Cactus TurboNet Newsletter June 2007               

Optimizing your Dial-up Connection

 

Long Phone Lines

The longer the phone line, the more impedance and, consequently, the higher the noise.  You might not hear the noise yourself, but modems are much more sensitive than your ear.  Ionized air blowing across a long phone line is even worse.  But the worst are thunderstorms.  During a thunderstorm, high voltages are generated in long phone lines and these definitely damage modems (even if the computer is turned off).  The high voltages destroy the line amplifiers in the modem.  The destruction can be complete (the modem quits working), mild (slows down the modem) or in between (the modem has a hard time connecting and staying connected).  A big thunderstorm will ruin dozens of modems in our area.  If the modem is protected by a surge supporssor, a thunderstorm can destroy the surge suppressor, creating the same symptoms as mentioned above for a bad modem.  Most rural modems last no more than a year before taking on at least some damage.

 

Solution:  Replace your modem fairly often – every year or two.  It can be worthwhile investing in a more expensive modem, as they are generally more able to cope with the noise on a long phone line.  You be the judge whether the extra speed is worth the extra money.

 

Older Modems

 

If you purchased your modem before 2005, it’s worthwhile upgrading the drivers.  The early V.92 modems came with drivers which were written before the standard was complete, and don’t talk well with modern dial-up servers.  Note the exact model number of your modem and search the Internet for a new driver, then install it.

 

Failure to Connect

 

If your modem doesn’t always connect the first time (and you don’t want to replace it yet), it is worthwhile moving the maximum connection speed down, so your modem doesn’t have to try all of the unattainably fast speeds before it gets down to the speeds you can reasonably get.  If this negotiation process takes too long, your modem will give up. 

 

In Windows XP, go to the Start button and click Control Panel.  If there are fewer than 20 icons, click on Switch to Classic View in the upper left.  Double-click Phone and Modems.  Click the Modem tab, then the Properties button.  Click the Advanced tab up above.  In the box under Extra initialization commands, type either (capitalization is important) +MS=V90 or +MS=V34.  The V34 is best if your phone lines won’t support speeds over 33,600.  The V90 is useful for better phone lines if the modem has bad drivers, is damaged or substandard.

 

If you have a PCTEL V.90 or an HSP Micromodem, we haven’t been able to find new drivers for them, and the V90 support is flawed.  They should be stepped down to V34 as above.

 

Modem Etiquette

 

We would appreciate it if everyone whould try hard to remember to disconnect after they’re finished using the Internet.  Leaving your computer connected may not cause you trouble if you have a second phone line, but it does cause extra expense for both your ISP and your phone company.