modem dilema

[tward]

And looking for any and all suggestions.
I have a Dell Dimension 4100, Windows ME, 933Mhz, 256MB of memory. The modem that was installed with this computer is a U.S. Robotics 56K PCI voice modem(3CP3298-DEL). It is a hard modem but I have heard bad things about Dell OEM. modems. For the first week or so after I got the computer it would usually connect at 44 or 45 kbps. Then the connect rate dropped down to 33.6 or 31.2. Still occasionally I will connect at 44 or 45 but normally it is 33.6 or 31. I also have an old 166 Pentium computer with a PCTel Winmodem installed and it connects at 42 nearly every time. I installed an older U.S. Robotics Sportster external modem that always connected at 49.3 with my old computer and it only connects now at 33.6 with the Dell computer. I bought a new external U.S. Robotics V. 92 modem(model 5686). It only connected at 33.6 or 31, so I am returning it. I am perplexed. My new computer trying three different U.S. Robotics modems, 90 percent of the time will only connect at 33.6 or 31. I can disconnect the phone line from this computer and plug it into the old 166 computer with the cheap Winmodem and it will connect at 42, so I don’t think it’s the phone line. I tried to install the PCtel Winmodem into this new computer and apparently Windows ME does not like it. I could not get it installed. I have tried the Windows plug and play drivers, I have tried drivers from U.S. Robotics and still can normally only connect at 33.6. I have tried various tweaks with no success. I also installed JUNO so that I could try a different ISP to see if is my ISP. The JUNO connect speeds are consistent with my regular ISP.

What determines the initial connect speed other than the quality of the phone line or the modem itself? Is it possible that this computer just doesn’t like U.S. Robotics modems? Does. anyone think a different brand of modem may help. Are there any software tweaks that I could try.

This is very frustrating. I was used to a good dial up connection with my old computer and now with this new one the speeds are not nearly as good. If it wasn’t for the fact that the old 166 computer always can connect at 42 with a cheap Winmodem and the download speeds are in the high thirties, I would suspect that something happened to the phone lines. I feel the phone lines are OK and I don’t think the problem is with my ISP. It’s either I just haven’t found the right modem or there something wrong somewhere in the software. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[luisr]

I don't think the computer has any effect on modem speed. But the modem on the other side does, as does the route your call take to reach it.

My modem does not connect faster than 34,000 in the local access numbers of two ISPs serving my area. Both companies use the long-existing telephone company serving this area. Another telco arrived several years ago offering local services. One of those ISPs added a second access number to solve problems with busy lines (and the inability of the telco to supply additional capacity on time) using the newer telephone company. I can connect to this other access number at 50,000 about 99% of the time.

And this is not a case of bad phone lines because the route my call takes to reach the other telco is exactly the same up to the central office.

[tward]

I realize that who you connect to can make a difference. In my case, I am calling the same phone number with the same phone line. Only difference is the computer and modem.

[glc]

Evidently you are dialing into a server rack that does not like USR - this happens. Try a Conexant or Lucent-based external serial and see what happens.

To prove or disprove my theory, try one of the USR's in the old computer........

[tward]

The Sportster was running for almost four years with a Compaq 233Mhz and connecting consistently at 49.3 with this ISP. Since I have moved that PC to the basement, but still using the same phone line, that modem will only connect at 33.6 now in both the old and new PC. I have tried using the same phone line (literally, unplug line from back of modem and plug it into other PC)and still connect 42.6 with PCTel modem in a 166Mhz and 33.6 with either USR modem. I guess it is possible my ISP "upgraded" their hardware. I plan to try a different brand of modem as soon as I get a chance to go shopping!

Thanks for your suggestion.