Is there a way to optimise modem performance?

[Star Cannon]

Sometimes, when downloading something on my 56k modem, I see this:

15k/sec. And then it slowly ticks down to about 5 or 4 kilos. What's with that?!

Star Cannon

[Boneca]

That's just due to network traffic or phone line noise, isn't it? If you have the correct drivers for your modem type, I don't think there is much you can do.
But I don't know much about modems, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[file cabinet]

I always thought that was because you spent a moment or two selecting where you want the file saved while in fact it has already started downloading, so then when it shows the progress meter it doesn't start the average at when it first starts downloading but starts after you click 'save' which then gets the average from the partially downloaded file so it will say 15kb/sec or something to catch up to where the current file is at.. but.. I could be wrong.. I think is an IE only problem.. but I can't be sure

[Claverhouse]

This seems to help a bit, although tedious...

Go to the site and download Cablenut free; after installing ( having closed your connection and all apps ) go back to this page

Cablenut 56k tweaks for all OSs (http://www.broadbandnuts.com/index.php?board=11;action=display;threadid=1361)

Open Cablenut at the menu in the start folder at Cablenut/css/56k/56_9X (for Win95-98/ME ) or 56_2K ( for Win 2000/XP ).

Copy the values one by one into the slots. Press save to registry.

It also has default settings for adsl etc., but this is a custom file.

Do the other stuff like backing up the old settings, such as they are, first.

Broadbandnuts is one of the few sites that helps with this stuff... Configuring modems/connections is not fun in any OS. Especially if you aren't into computers, except for using them. Eventually we'll all just have broadband and have no problems. I hope.


Claverhouse :ph34r:

[HackerX]

Sometimes, when downloading something on my 56k modem, I see this:

15k/sec. And then it slowly ticks down to about 5 or 4 kilos. What's with that?!

Star Cannon

I know that IE at least (I have no idea for firefox etc) starts downloading to a temp file as soon as you click the link (before you see any dialog box as to where to save it). Since the first section of the download has already been downloaded locally, it shows the extra speed boost initially before it "slows" down.

As for real speed, it all depends on compression (the speed displayed is the uncompressed amount of data, not what is really being downloaded) and the locality of the server compared to you.

[nona]

(The following assumes you are having problems on several sites, not just one particular one)

Your connection speed and resulting DL times also depends on how new your phone lines are, etc. (older is often better) Newer houses and newer services are often on "slicks" that use a lot of A/D -- D/A convereters on the lines (to multiplex more calls onto one strand of copper or fibre) these tend butcher the signal to the point you can't get a reliable 56k connection. Phone companies arn't required to provide you a connection that will support 56k so often they don't and no amount of complaining will help.

I have heard the only complaint you can make to a phone company that will get them to move you off a multiplexed line is if you call and complain that you often hear other peoples converstations. they will switch you to another wire rather then actualy try to trouble shoot the problem.

Now, how do you know what kind of line you are on? I found out by buying a US Robotics courier modem. This is the same type of modem most ISPs use on their end of the connection MSRP was like 300 each back in the day but you can get them for 19 bucks on e-bay. THis modem supports a pretty hefty set of phone line diagnostic tools. (though other modems also have similar capabilities.)

DO a google search for: phone line diagnostics us robotics courier (use your modem name) and you can turn up some handy info for testing your line.

THis may or may not be the trouble. Remember, Windows doen't always report the actual connection speed correctly on handshake so you DL speed is possibly an accurate assesment of how fast you are really connected. and/or the quality of your connection.

[melancholeric]

I know that IE at least (I have no idea for firefox etc) starts downloading to a temp file as soon as you click the link (before you see any dialog box as to where to save it). Since the first section of the download has already been downloaded locally, it shows the extra speed boost initially before it "slows" down.
Opera does the same. 56k modem can't download more than about 5-6 k/s.

[spirilis]

Realistically you shouldn't be getting more than 5-6KBps on a true 56000bps link.
If you're seeing higher than that, chances are it's a website whose webserver is using GZip compression (e.g. mod_gzip for apache I think), and the textual content is highly compressable. Web browsers usually support this, so while you're physically pulling data at 5-6KBps, it appears you're d/l'ing at 15KBps because the data is being compressed before hitting the dialup link, and uncompressed after. This is a great feature but it's only effective for textual data and binary data which isn't already compressed. Most files you download (zip, .tar.gz, pdf, etc.) are usually compressed already, thus they can't be compressed much better, therefore you see them download at the more realistic rate of 5-6KBps.

[Claverhouse]

Personally, I didn't find any diagnostic tools for Creative using that search; but I found this useful site for dial-up modems.

Modemsite (http://modemsite.com/56k/index.asp)



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Hawkon]

you can always setup a script that sets the priority for syn/ack's at #1. Read about this a while ago, so I can't remember all of it, but it basicly sent the reply to the host that you've got the previous packet. It'd make the host send a new packet, say, when you just recieved the previous packet if you know where I'm going. Your host wouldn't wait for an acknowledgment before sending the next packet, it'd send send send ;)

The priority of the syn/ack would also give you a signifant better upstream while downloading, or vica versa (anyone using the internet must've seen the download speed dropping when sending something).