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HELP TOPICS
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Question:
Why am I getting slow connect speeds and/or
frequent disconnects?
Answer:
Several things can cause slow connection
speeds or frequent disconnects. Some are very fixable, others are not.
Here are the most common causes of problems of this nature:
- Your modem. The type of modem used may play the biggest role in
how well you connect to our servers. Not all modems are created equal and
even a brand new modem that says it is "V.90 compatible" does not guarantee
good performance.
Winmodems, host-based, HCF-, HSP-, HSF-, controllerless, host-controlled,
and soft modems use vendor-supplied software to do the work of proper
hardware modems. The sale of these devices for PCs has become very popular,
due to their low cost, and many new PCs use them. Such software-based
modems often perform poorly, leading to slow or unstable connections.
We recommend the ZOOM PCI V.90 modem or a similar hardware modem for best
performance. These are typically priced from $40-$60 and are available
from most major computer retailers.
- Your Modem's Drivers and Firmware. These need to be up-to-date to
ensure the best performance. You can usually download both drivers and
firmware updates from your modem manufacturer's web site. Even if your
modem is brand new, that is not always a guarantee that the drivers and
firmware are the latest. The firmware is important because it dictates
the language and rules that the modem uses when connecting to us.
At Owensboro Online, we work constantly to
stay current on our modem upgrades. If we upgrade a few times and your
modem is not running the latest firmware, it is possible the two modems
(yours and ours) negotiating your connection may not communicate
efficiently, thus resulting in errors, slow connections speeds or even
disconnects. This can also sometimes explain why customers who have
typically connected at a given speed may see the speed or stability
of their connection change.
A good source for drivers and firmware for all your computer components
is: http://www.windrivers.com/.
- Initialization (Init) strings. These are command codes used to
force your modem to behave in a certain manner. These commands can be used
to either increase or limit connection speeds to a stable speed that works
best for you. This takes a bit of experimenting to find the setup that
works best for you.
A good source for init strings and all the latest information on the world
of V.90 is this web site.
Init strings are placed in the advanced settings of your dialer. There is
step-by-step instruction on how to do this at the page with your Init
strings. Also, dropping the connection speed setting in your dialer to
57,600 may help as well -- it's often worth a try.
Another tool to help optimize your connection is a program called
boost_ppp.exe. This will help in your Max MTU settings. (Note: we do
not provide tech support for this program.) You can download it free
from this site.
- Your Phone Line. Everyone would like to believe all phone lines
are great and can achieve V.90 speeds. The unfortunate truth is that not
all lines can - and that isn't limited to the lines inside your home. The
phone lines in your area, as well as the phone switches and boxes they
route to, all play a part in how good your modem connection can be. If
the lines or switch are subpar, your connection may suffer. Not
surprisingly, weather can affect your connection as well.
In Indiana and Kentucky, the current phone line standard calls for a
minimum 14,400 bps data connection. As long as you can get this speed,
the phone company has met its legal obligation. Yes, that means that
some of us are limited to slow connection speeds due to subpar lines
and the phone company is not required to provide relief.
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