Modem problems?

MachineGunKellyMachineGunKelly The STICKS, Illinois
edited September 2003 in Hardware
Hi guys. Recently we've been getting disconnected from the internet at an increasingly frustrating rate. My ISP customer service dude said that my comp's system resources rate is too low for the winmodem to keep connected. Hell, it was at like 86%. I've changed ISP's with no change in disconnect rate. My connect speed has gone down from 44,000 kbs to 33,000 and finally hovers around 19,000 to 21,600 sometimes dipping to a dismal 14,000 kbs. This is over a period of two or so years. It is a winmodem. I run 98 on this machine. I have a 1600xp on a KG7. No other problems of any kind. I live in the country and have POTS.

Is my modem dying? If it is dropping connects due to the number of progs I have running then is it time to get a controller based modem? If so, which one is best?

I looked around on NewEgg and saw the US Robotics USR 5610 B on sale for $68 plus $4 shipping. The raters there said that their connect speeds have increased with that modem and that the disconnects have all but stopped. Would this solve my problem?

Comments

  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Too bad you don't have a second machine to check against. It could be line realted.
    But it could be the modem. Have you tried reinstall with new drivers?
    I am running USR 2577's. These are OEM cards that my local shop gets. They connect pretty well, better than 44k usually. and they are controler based. They work well under w2k.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    I'd just dump it and get a new one. Honestly, modems are <$20 now... it's not worth dealing with it anymore.

    This one:
    http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduct.asp?description=25-137-102&depa=1

    Looks pretty good... it's got an Intel chip on it, and Intel has a reputation for making some of the best networking hardware in the business... I use an Intel 56k V.92 modem in people's computers when they need modems, and I haven't had any issues with them. So, the only thing to worry about is the quality of the other components on the board, but for $9, ya know... I'd just buy the damn thing and forget about it.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Oh, and that intel thing is a hardware solution, as well.
  • MachineGunKellyMachineGunKelly The STICKS, Illinois
    edited September 2003
    Hardware-based? MY hardware, or IT'S hardware? I'm thinking of getting away from controllerless (WINmodem) and eliminating resourse conflicts.
  • EMTEMT Seattle, WA Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    [edit- ambiguous wording & such]

    Yeah, I got an Intel modem several years ago. I realized that the cause of my computer's freezing was having an ISA modem in win2k.. so I bought a $20 Intel modem that appeared to be hardware-based (ie not winmodem). Fortunately I was right and it worked very well - low ping, fast d/l & u/l. The only problem I had was it sometimes screwed up uploading a lot at one time, like it would send it way too fast and then you had to disconnect. It was hard folding with it. Actually someone back at Icrontic posted a similar problem and it turned out we had the same exact modem.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    You have a WINMODEM?

    My GOD man...

    Drop-kick that piece of crap and buy a U.S. Robotics.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    MGK, it's got it's own hardware-based chip.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Get U.S. Robotics if you're getting a new modem (Which you better be). USR is the best in the industry, and has been a pioneer in TCP/IP telecommunication for over a decade.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Thrax, the only problem with USR modems is the price. If he's willing to drop the $$ for one (the last time I looked they were like $50+ for PCI v.92 cards...) then I'd recommend them above anything else. Barring that though, I think an intel board (or at least an intel chip) is the way to go.
  • EMTEMT Seattle, WA Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Yeah, if price isn't an issue USR is fine but I just can't see spending upwards of $50 on a modem.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    Yea, the only V.92 controller-based internal modem USR has is the PerformancePro Fax Modem (USR Model USR5610B ); Newegg is basically the cheapest reputeable place that has it on pricewatch, and it's $72 w/shipping...
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited September 2003
    Jeez, you sure you cant go broadband MGK? ;P

    I mean, if speed and a good connection is what you want, that'd be the way to go IMO.
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Diamond modems are always good, especially their serial models.

    NS
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    I didn't think Diamond even made modems anymore... I know the graphics division is long gone, but I thought the modem division went with them when SonicBlue bought them out...
  • SpinnerSpinner Birmingham, UK
    edited September 2003
    Geeky1 said
    I didn't think Diamond even made modems anymore... I know the graphics division is long gone, but I thought the modem division went with them when SonicBlue bought them out...

    Yeah, that's what I thought aswell.

    To the problem at hand though. I completly agree with what everyone has said, get a new modern hardware modem. I remember when I upgraded my software modem to a v.92 hardware, what a difference it made. Whether you've got a bad telephone line, or just a crappy modem, it doesn't matter, a top quality modem will only make things better.

    It also might be worth pointing out that, a driver update can do the world of good where modems are concerned. Make sure you have the latest drivers before you go out and buy a new card. Though I must admit, part of me just wants to say... just go out and buy a new card, let system resources and drivers be damned.

    Cheers
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Get the phone line checked out as well as buying a new modem :)

    If your line is crapping out, a new modem won't fix it. You can also annoy them into turning your line gain up.. which can help flaky or noisy line problems.
  • MachineGunKellyMachineGunKelly The STICKS, Illinois
    edited September 2003
    Ok, ok. I get the picture! :D Winmodem=BAD Hardware=GOOD.....

    I could have broadband but my daddy quit giving me money back in '90. So until work comp gets their slop together I gotta stay with a lousy old phone line. No DSL available either. Right now I'm typing this at a whopping 19,200 connection to the 'Dead Zone'......
    Satellite in '04 baby! USR 5610B for now.

    Thanks all, MGK.
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