Dial-up connection woes

April 10, 2004 4:17 AM

I am on a 28.8k dial up. Bleh. However, My modem is a 56K and I used to get 53.3k. One day I just started getting the lower speed. I tried that line check number that U.S. Robotics has, but it is always busy (though, I tried it when we moved in here and it indicated that our line was fine for 56k). I've swapped out the modem. I've changed ISPs. I've tinkered with the modem settings (though I'm no modem expert). Frankly, I've resigned myself to the low connection speed. Now, I'm thinking AxMe... time to take the power back! Any ideas?
posted by pissfactory to Computers & Internet (15 answers total)

Have you talked to your phone company? They're usually not very helpful but if there is an obvious problem with you phone line they might be able to clear it up.
posted by Tenuki at 4:57 AM on April 10, 2004

If you've changed ISPs and modems, then the only two constants left are your computer, and your line. Bring your computer to another house, try to connect. Bring another computer over to your house, try to connect. Somewhere between the two, you'll know where the problem is.

Also: Seriously consider broadband, if it's available in your area.
posted by Jairus at 5:19 AM on April 10, 2004

yep. I started getting terrible connects with my phone line awhile ago when i was still dialup, and when I picked up the phone i heard BAD STATIC (ie line noise). It's possible you're getting a terrible connect due to a bad phone line. You should be able to audibly notice this on your line if you pick it up (i think) and if so, well, get the phone company out there to fix it. There's so many stops in between you and the CO that it's quite possible that a problem has occured in between that needs to be fixed. good luck.
posted by fishfucker at 6:29 AM on April 10, 2004

yeah. perhaps the CO shouldn't matter as far as dialup goes, i think. i don't know what i'm talking about, possibly. but hey, it's six am. what i mean to say is that there may be interference somewhere on your line, and if that's present, it'll seriously cut into your speed. and yeah. i have to echo the other folks and say: broadband is seriously fucking worth it.
posted by fishfucker at 6:31 AM on April 10, 2004

I have family who lives in an old (~100 year) house and when they got a computer for the first time they complained about it not dialing up at all. The phone company told them they'd have to run new copper lines to fix it which was a hefty sum. The problem was a simple one (*9 was prefixed to the phone number), but if you call the telco they MIGHT stick you with a heavy fee if it is just old, degarding lines.
posted by geoff. at 8:52 AM on April 10, 2004

If you do talk to the phone company about it DO NOT complain about modem connections. Keep it all about voice quality. They won't typically come out or work on things at all for modem connections as they do not guarantee their lines for modem use.

If you tell them you're getting horrible static during voice calls they will at least give it a look.
posted by answergrape at 8:55 AM on April 10, 2004

One useful diagnostic would be plugging the modem directly into your network interface box, if that's accessible--if you get better connect speeds, it means the problem is in your house wiring.

I'm not sure about this, but I think that if you've got electrical wiring very close to your telephone line in the house, that could generate interference and degrade your signal. Plugged in any hair dryers lately?
posted by adamrice at 8:56 AM on April 10, 2004

Have you tried all the other phone jacks in the house? It could be that the one you're using is messed up.
posted by amberglow at 9:34 AM on April 10, 2004

If you have other devices connected to your phone line such as fax machines, answer phones, etc then this can occasionally have an effect. Unplug as many devices, extensions, etc and plug the modem directly into the phone socket and try again.
posted by dodgygeezer at 9:47 AM on April 10, 2004

was going to suggest what amberglow said - at my in-laws place, only two of the three phone jacks are worth trying for dial-up. one gives a consistently shoddy, oft-disconnected and very slow connection; the other two fairly quickly establish 48+ kbps connections. if you have access to another jack its the first thing i'd try.

second could be line quality, outside the place you live; my brother used to get fast dial-up, then moved across town - some switchbox somewhere between himself and the dial-up server was not quite right, limiting him to about 28.8 kbps.

if that's the case i'd definitely make it a voice-quality issue, as suggested - good idea.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:56 AM on April 10, 2004

One more thing - have you recently updated your driver, say, from the Windows update site? I made the mistake of doing that and saw my modem speed go from 46.6 kbps and upward down to 45.2 kbps, where it would always stay. Fortunately, Windows XP's driver rollback allowed me to go back to my old un-updated modem driver and all is well once again. I'm currently on at 50.6 kbps
posted by Lynsey at 2:12 PM on April 10, 2004

I'm with BT for my phone line and ISP and I've got my connection optimised for internet usage and I'm getting a speedy 50k without any adverse effect to my speech.
posted by feelinglistless at 4:52 PM on April 10, 2004

Response by poster: "I'm with BT for my phone line and ISP and I've got my connection optimised for internet usage and I'm getting a speedy 50k without any adverse effect to my speech." What does that mean?
posted by pissfactory at 5:07 PM on April 10, 2004

Sorry. It was late at night when I posted that. What it means is that I called the technical support department at British Telecom and asked them to change the setting at the electronic exchange and how it interacted with our phone line to increase the gain on the line so that it would be optimised for using the internet. It doesn't work on all phone lines because there is the possibility of creating an echo on voice calls (which is why its not a default setting) but ours has been fine. If you're in the UK you can call BT on 150 and ask them about it -- it did significantly increase the download speed.
posted by feelinglistless at 6:37 AM on April 11, 2004

The phone company can put 2 subscribers on one line with a Subscriber Line Interface Concentrator (SLIC). If they do this, you will not get more than 28.8 no matter what you do.

It sounds like this has happened to you.

Some phone companies will switch you to a non-split line if you can get to talk to the right person who understands the problem. OTOH, if you are in a rural location and there is only one pair feeding you and your neighbor, there may be no alternative. Good luck.
posted by Geo at 4:05 PM on April 11, 2004