Old Modem Works Better Than New

[Larry R Harrison Jr]

I have Windows XP Professional. I, unfortunately, am currently connecting
with dialup (after 5 years of high-speed via cable, I moved to the country,
working on satellite broadband). Anyway, I have noticed an odd
peculiarity--I can get online with an old Aztech modem, but cannot get
online when using a newer US Robotics or Sterling V.92 modem.

This is most strange, as the Aztech is an old modem I pulled from a Dell 433
MHz machine, the other modems are much newer. The Sterling will not go
online at all no matter what, even though I installed it exactly as it said
(that is, install the software BEFORE putting the modem in physically). The
US Robotics is touch & go; tonight, it totally wouldn't work. (I don't have
its CD, I let Windows XP install it however.)

This is very peculiar, as the 2 modems that won't work are newer than the
one that WILL work just fine (which I also let Windows XP install as is, no
CD). I just don't get it.

What type of tests can I do to the 2 modems to see if they have problems?
What settings should I look for? Mainly, I just have to know how an old
Aztech pulled from a 433MHz (!) Dell would work fine, when newer ones--one a
US Robotics 56k, the other V.92 no less--will work hardly any at all.

Tips?

LRH

 

[Richard G. Harper]

This is not an uncommon situation when dealing with rural phone lines - one
modem may handle the line conditions better than another. You may have some
luck with the newer modems if you check their manuals and use the commands
to limit their maximum connection rate to something less than v.92 speeds -
probably a maximum of 28.8kbps or 33.6kbps would be the best to expect.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
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