Pro and Con for Dr. Speed

[hodunwun]

I live in the country and dsl or cable isp service is not available. There is satelite but too pricey for me. Has anyone had any direct experience with Dr. Speed? Not heresay but have actually installed it and used it? I am running a v 92 modem and my usual speed is 26 kbaud. Thanks for any coment.
doug

[glc]

You can't really do much of anything when your phone line limits you to those speeds.

[dave computer]

I'm with you. I run 24 kbs. Its terrible. I can't get dsl either.

[morriswindgate]

No matter what the software states, it cannot overcome the limitations of the copper wire. Although one thing you can do that many time will increase speed is get rid of the WinModem that most computers have installed in them and get a controller based modem.

[hodunwun]

Thanks for you feedback, guys. Dr. Speed does not claim to increase bandwidth. They say the speed comes form remembering websites so they don't need to be searched for.
They also say that there software confingures the connection to best fit the idividual computer. That's what they say. But?????????. Another brand states that it "learns" and gets faster as time goes on. It is frustrating running a powerful computer that wants to suck up as much bandwith availble and be limited to slow loading of net sites. Any comments from any one who has actually used speed up software?
doug.

[morriswindgate]

Go to this site and put your cursor over "Menu" on the left side of the page, it will give you suggestions for making sure that you Modem is set to the best settings. Internet explorer already has the capability to remember websites> It is called Auto_Complete, temporary internet files and history. THese programs basically do nothing that you cannot already do yourself with the information available on the web. ANd manytimes these programs contain spyware and other tracking software.

http://tweakhomepc.virtualave.net/mo...dem_intro.html

[hodunwun]

Thanks Morris. I'm on my way to the website.

[RoyKelly]

I know what you mean about a fast computer and slow connections, but as has bee said earlier, you can't overcome the limitations of your copper wire.

I live in the country too, and searched for four years for a ay to speed up my internet connection, and found nothing that worked. US West, now Qwest was no help. Then they sold the lines to a small local company that installed fiber to the house. This boosted my speed from around 14.4 to 44 Kbs.

This was a vast improvement, but it gets even better. In August they offered DSL over Fiber with free installation. 256 Kbs for 69.95/mo, 512 KLbs 79.95/mo, and 1Mbs for 89.95/mo.

Now, I enjoy almost all the conveniences of town living, without the crowding, crime and hearing the neighbour's fight. From this month's phone bill, we will be able to have cable tv as soon as the phone company gets an agreement with a cable provider. YEAH!


The bottom line is talk to your phone comapny to find out what kind of cable you have to where.

Also check your choices. You may have the option of a different phone company, that will help you with your speed problem.

[brentconn]

There is a software interface technique you can use with modem technology called "shotgunning". I didn't believe it until I saw it in action for myself. Shotgun software is installed in all SupraExpress 56K modems. Here is a site I just found.

http://www.ihot.com/shotgun.html[/url]

This technology works and the monthly fee is minimal.

[brentconn]

Another note to all who think phone lines are all that limited. Phone lines are able to carry much more data than you are limited to now. It is the government that has put a restriction on data flow through standard phone lines. Try this experiment:
If you have a download manager, start downloading a file off the net, but only download for15 seconds or so. Then stop it. Look at the size of the file. Frequently these files are 150 K or more! Pipe bursts prove that phone lines are hampered by federal restrictions.

[glc]

"Shotgun" was just 2 Supras in 1 box that required 2 phone lines and a cooperative ISP. It was made obsolete by Win98 and multilinking capability. In our remote office, we multilinked a Zoom and a Best Data modem and got about 100K until DSL was available.

The only restrictions the government has placed on the phone lines is the power they are allowed to push through them, simply to avoid crosstalk and bleedover. Remember that we are talking about analog technology here, not digital. DSL goes through the SAME copper phone lines - and it's digital.

[hodunwun]

Went to the Pitstop site and had them check out my system. I found out the hard drive was being significantly encumbered by my continuous antivirus scan for the net. I disabled the scan leaving the email scan on and noticed a significant pick up in speed. Had pitstop recheck the system and the hardrive problem was gone. Since this is just a home computer and not on a LAN, the only way I can think of getting a virus is via email or some one elses zip disk or floply. So I am going to leave the auto internet scan off. I think Windows will warn me about any dangerous sites, right?? Is is posssible that a virus can come by way of browsing to a web site?? Maybe this should be on a different forum channel? Pitstop site is great. Thanks again Morris.

[hodunwun]

Roy, I am out in the country on copper lines about five miles from the nearest phone hub. I get online highest at 28 k and for some reason my next door neighbor gets online at 43 k using line checker on both systems. I have been through the phone company route [Quest] and they said my line was on some kind of splitter and they would not do anything about it. I will try your suggestion about changing phone company: just recently, here iin Western Washington, we have a new local alternative. I just can't remember the name.

[glc]

Your phone line is digitally split (Pair Gain) and changing phone companies won't change that. Your only chance is talking them into finding you an open pair that's not split. It's a lot cheaper for the telcos to split lines than run new ones when the demand exceeds the infrastructure.

Sounds like you are using McAfee - the best thing you can do to your computer is get rid of it and use a less bloated and intrusive product.