Earthlink dial up connections

[Charles]

I have noticed my connections have been steadily 37k on a USR 2976 V.90 modem . They use to be 48k and above. I have changed access numbers and checked my settings but my speeds are not changing.

Are earthlink dial up connections going slower because they are not providing the bandwith or can I increase my speeds with a V.92 modem?

Thanks.

[glc]

Your phone line has somehow changed. Did you by any chance change local phone companies?

Have a customer that was getting solid 50k connects for a couple years - using SBC as their phone company. Changed to McCloud to save money and speeds dropped to 34k.

It's also possible you have installed a new device on your line (caller ID box, fax machine, etc.) that has problems. You can test your inside wiring by running a RJ11 cable direct from the modem out to the demarc box and plugging it into the test jack.

[Charles]

I have not changed yet but have been thinking about it.

I do have an HC2000 but that's not it. This slower connections is something that has happened over the last 2 years. I had people from this area told me the same thing has happened to their connections with dial up earthlink, slower since 2 years ago.

The other night I was surprised I logged at 42.6k. Usually it's never higher than 40k. However when I use the computer with the Diamond Supra Express ISA I usually log at 48k. Whether comparing those two modem speed indications is fair I don't know.

Test jack with the green led light to confirm that the line is ok? I did that from day one and I do have a good connection.

Thanks.

[glc]

Well, initial indicated connect speeds don't really mean THAT much - Rockwells like the Supra connect high and only train down, but USR's can connect low and train up AND down as needed. Run a test - download a compressed zip file from the same server (preferably your own webspace) with both machines, time it, and do the math. It's throughput that really counts, not just the numbers on the icon. Before I got DSL, my USR only connected to EL at 37k, but it would train up to about 45. (USR's have a way to check this - immediately after disconnecting, open Hyperterminal and issue the ATI6 command, it will tell you the speed it connected at and the peak speed during the last session) Funny thing, but now that my line has been conditioned for DSL, when I *do* use dialup, it connects at 50.

If you are interested in line noise tests, here's a good read:

http://www.modemhelp.net/linenoise/noise.shtml

[Charles]

Ran tests for ATI6 and 11 using Hyperterminal. Singnal to noise ratio on the USR 2976 was 33 so that is suppose to be a limiter of 33k. However once in a while my connections go to 40k, so I guess these numbers are subject to tolerance windows, on the Supra the hyperterminal disconnects and when I type "ati6" it connects it again so I am not able to see the data. Don't know what's happening there. Is there a special way to enter 2 commands in initialization modes for the supra. The commands are "AT&FW2" (factory defaults) and "M2" (speaker on). Does the operating system "XP Pro" plays a role in the modems ability to acknowledge this initialization entries? I have tried several combinations and sometimes is not even allowing me to connect.

Thanks for the link.

[glc]

ATI6 with the Supra does a totally different thing than with the USR. Follow the Conexant link on that site I gave you and read its procedures, looks like you want AT#UG.

To combine the 2 commands in the Extra Settings box, you would type &FW2M2 . No need to type AT.

[Charles]

The command logged the defaults(FW2)alright but the modem speaker on(M2) still silent. I checked the volume controls and the bar is all the way to the right. Would taking the modem out of it's slot and reinserting it make a difference?

I found and followed the procedures for testing the Conexant but after doing this step below no outputs appeared.

,"After you are disconnected, type AT#UG, press ENTER, and one of the following outputs should appear with the 0's filled in(depending on modem firmware version):"
Thanks.

[glc]

You sure your Supra even has a speaker? The last ones we bought did not, they were built to connect to a sound card with a jumper cable instead.

[Charles]

No wonder, no speaker here either. I have onboard sound on this system, would that work?

[glc]

It's actually designed to use a mini phone jack patch cable from the speaker output of the modem to the line input of your sound card.