jlanger

Question for the computer techs out there. My modem speeds at the moment are an abysmal 24k. Here's what I've tried.
I called the phone company and the lines are a ok.
Tried to slow my modem speed down.
Tried various phone jacks in the apartment.
Tried my wife's computer.
All to no luck.
I know that I coudl get broadband or DSL for 30-50 a month but currently I am getting the net for free from school. (my wife's a grad student) and don't really want to spend that much on the net. I woudl be willing to buy a piece of equipment or other tool to make it any faster but am clueless as to what I can do. The phone company told me that I am basically screwed as they say my position on the line is what is making it so slow.
Any suggestions?

rowan

Your modem maybe 56K capable, but if you're dialing into a university free account, chances are that their modems are only 33.6K. (56K is much more expensive to support on the ISP side). So that could be your problem right there.

Remember that typically modem (connection) speeds are measured in bits (small b) while transfer (download) speeds are measured in Bytes (big B). 1 Byte === 8 bits so remember to divide your modem speed by 8 to get an approximation of your maximum transfer rates (which you will never achieve).

Sweedenhouse

Dude, you won't even notice the 30-50 dollars a month once you got a broadband connection. There ain;t **** you can do with your dial-up connection right now. So you got two choices, fork out the chedda for the speed or just suck it up and deal with what you got.

jlanger

Yea I have pretty much come to the conculsion that I'm stuck with this frickin slow speed. At our old apartment we usually got 48-50k with the same service. Oh well. $50 a month is what a garage rent cost here and I woudl be more willing ot spend it on htat then internet. Anyone know a good broadband service for 20? Doubt any exist but just thought I'd try!

rowan

If you know people that live close to you...
Get one person to spring for a broadband connection and split it between the 3 or 4 of you using some wireless networking gear

azrakain

I used to troubleshoot computers for Gateway Computers over the phone and sometimes its the easiest answer that evades everyone. I'm not saying this will work but try another phone cord. If the cord is longer that about 5 feet than that will slow you down and cause you to get disconnected and maybe ever not connect at all. As for over 56K thats not gonna happen. Back when I had a 33.6K modem i used to get a message saying that I connected at 146.8K all the time. What are the chances that you would connect at the same rate every time? Also there are federaly regulations on dial up internet speeds. I believe its somewhere between 54 and 57K. You should not and will not actually connect faster than that unless you're on DSL, CABLE, ISDN, T1, T3, OC2 or any of the other "broad band" connections. Try the cable and if that doesn't work and you can't deal with the slow *** connection speeds than get cable. Its worth every penny. Also be careful about sharring with neighbors. The cable company can tell how many systems are using one connection....If you use a Hub they will bust your *** in a second. Use a DSL/Cable router as they have built in FIREWALLS and the cable company won't be the wiser. Not sure if routers are available wireless either. My cable company made me sign **** saying if I wanted another computer to use cable in the house I would pay for extra IP addresses.

THE END

sorry it was so long.....