Ok, I organized my thoughts finally. PCTel HSP56 Modem Q.

[StarKnightGoku]

Ok, I don't know if any of you are familiar with this modem, but I just got one from US-Depot.com, and at v.92 it won't connect at more than 40kbps, unlike my old Conextant that I got back in 1999 with the computer I'm using that connected at an average of 48kbps (and actually let me move around in Ultima Online, I might add..) and I was curious if any of you could assist me in getting this modem up to speed.

Thanks for any help you guys can give me, as you've always been able to solve my problems, or at least open my eyes to the obvious solution.

[NoSmartz]

did you bump up your speed setting to 115,200?

E

[StarKnightGoku]

That's what the default was (So I'll go with a yes, on that one...sort of) and it's still at.

[NoSmartz]

The only other thing I can tell is is the old standby,line noise.I have 2 pc's here in dallas and one connects at 49.2 and the other connects at 52.Like clockwork.I installed a new modem in my mother's pc last year and it connected at 36(rural area of texas).Went to her neighbors house to look at his connection speed on his new Dell,20.6.This is significant cause my moms pc is 3 years old runnin' WinMe.
Dial up modems,go figure.

E

[StarKnightGoku]

Hm. Well, I guess I'll swap back to my Conextant, and hope for better results.

Stupid waste of time and money, this was...

[NoSmartz]

if you ever want to spend less on a modem go to Fry's online.They have decent modems for 10.00 plus most of the time if you look carefully they will usually be a 10.00 rebate so they end up being free!!!
I would also go back to your old modem.

E

[StarKnightGoku]

*shrugs* I only spent $6.97 on this one, and got 10% back from PayPal

[pranav81]

I have got a Intel V.92 modem which I got with my computer.It's really fast for dial-up as it connects at 52.4 Kbps,while my friends top 45 Kbps at the max.


::Pranav::

[StarKnightGoku]

I just switched back to my Conextant, and I'm happy to say that I'm connecting at 46.6k, and can load TWO, yes TWO pages at the same time and not wait a long time, as well as walk around in Ultima.

Now what to do about this other modem...it'd cost more to send it back than it's worth, and I don't know anyone who needs a new modem that I can sucker into it...

[LoneWolf]

HFS/HSP/HCF modems are inexpensive and generic, and if you're getting 40kbps, you're probably doing well.

Cheap modems from Conexant/PCTel use your computer's CPU for some of the modem's DSP functions, meaning that if your computer is at high CPU usage from other apps, modem speeds and transmission quality may suffer, or the modem may even drop connection. If you have to use a modem and want top quality, you'll need to spend the bucks and get a hardware DSP modem, such as the 3com/US Robotics Pro, or an external such as the 56k Sportster or Courier V.Everything. Even when these don't connect at top speed, they're much more resistant to line noise than others; extensive testing has proven it again and again.

[wicked1]

I had a courier v.everything before I got dsl and I agree they are wonderful modems. They would connect at 48K whereas the motherboards builtin modem would do 52 but the courier was still faster. Modems can upshift and downshift speeds without changing the status on your screen.The cheaper modems may initially connect faster but quickly downshift due to their lower quality.The Courier will tend to be conservative at the initial connect stage but either stay there or go up in speed generally not down.

[wicked1]

I jumped on ebay to see what the couriers were going for and found an external for $20 shipped. I bought it for my parents computer as their modem sucks.

[NoSmartz]

wicked1'
what was your max d'load with the dial up modem?
I just switched using from one pc to another and I went from 5.4k to 6.
The 6k one is one of those cheap PcTel's.

E

[wicked1]

Around 6K area is what my max was.

[NoSmartz]

That's sounds right,thanx wicked.

E

[LoneWolf]

I had a courier v.everything before I got dsl and I agree they are wonderful modems. They would connect at 48K whereas the motherboards builtin modem would do 52 but the courier was still faster. Modems can upshift and downshift speeds without changing the status on your screen.The cheaper modems may initially connect faster but quickly downshift due to their lower quality.The Courier will tend to be conservative at the initial connect stage but either stay there or go up in speed generally not down.

Still own my Courier V.Everything. Best doggone modem on the planet. I've had broadband for some time, but I keep the Courier, just in case I someday move to somewhere where broadband isn't available (heaven forbid).