Tips and tricks for improving dial up connection speeds

[forum-admin]

Is your 56k modem connecting at 33.8 or less? Read on, read on!



Ok ok, enough smileys. I was searching through other help sites, and have came across some easy to do trouble shooting steps. These were taken from http://www.56k.com/trouble/connect.shtml#ad

Make sure that you and your Internet service provider use the same 56K protocols. 56K requires that both ends have 56K modems, and they both have to use the same kind of 56K technology (x2, K56flex, or V.90). Despite what you may have heard, V.90 is not the same as x2 or K56flex. It is a third and distinct 56K protocol. Your ISP will be able to tell you which protocol they use.
Some Internet service providers have separate phone numbers for 56K. Make sure you're calling the right number.

I have personally tried the following and have noticed a drastic change in connection speeds!!

If there is a telephone, answering machine, etc., plugged into the back of the modem, unplug it from the back of the modem. The modem is supposed to ignore devices plugged into it when it is online, but that is not always the case.
Try disconnecting additional telephony devices (fax, phones, answering machines, alarm systems, etc.) from the phone line, even if they're in a different room. I've heard from readers whose connect speed jumped 10K when they unplugged a fax machine or cordless phone in another room.
Also try running the phone line directly from the back of the modem to the wall, without passing through surge suppressors, splitters, phone line extenders, etc. This is a basic and useful step in modem troubleshooting.

Make sure your phone line support 56k. Multiple digital/analog conversions will prevent the use of 56K technology and limit your modem to V.34 speeds (a maximum of 33.6K).