Modem speed

Hi, I have a US Robotics Sportster internal modem and have used it on several computers and different operating systems in the four and a half years since I bought it. On my first computer it started out with a connect speed of 48,000 kbps. It now connects at 26,400 kbps. If I disconnect and reconnect from 15 to twenty times the modem will eventually connect at 44,000 kbps. I have the same ISP and until about two weeks ago I could always dial in and connect at 44,000 kbps. I contacted the ISP and they assure me nothing on their end has changed and to contact US Robotics for updated drivers. US Robotics no longer supports this modem because of it's age. Does any one have a sure way to check if it's a modem problem or ISP problem? If the modem is dying I'm considering a US Robotics external. Is that a good choice? As always, thanks in advance for your help. Jack

 

It may be neither...

There could have been recent damage to phone lines or the phone switching equipment...

How's the weather been there lately? Any big storms that may have ******* up phone service?

If you do decide to go with an external modem then USR is an excellent choice. I have one here and when other modems fail to connect to different locations the USR external always comes through.

 

a US Robotics external. Is that a good choice?

I would say yes.

I have had two of them on everything from DOS to Win98 ME and they have not failed me yet. With my 56K I was at 50K 90% of the time.

BillyBob

 

I would go with problems on the phone line from the box on the street to your house. Or the wire you are using to plug into the wall.

Things you can do.

Check for static on the line, if there is complain to the phone company (and dont let them charge you for it! it is their problem).

Check the box on your house, sometimes in massive temp or humidity changes they get wet on the inside and can cause havok with the line. Easy fix is to pop it open for a few hours on a nice day.