Modem Help

[mike L]

I seem to be having some problems with my as of the last week when I go to download anything my download speed is only 1.5 to 2kbs, when previously I would download at 4 to 4.5kbs. I updated my drivers,talked to my ISP he said something about "compression". and It dosen't matter what time of day I download at I can't get above 2kbs. My modem is a USR 56k V.90 Voice winmodem "PCI" according to DELL.Running Windows98,any advice would help greatly. Thanks

[scotter]

reinstall the old driver and see if that fixes it also make sure you downloaded the right drivers for your modem.
you can also try here so realy gr8 links for modem trouble shooting http://www.jps.net/rustyw2/modems.htm

[Pantion]

It must be the data compression used by the modem. Check this page it has lots of common tweaks for the modem
http://www.tweak3d.net/tweak/modem/

To enable compression go to Control Panel, System, Device Manager, Modem, double click your modem, then Connection tab, click on Advanced button, there "Compress data" should be checked and unde flow control choose Hardware [RTS/CTS}. if isn't.

Also on extra settings you can put the AT commands that enable your modem's compression method. Check the manual or manufacturer website for such commands.

If everything is as it should then it must be some drivers or firmware problem. Check you modem's manufacturer website.

[This message has been edited by Pantion (edited 11-16-1999).]

[Axel]

When you called your ISP, did they walk you through blowing away and rebuilding your dial-up networking connectoid and checking all the settings on it? (my computer - dial-up networking - right-click for properties. - check connect speed here)
Did they walk you through your device manager under system in control panel to see if your modem had any conflicts with anything else going on?
Do you have Seti@home running when you download?
Did they walk you through control panel - modem, properties to make sure you actually had the correct modem chosen from the list with the correct driver installed - you could go through deleting out the modem ( after first checking you had a good driver disk/ or downloading the latest driver) and having the system auto-detect it again and rebuilding the settings just to make sure.
Did you update your anti-virus definitions and run a sweep just to be sure?

As for altering the control string for the modem and playing with AT and S registers, most modems and ISP's don't require this as it is beyond most users. Play with these if you like, but plan on re-installing if anything weird happens. ( I used to build modem strings when 9600 BAUD was new, but haven't felt the need after the 14,400's disappeared from the scene )

Then there's always the possibility that you're modem is going out. Failures don't always show up as "it won't work at all"...

Anyway - best of luck - hope you find whatever is slowing you down. - might not be you- could be the ISP after all - have you tried getting on a fast local BBS to test connect speed?

[mike L]

Thanks for help, I've done everything you all suggested except for the AT strings don't understand those enough. Maybe the modem is about to croak? Well I'll keep messing around with it. Thanks again.

[mac]

could be just a phone line problem that has just happened lately that is causing the problem.call your phone company and have them check the phone lines out.

[mike L]

Hopefully It's just the phone line,might as well get something from paying for wiring maintenance from Ma Bell, Thanks

[Oldtimer]

I had similar troubles with a PCI modem, and the speed dropped to 100 bits etc at times. About drove me crazy, I finally opted for an external 3COM USR 56K modem, which has a beautiful diagnostic modem master window that pops up, showing all of the stages of connect and disconnect, including the signal level and you can watch the stream. I was amazed that my incoming level was clear down to the base line. I thought sure it was telephone line problems, but nahhh -- finally I discovered one telephone a Radio Shack 200 memory job, which performance wise was ok, but disconnecting that phone- the input stream line for the ISP connect jumped to full level, when that happened the download speeds went up to peaks of 5KB at times per second... Check your phones out if you have a bunch on them on the same shared line..
OLDTIMER

[DUSTYRUN]

I can think of a couple of options if it helps.
1. call your phone company and ask for a signal check. {its free}
2. go to modemhelp.com. they have some good stuff.
3. try a program called netmedic at vitalsigns.com It is 30 days free.
4. try old drivers
I don't know much but of all the problems i have had, most of them has been with my modem. good luck!!

[mike L]

Thank's to everyone for the help. After trying all of the ideas. to no avail I went and reinstalled a back-up and my modem is back to downloading at 4.5+. after racking my brain on how this happened I remembered that windrivers.com had a site that would check your modem speed and through put and ever since then is when my modem started slowing down. anyways things are back to normal Thank you all..