Modem Speed Degenerates--Why?

[MarkTwain]

Recently my dial-up modem (external US Robotics 56K V90 faxmodem) speed on my desktop PC has degenerated from a tolerable 49-50 Kbps to an intolerable 38 Kbps. I can’t account for this loss of speed.

When I access the same ISP (EarthLink) with my notebook (HP Pavilion ze4300) using the same phone line and a 56K internal modem, the dialup speed is always around 50 Kbps.

What gives?

My desktop PC is a 600 Mhz AMD-K7(m), running under W2K (SP4), with 327 Mghz of RAM. I’m running with ZoneAlarm, GhostSurf, SpamKiller and AVG Anti-Virus programs.

I can’t afford cable or DSL, not when I’m paying $1100 a month in rent!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions to this puzzle....

[glc]

What's the exact model USR? Serial or USB? Have you tried an alternate local access number?

USR's can report a low initial connect speed, then "train" upwards, unlike other modems that connect high and train down. Has your actual throughput decreased?

By the way - if you look carefully, you may be able to get DSL for not much more than you are paying for your dialup account - and there's a side benefit of freeing up your phone line and (depending on your telco plan) no longer paying for each call.

[MarkTwain]

GLC -

The serial USR Model no. is 0648.

Throughput has definitely decreased...

I haven't tried an alternate dialup #, but my notebook accesses the
same dialup # at 50.2 Kbps--strange!

While my EarthLink account is only $4.95 month, when I add both my
land-line and cell-phone accounts, I can't afford any more services!

Thanks for your quick reply.

[palloco]

Had you tried adaware and Spybot?

[MarkTwain]

I'm currently using SpyBot....

[MarkTwain]

Originally Posted by glc What's the exact model USR? Serial or USB? Have you tried an alternate local access number? USR's can report a low initial connect speed, then "train" upwards, unlike other modems that connect high and train down. Has your actual throughput decreased? By the way - if you look carefully, you may be able to get DSL for not much more than you are paying for your dialup account - and there's a side benefit of freeing up your phone line and (depending on your telco plan) no longer paying for each call.

GLC -

I should add that when I'm accessing Web pages with either Mozilla or
IE with the desktop PC, I keep getting "This page cannot be found" messages,
and the pages don't load. I suspect this is connected to the degeneration in
dialup speed.

BTW, I tried an alternate local dialup # and got the same 37 Kbps speed....

[glc]

0648 is a generic model - need to be more specific, please. Is it a 5686 variant?

Run modem diagnostics in Windows, and look at the ATI7 responses - this should give you the full model number and firmware revision level.

Check your com port settings in device manager - they should be 115200, 8, none, 1, hardware.

Is your notebook giving you 50k using the exact SAME jack and cable?

[MarkTwain]

GLC -

The USR modem is a Sportster 00568602, Model 0648.

The Desktop PC USR modem uses the same jack (with a dual-jack adapter) as the notebook, but a different cable.

Trying the USR straight into the jack, without the adapter, makes no
difference, still that crummy 37 Kbps....