Should I replace my 56k modem with a 28.8K Modem?

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shawnmos

Banned
Dec 11, 2000
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Should I replace my onboard(well kinda) 56k winmodem with my old US Robotics 28.8k External modem? The reason I would ask such a thing is because the my first phone line (the one my computers are hooked up to) only connects at 24k because the line is split with someone else. They did this to my dads phone line (2nd line) too but he complamed to Sprint for 3 months straight and finally got them to fix only the second line (with a service charge. Motherfu*kers!!!!!! :| ). So I'm stuck with a internet connection that is SLOW AS HELL!!!! When I try to connect to the internet it takes like 5 min. because it tries to connect at 56K and it keeps trying until it finds a speed it can connect at. I can tell because it keeps making the connecting sound over and over. So hopefully the 28.8K modem will connect faster. Also since it's external it does not block a pci slot and frees up an IRQ because it uses the serial port. Also it isn't a winmodem. What do you think?

P.S. Today my dad got a phone bill from Sprint with like a 1000 calls to the 941-999-999 in Fort Myers, FL for $0.25 each. Also there is a call to that number every min. for I don't know how many mins. A LOT!! Who in their right mind would call a non-existant # every min. for like 24hours straight?? Fu*king Sprint and their stupidity!!!!! I hope they rot in HELL!!!!
 
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jfall

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2000
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I have been doing internet tech support for a long time, and to tell you the truth.. most people with 28.8 & 33.6 modems are able to connect much easier then a 56k v.90 modem, I hate v.90 with a passion, nothing but connection problems, and the long handshake that you are describing is probably being caused by the 56k modem. They actually came out with the v.91 & v.92 protocols, it will be interesting to see how they work out.
 
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etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
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troubleshooting

shawnmos, you should be able to put in a code that will limit the speed of your on-board 56K modem. That should allow it to connect better. The site above has info to identify your chipset and what codes to use.

limiting your connect speed

It's still possible that your hardware modem may give you better speeds. After trying two winmodems, I'm not too impressed with them.
 
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etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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The first was a Genitech LT modem.

It would not connect to one ISP at all and the other at only 33K.
I sent it back.

The one I have now is a Creative Digicom DI3635, good connects in the 49 to 50K range, but it seems to lag when more then one browser is open. Downloads are in the 2 to 3k range. It is noticeably slower then my hardware modem.

I would of kept my USR ISA hardware modem buy I gave it to my Dad to replace his 28.8.

Oh well, maybe I'll splurge and get DSL, it is just now becomming available here.

 
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shawnmos

Banned
Dec 11, 2000
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Crap! My 28.8 modem isn't working!!!! When I plug it in the HS led lights up but insted of the MR led lighting up like it is supposed to the CD led is flashing. No matter what I do it won't stop flashing. I remember this happened a long time ago and that is why I bought a 33.6 modem. What do those leds mean? My modem is a Motorola Lifestyle 28.8. The led lights are MR TR CD RD SD AA OH HS. Also when I would connect it to the computer the TR led would light up. It doesn't do anything now. Please help!
 
Fardringle

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,189
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I have a different model, but my Motorolla external modem only lights up the TR light when I'm actually using the modem, and the CD light flashes whenever I unplug the phone line, so it may be that the line isn't correctly plugged into the modem, or you may have accidentally plugged in the wrong cord? :)
 
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shawnmos

Banned
Dec 11, 2000
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It is connected but maybe it's not making contact with the phone line. I will check it out but I doubt the is the problem since the modem does not respond when commands are sent to it.
 
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H8tank

Banned
Oct 9, 1999
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The reason I would ask such a thing is because the my first phone line (the one my computers are hooked up to) only connects at 24k because the line is split with someone else.
Click to expand...

I would like to hear this explained...
 
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Topochicho

Senior member
Mar 31, 2000
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Well I went with the assumption that he was saying that instead of running new twisted pair for each line, they just wired up to the original set up wires.

Twisted pair comes as 4 or more wires... usually 4. Telephones only use 2 lines for a standard phone connection, so the other 2 wires are just along for the ride. If an installer is lazy he can just wire up the second pair of wires for the second line, but this will cause carryover(hearing people on the other line) and static.

So, due to the line impurities of this badly done install, he is unable to achieve greater than 24k.

OR

He's a little slow in the melon and thinks 2 phone line = half the speed.



KNOCK KNUCK KNUCK... I think this melons a little ripe boy.
 
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shawnmos

Banned
Dec 11, 2000
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All I know is one day the EVIL SPRINT DEMONS came to every house in my neighborhood and fu*ced with their box and now I connect at 24k compared to 48k i had before. My dad called them up and asked them "WHAT THE FU*K DID YOU DO?". They said that they had run out of lines and they had to split them. Whatever the hell that means!!
 
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shawnmos

Banned
Dec 11, 2000
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Moral of the story, NEVER move to a city that uses Sprint as their local telephone provider!!!!!!!!!
 
Fardringle

Fardringle

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2000
9,189
753
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The 'Split Phone Line' phenomenon is known technically as "Pair Gain" which basically means the phone company is using a decoder to split the signal on each individual pair of wires into two separate phone lines. They do this in my area as well. :| So, in effect, instead of having the 56K potential on your particular pair of wires, that potential is then divided in half, giving you a max on each line of 26.4K (and if you are lucky you can occassionally get a 28.8 connection out of it, but not very often) which really sucks for those of us with 56K/V.90 modems, since our modems will never get a good enough signal to even attempt to connect at higher speeds.. :(
 
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fargus

Senior member
Jan 2, 2001
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I wouldn't hold my breath for the the v.91 & v.92 protocols. I'm an engineer for a company that sells equipment to ISP's, and none of the ones I know are talking about implementing it, especially after the pain of upgrading from v.34 to 56k. You can buy the modem, but if the ISP doesn't offer the protocol, fuhgedaboudit.
 
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etech

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
10,597
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sonic.net

The phone company also sometimes conserves copper wire by digitally multiplexing calls together, separating them at a junction box in your neighborhood, converting them to analog again and routing them to you. This is called a "line concentrator" or "pair-gain" circuit. While a full discussion of the mechanics of analog-to-digital conversion lies outside the scope of this article, let it suffice to say that the process is inherently damaging to the signal. In a normal voice-to-voice conversation this is unnoticeable. However, a data connection under 56k protocols can not be achieved if the signal is subjected to more than one conversion. As phone companies are continually having to find new ways to route an increasing volume of call traffic, multiple digital-to-analog conversions are becoming more common.


One of the rumors on the net when 56k modems first came out was that if you signed up for Caller ID the phone company would have to give you a seperate line. I don't know if this is true or not. If someone can confirm it, then it may be worth looking into to get a seperate line again.
 
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Cybordolphin

Platinum Member
Oct 25, 1999
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Interesting..

If you ask for Caller ID you might get a seperate NON pair gain line!??

That sounds too good to be true! Anyone else ever heard of that? I would imagine that my phone company would simply tell me that I cannot get caller ID. They insist that nothing can be done to get around the pair gain here.
Mf$$kers. They knew full well that with the future of internet that this would create a major problem. Try getting DSL products too..... you will be limited to half the performance there as well. Sure wish satellite would gain faster upload speeds. Looks like that may happen some day soon.

This whole pair gain deal just really pisses me off.
 
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