I know this aint sign related, but enought computer gurus on here, so I'll ask. I can't get a higher connection speed on my puter than 28,800. People using the same service as me, verizon, get up to 37,500 in the same area. Is this something on my end or not? New phone line from the box outside to the modem. It would have to be from the box to the pole I think. Wiring could be very old I'd imagine. I have checked this through other services on my computer, and it still ends up the same, 28,800 or below. I downloaded the free version of Juno just to try, and no difference. I have the modem set to the highest speed also. Any ideas?
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
John,
At one time, I had both my personal connection and business connection with the same dial-up service.
My home was just a mile or so from the ISP and I had a consistant 48k connection. However, the shop was about 7 miles away and in a much older section of town. The best I ever get is 33k.
One of the explanations I got had to do with the age and quality of the phone lines in relationship with location of the ISP.
When I was with an earlier service, the best I ever got was 26.4k. It turned out that the way the ISP had their service setup was the problem.
Something I was told to ask when talking to a potential ISP was "what is their number of lines to server setup (or was it router)?" (I hope I remembered that right) Anyhow, the magic number was 7. If the number was higher, that meant that more people were using the same line and that slowed the entire line down.
I hope any of this makes sense.
Since I've switched to cable, I've been a happy camper. If cable isn't available for you yet, you may want to look into either DSL or PC-Direct.
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Could be the outside phone lines. I can't connect higher than 28,800 and figured out it was because the phone lines along our road are the original lines from when they put phone service out here. The lines also aren't capable of DSL.
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Hi, JD3,
To add to Glenn's post-- he is right on the quality of wires and distance from an ISP. There is one other angle that I can think of , and it has to do with the modem in your 'puter. If it is totally self-contained, and doesn't "borrow" circuitry/resources from the mother-board, it will tend to be faster than one that does "borrow." It isn't usually a big difference, but it can be noticeable. Amount of traffic or users on your ISP can also slow things down.
I use Road Runner now-- I found the cost of a second phone line plus the ISP fee was just about the same as RR, and the faster speed was just icing on the cake.
Posted by Jim Doggett (Member # 1409) on :
Hi John:
I can't add to Glenn, Chris and Bill's remarks. They nailed it.
I will add to Glenn's vote for Cable ... mine at home is blazing fast. So much so, I now consider our DSL at the office as being slow.
Regards,
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Sounds like you all are right. Only thing available here where I live, in Ages-Brookside, Ky., is dial-up. Takes twenty years for new stuff to get here. Phone lines are same ones that were here many years ago. Soon as cable or DSL gets here though, I'm on it. Oh, by the way, I wrote this message 15 minutes ago. Thats how slow it is. Chris, sounds like you are in the same boat. Thanks guys and girls.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
John,
If you are interested in getting faster connections, you may want to check this out....
We just suffered a terrible ice storm with power and cable out for several days. I had to connect back to my old isp at 28k and really missed the cable speed. No comparison! I forgot how slow the telephone lines are. I cannot say enough good about a cable connection.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
John,
That happened to me when the local Phone company did some switching in the box up the street. The changed me over to fiber optics because we had constant static from water in the line. As soonas they put me on a fiber slick, I couldn't get over 28800. I had them change me back and voila higher speeds. Copper is better for this stuff than Fiber I've been told, not to mention it proved itself.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
Try to find out from the phone company if your switch is going through a multiplexor. Basically what that does is break down lines into multiple lines I think. I know a while back my dad had the same problem and that is what the ISP told him to ask. The phone company confirmed it.
I have RoadRunner now. We don't have DSL available in my little town yet. I don't think I could ever have a dial up again.
Them theres the breaks in these nice little towns!
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
If I recall correctly the number that you call for your isp usually dictates the speed you can get from them,in our area there have always been different numbers for different speed dial-up connections other than that you are at the mercy of the quality of the copper wire of the telephone companies.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
As I understood it, the distance from the phone company's repeater is what determines the speed on our antiquated dial up's. I'm six miles from the equipment and five miles from the server. We have seen 28,800 on some occassions, but 24-26 is far more normal. When I looked into the satellite type connection there was around a grand in set up and equipment costs and then $75 per month. Speed isn't that important to me.
Posted by John Deaton III (Member # 925) on :
Here's something also. We have AOL, Earthlink, Verizon, and Juno available here and all of them use the same dial up number in Harlan. I checked them all to see what numbers are available. Just one! That seems strange to me that all these providers would be using the same number unless they are all owned by the same company. What's with that?
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
Great thoughts from everyone. Living in Wyoming we have the same problem with getting modern services such as DSL and cable. One additional thing you might check is the drivers for your modem. About a year ago I checked on the web and found updated drivers for my modem and it made a big difference. At the time I was using a Lucent 56k modem. Just a thought.
Posted by Dave Johnson (Member # 2535) on :
I live in a rural area also. All copper lines. I get about 34.4 on a 56K modem. Something you may want to try if you have access to your networking box is to remove the service lines and clean them with a scotch-brite pad or some emery cloth. Dirty connections can slow you way down. If you have a two or three pair line inside, try doubling the wires up. Just make sure you get them matched on both ends.
Posted by Tasmus (Member # 445) on :
Man! I had no idea so many logged on so slow! Myself, from the local ISP, I dial up at 45k at best....at the office, at home 36-41 K...
I cannot imagine consistently suffering with less than that, but I also can't see springing for 50 bucksd a month for cable access either, plus the cable modem!
I am online at 19.95 here....what do you guys pay?
Barry
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Hahahahahah....Taz...don't ever get on a DSL or cable equipped computer! Otherwise you will be spending that $50/month!!!!! Once you get used to a fast connection, you are "Hooked"!!!!
When using my laptop (dialup modem) I get so frustrated, it takes all my will power not to fling it across the room!
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
We have cable for a little over 50.00 a month with son networking off mine. I agree with Si.....once you get cable you will never want to go back to dial up. It will drive you crazy.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
DSL smokes over Cable in our area. I've seen evidence of this time and time again among my cable using friends.
Dave just switched over to DSL from his cable connection. Huge difference in speed ... and no fluctuations in speed as with cable.
Looks like the area you are in is indeed a great factor.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Addicted to your Broadband Connection? Can't get enough bandwidth to play your games and download your porn...no, I mean....art? Not enough money for your cigarettes and beer because of the high cost of cable and DSL?
We can help you break the cycle of dependency.
Call BA (Broadband Annonomous) at 1-55-HELPLESS today!
This message brought to you by 3Com. Makers of $15.00 dialup modems and your local telephone company.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
John, I have 26,400 here. Up to about a year ago, I had about 52,000 consistently but was having problems getting connected sometimes. I called tech support and the guy did something to my settings(I don't remember what) and now it's slow as cold molasses.
Posted by Steve Burke (Member # 2674) on :
Hi John, I also heard from my ISP (while dealing with my own miseries) that the cable length from PC-Phone jack is important. Do you have a firewall? They can be buggers, too, but I don't think this is the case... I had major problems with my dialup when I bought a new PC w/WinXP. Talk about an eye-opener. Turns out my ISP dialup program was NDG. Posted by Diane Crowther (Member # 120) on :
Our cable line is $39.95 CDN ($25 US), and it's a business expense we couldn't do without. Before that, the phone dial-up was $29.95 for unlimited use but it tied up one of our phone lines whenever we wanted to dialup. For $10 more I am connected all the time, both our phone lines are free, and it doesn't take me as long to do things online.
By the way, what utility do I use to actually monitor my connection speed?
