Slow slow modem

[eko976]

Hi
recently my dial up internet connection slowed up.
Before, my modem was connected with 30 to 50 kbps
now is only 12

I changed modem to a V.92 but sill I have the slow speed
I need 2 min to open a simple MSN home page

can I change something in settings before I call SBC Ameritech or MSN(the are not big help anyway)?

[eko976]

Oh I forgot to tell you
I use Windows XP and AMD 2000 with 256 MB
MSN is internet provider
House where I live is about 30 years old, but the phone cords are new

[SARGE]

If your speed dropped that much I'd suspect a severe telco problem. You obviously have a good modem if that is the case as it at least maintains a connection. For starters I'd be sure you haven't plugged anything else into the same line anywhere in the house - another modem on a different pc (even if pc turned off), cordless phones, fax machines, etc. If you haven't changed anything inside, including the above, call the telco and insist a noise & transmission test be run from your DMARC (where outside connects to inside) and provide you with the results. They are required to meet certain standards for "voice grade lines", which is what you're paying for and should get you at least a 26-28 connect speed. Beforehand, if you have an updated DMARC, you can plug your modem into that point, isolating the rest of the house - if ok there then you have an inside problem.

[ktkendall]

Could be virus or spyware..

[SARGE]

Originally posted by ktkendall
Could be virus or spyware..

I thought of that but that always threw my throughput to Hades and didn't interfere with the initial connection speed. If your speaker is on and you hear the modem dialing and connecting, does it keep on and on trying to establish a handshake, or does it connect on first go?

[ktkendall]

I think your right sarge, after I posted I thought about that very fact.

[azscary]

My vote is a telco issue as well. As Sarge said contact the telco and INSIST on the results. The unfortunate fact is that most telcos are stuck in the 60's and feel if you are getting 14,400 than you are good to go. Even by their archaic standards 12,000 SUCKS!!

P.S.
Make sure the POP you are dialed into is v.92 compatible.

[ktkendall]

Don't forget here that he was getting good speed and connections, so maybe some type of corruption has been introduced on the phone line...

[gunrunnerjohn]

FWIW, most telco's don't promise that analog modems will work, the lines are only for voice in their eyes. That being said, when you call, then them you hear hum or popping noises on the line, and they'll solve your problem. :D

[piasabird]

Might be the actual Phone Line itself. Water in the lines after stormy periods can cause problems. I have a box on the outside of my house and the phone line from the house has a little jack that plugs into the part that only the Phone company are suppose to open. Sometimes if I just pulled it out and pushed it in it started working better. I think corrosion was building up on the contacts. It would get so bad that the connection would not disconnect from the modem. Of course the phone company is only responsible for the wiring outside of the house.

[glc]

The jack you refer to is on the customer side of the DMARC - you are allowed in there.