Connection Speeds for 56K Modems

The most typical connection speed for a 56K bps modem is around 45K bps. Factors that may affect the speed of your connection include:

• Regulations: Although the new modems are capable of receiving at speeds up to 56K bps, modem manufacturers have, in compliance with FCC regulations, limited the maximum speed to 53K bps for receiving and 31.2K bps for sending.

• Quality of phone line: Not all phone lines can handle the higher speeds supported by the V.90 modem standard. If you notice that your voice telephone calls are noisy or of low quality, then you should not expect your modem to be able to obtain a high-speed connection. If you now have a 33.6K bps modem but routinely get a connection speed of 28.8K bps or slower, you may not be able to get a faster connection even if you use a 56K bps modem.

• Pre-standard modem: "K56Flex" modems will not operate at speeds any greater than 28.8K bps. "X2" modems may or may not operate at full speed. For maximum modem performance, use only a modem that supports the full V.90 standard and has the most up-to-date modem software.

• Phone line shared with other equipment: Do you have any of the following on the same phone line as your modem? If so, their presence on the line could affect your connection speed!

  Answering machines
  Extension telephones on the same phone line
  Antique telephones
  Caller-ID devices
  Cordless phones

When you dial in to EZ-Remote or Express Lane, your modem establishes a connection to one of the modems in the campus modem pool. The two modems then negotiate an optimal communication procedure. Both modems must check out the line quality and agree on how they will handle problems. The way the negotiation is done at the start of a connection, and how the data will be transmitted, may change from one connection to another.

Although all of the modems in the campus modem pool are 56K bps, you should expect to see connection rates ranging from 21.6K bps up to the limit of your modem. The line quality must be pristine along the entire span from your location to the modem pool on campus in order to get the highest speeds each time you establish a connection.

Other Helpful Web Sites

• V90 Modem Standard, http://www.v90.com/
• 3Com/US Robotics, http://www.usr.com/
• 56K Basics: "I can't even get 28.8K now" http://www.56k.com/basics/rates.shtml
• Curt's High-Speed Modem Page, http://www.net-boy.com/