an
internal win-modem, the problems could also be exaggerated.

When you "checked" your lines, are they absolutely quiet? Cover the
mouthpiece and dial a single digit; you'll get several seconds worth of time
to listen before the error is recognized at the CO and they put a squealer
on the line. You shouldn't hear ANY pops, click, hums or hisses. Then make
a phone call and see if you can repeat the test with the same results. OK,
now:

It's the chip-sets on the modems that actually matters, but you can often go
by brand names instead since it's cheaper and easier to identify. Then if
need be the chip set can be identified.

Try calling your ISP and see what brand of modems they are using. Their
response will likely be "Well, if you use Boca (or 3-com, or any othe brand
they name), you'll get the best connections."
You might get "Well, 40 MultiTechs, and 10 Alliances". In that case,
choose the MultiTechs for the best of odds when you do connect.
Since modems are so inexpensive these days, and especially if you have a
winmodem, I'd then go out and buy that brand of modem to use. I honestly
suspect you'll find it will give you improved functionality.
If you can't find or can't afford the specific brand (not model #!)
modem, then you could try to find out what chip-set is used in their brand
(easy to do). In which case you buy a brand of modem that uses that
chip-set. There are only about 3 major chip-set manufacturer's out there.
It makes sense when you think about it, that, say, MultiTech modems
would operate the best when connected to another MultiTech modem; all the
same specs.

FWIW, I think the fastest speed a 56k modem is allowed to connect at is
50.3k, so anything in the 40 and up is a reasonable connection speed. I
think my "norm" was 49.3k or something like that; we're close to the CO. As
you go farther away from the CO the numbers may drop but they shouldn't go
below about 42 in any case.

HTH
Pop`

 

[boongles]

I really appreciate the reply.

As far s line noise goes, I've tried the very same test you suggested
many times. During those few seconds if silence I hear absolutely
nothing, thus I am fairly certain I can eliminate line noise as the
problem. Besides this, I know other modems (different brand names, btw)
connect fine on the same line.

I'm not sure why, but I forgot to include my modem info in my original
post. It's a BCM v.92 that comes standard with dimension model dells.
I've checked for new drivers and I have the newest. Not sure of my
chipset, but I'll check the hardware after this post.

The only reason I'm hesitant to conclude that it would be an ISP/modem
incompatibility is that not only am I using the same modem that worked
fine with my ISP before, but I've tried three completely different
ISPs. Still, though, it sounds like a good idea to try and optimize
compatibility with my current provider.

When it comes down to it, between my trials and your advice, I think
I'll just end up buying a new modem and seeing how that goes.

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi

User can make sure that he uses a good reputable Dialup Modem.

Some users lay a special telephone line from the NID (the Telco box that
brings the Tel. line to the house).

If you sharing Internet connection with Dialup you might, get a more stable
connection using a setting like option 2 on this page.
http://www.ezlan.net/DialUp.html

Optimizing here, http://www.ezlan.net/Internet_Speed.html

You can try to set the computer directly on the NID, if you get better
Bandwidth than lay a special line from the NID to where the computer usually
sits.

Otherwise, there is nothing else that you can do. The analog Tel. signal
that is used by Dialup is very susceptible to noise, and quirky line
connection, the miles of lines between your NID and the ISP Modem array is
beyond your control.

Many ISP provide few connection numbers in each area, try all the numbers
that are within your dialing area, might be that one would fair better then
the other.

Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Pop`]

All good points and suggestions, Jack. I've tried it a few times and never
had a separately run line to any good though; if there's an interference of
some sort in the current lines, whatever is added to the system will have
that same situation present on it. But, like I said, I did try it, "just in
case" <g> and lost.

As for connecting a modem directly to the Network Interface Device (NID),
then that connection should be the ONLY one; the others should be removed
for the duration of the test. Otherwise the results won't be very
meaningful and not likely to be any different either since it'll be no
differnt than plugging into any of the jacks. Whatever is on the wires at a
jack will still be there at the NID, so you have to disconnect all the other
wires for such a test to be meaningful.
IFF it fixed things though, then it'd be almost certain the house wiring
is a problem.
I've found it's best when talking about things like NID, etc. to explain
what they are; most people don't know the jargon. Nor do most even know
what that inferface is, in fact, or even where it is.

I really suspect his modem, after a little more thought. He's indicated
"other" modems work OK, but didn't actually say they were attached to or in
his own machine, though I think it's still indicative.
If I remember correctly, BCM is a Broadcom modem and uses a Rockwell
chipset. Back in the days when I did compliance testing, analog modems from
them weren't all that great reliability wise. But we didn't care whether
they worked or not, only that no harm was done to the telco wires <g>.

******* Hmmm, TO THE OP: *********
If you're feeling ambitious & know what your'e doing, try reversing the
red and green wires either right at the jack where they come into the house,
or at the box your modem connects into. If you know how to use a meter, the
Red lead should be negative with respect to the Green lead, right at the
jack your modem connects to!
I -think- they were one of the brands where carrier detection (and
ringing detection) became a problem if the polarity was reversed; a leakage
from their ring detector was putting a DC bias on the carrier detector
lines, causing it to be intermittant. That was a long time ago though;
surely they've fixed that by now!

As for the option 2, it doesn't sound like the OP has ADSL; Not too sure how
that would help unless I missed something there. Looks a little newbie-user
unfriendly to me, though it is sort of a neat setup.

HTH
Pop`

 

[boongles]

Kinda strange that you brought up the idea presented in that "option
2". Aside from dialing up directly from an internal modem on my
computer, I have my network set up such that my router has an external
dial up modem plugged into its serial port (so i can have wireless
dialup internet for my laptop). I've tried my luck connecting through
that modem (as I usually only use it for my laptop as stated) and
found that the connection was stable. Unfortunately, any connection I
have -ever- gotten from that modem has been slow so I prefer to limit
its usage to my laptop when needed.

As for connecting straight to the NID and disconnecting the other
wires, that was one of my first attempts to try and find the source of
the problem. The results were the same as with everything else, thus
leading me to believe the problem lies in my computer's configuration
or hardware.

I will try switching the red and green wires to see how that affects
the situation and go from there. In the end, though, I'll probably just
order a new modem.

Thanks again!

 

[Pop`]

Well, IMO, you've certainly done your "due diligence" in evaluating this.

I hope you'll post back on what happens with a new modem. Personally I
think you'll find it works better, but ... nice to know for sure! <g>

Pop`