Possible Dialup Speedfix?

[Kubie]

Read this over at Langalist and it might help someone on dialup.

But, as a kind of coda to the "Magic Fixes" discussion over at
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20020530S0002 , reader Willard
Matheson sent in this odd but valid hardware fix for an unusual kind of
slow modem problem. If your setup is like his, it might help:

This is not magic, simple electromagnetic theory! For too
long I couldn t download faster than 28K with a 56K modem. My
ISP insisted that was the best I could do with ten miles of
overhead telephone lines between us.

After all the usual checks I finally found the problem an
automatic fax switch. These devices are operated by 12 volts
dc supplied by a 115 volt ac transformer. The magnetic field
at the switch is just enough to keep the connection knocked
down to 28K. Replacing the powered switch with a mechanical
switch immediately allowed me to connect at 50K. (As an
electrical engineer I should have thought of it sooner).

Carl

[SARGE]

Originally posted by Carlgif The magnetic field at the switch is just enough to keep the connection knocked down to 28K. Carl

Seen the same symptoms when wire to modem jack ran through the attic and across a flourescent light fixture. When the light was on, speeds dropped greatly. You know who found and fixed that.

[brad2thebone]

One might say.......
OMG! Don't make me chase the wires underneath the counter. There is such a rat's nest of cabling for the the phonefaxzipserverslavelights&such under there. Please don't make me do it, you can't make me do it, I won't do it. No No Noooo!

Thanks.

[old dog]

Had a similar problem. The inline stepdown transformer that goes to my HP printer was sitting on top of my phone cord. Caused all sorts of weirdness, corrupt downloads and slow download speeds. I believe its called EMI interference.