1.3Kbytes/sec??

[FZWG]

Sure appreciate some help on this one.

Running a PC with Windows Me, and AOL 8.0 is installed.
CPU=P450/RAM=384MB
Dial-up Connection

AOL kept freezing, so, cleared caches, reinstalled AOL adapter, modified graphics, etc.

Connect to Internet, try to download something, and the speed goes down to about 1.3Kbytes/sec. Downloading 1 MB takes almost half an hour!!

Decided to install MSN 8 instead. Same problems as with AOL.

Any ideas of what could cause such a slow download speed, or how to fix the problem?

[glc]

What's it got for a modem and what is the indicated connect speed?

[FZWG]

Thanks for the reply.

In Device Manager it shows a US Robotics 56K Voice Win modem.

[glc]

Okay, and what is the indicated connect speed?

[FZWG]

Decided to install a new Modem.

Same problem.

Where does one find the indicated connect speed?

[imbest123]

My cousin gets aboot the same speed with dial-up. Are you sure this isnt the normal speed for it? When i had dial-up it would go from 1kb to 4kb/sec.

[glc]

AOL should flash the speed at you as part of the connect process - its step 3 I think. What did you install for a new modem?

[FZWG]

Installed a Best Data 56KV.92/V.44 Windows Internal Modem
PCI Version for W98, Me, 200 and XP

[glc]

Another software controlled modem.

Please, I need to know the indicated connect speed before I can help you.

I already described how to get that with AOL, with MSN it should show on the systray if you hold the mouse over the dialup networking connection monitor - if not, double click on it.

[FZWG]

Got it!

AOL is showing 32000bps.

[glc]

That's indicative of a very poor 56k-capable phone line. It's connecting V.90 but is choking on the excessive error correction - and the software controlled Winmodem is not helping matters either. You have a couple options here after you thoroughly troubleshoot the phone wiring in the house. You can get a US Robotics HARDWARE based modem (this is the recommended solution, and in that machine, I'd suggest looking around for a 5687 ISA modem) and see if that helps. The other option is lock it out of 56K mode and force it back to V.34 mode. I'd say if you do this, you should get downloads at least 3K/sec.

Go into the properties of the modem, and there will be a place to add "extra settings" - it's in an advanced setting. For a USR, add this in the extra settings box:

S32=98

The Best Data will require some playing around with, depending what chipset it uses.

If it's a Conexant, one of the following will work, depending exactly which chipset:

+MS=11
+MS=V34
+ES=1,0,1;
&Q6

I'd really recommend you go the hardware USR ISA route, it just might punch through the noise and give you a halfway decent connect in the higher 30's without the major slowdown of error correction without disabling 56k capability. Worst case, S32=98 should fix it right up.

The 5687 is getting tough to find, and when you do, it's not cheap.........

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The 2977 PCI modem (hardware based) is an acceptable alternative, that's available at Newegg and many other vendors in the high $30's or low $40's.

I had a crappy line too - and I could not for the life of me get a good connect with a Conexant modem, even a hardware based one. I put a 5687 in it, and got a solid 37k day in and day out with downloads around 4 to 5K/sec. USR's are noted for being the best performing modems made for lousy lines, but forget their Winmodems, it's gotta be hardware based.

[SARGE]

Originally posted by glc
USR's are noted for being the best performing modems made for lousy lines, but forget their Winmodems, it's gotta be hardware based.

Lab tests a few years ago confirmed that.
Different modems were used on various line conditions and the USR sailed. I've always preferred the externals for obvious reasons.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the replies and the info.

Had an interesting experience with this issue. Tried to run an anti-virus program (TrendMicro Housecall) to see if a virus was involved, and Housecall took forever to download, and then kept getting hung up scanning C:\_Restore.... files.

So, disabled System Restore in Windows Me, restarted the PC, and decided to start AOL again.

Guess what, no more freezes, goes from page to page without hang ups, the Housecall scan went through smoothlly, downloaded a couple of programs without a glitch.

Might leave things as they are for a while, and see how it goes. If trouble brews up again, will consider your suggestions.

Thanks again.