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General Category => Technology and Programming => Topic started by: From Jungle on May 08, 2008, 02:25:27 am

Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: From Jungle on May 08, 2008, 02:25:27 am
Recently I got a new desktop computer. I took the modem from my previous comp' and put it in my new one. On my old one, I would connect at 52.0kps and my download speed was around 5.50kbs, most of the time at 6.00kbs. Now on this new PC, it says I connect at 52.0kps, but my download speeds have drastically decreased to around 4.00kbs. I don't get it. Why would my modem connect at lower speeds on a better PC? Maybe someone here can help me out.

:fogetmmh:
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Ghost_Aspergers on May 08, 2008, 02:48:50 am
Maybe it's because the hardware is dated and is losing support.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: fishingmachine on May 08, 2008, 03:26:01 am
a faster computer will probably make your internet faster, get a faster one
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Dale Gobbler on May 08, 2008, 03:29:17 am
Aww you suck :fogetcry:​, I always get connected at 44.0kps, and my download speeds are around 4-5kbs. I guess I'll actually check for drivers or something.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: goat on May 08, 2008, 04:17:52 am
There's lots of guides on the web that discuss ways to increase dial-up speeds on specific OSes by changing MTU/TCPRW/Port speed etc

http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68127&highlight=56k+tweaks
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: From Jungle on May 08, 2008, 06:41:49 am
Yeah, it was pretty awesome downloading at 6.00kbs. Also, thanks for the link goat!
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Aten on May 08, 2008, 10:57:41 am
6.00kbps.... I still remember those days. Unplugging the phone, listening to the modem go crazy for 2 minutes, then downloading 2 mb in 10 minutes.

Yeah. Fun times.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: dom on May 08, 2008, 05:02:09 pm
4KB/s is well within the normal range for 56k dialup. the speed you connect at largely depends on the quality of the line you're using.

the question is where do you live that means you have to use dialup?
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: From Jungle on May 08, 2008, 05:09:51 pm
I live in St. Louis. Several times I've tried to get DSL but told it wasn't available in my area. My friend can get it and he's only 5 minutes away from me, so I'm guessing I'm like a block or two out of the supported range. Which sucks.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Mama Luigi on May 08, 2008, 05:15:54 pm
There are still people with dial-up?

Whoa... why would you put yourself through that...
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Dale Gobbler on May 08, 2008, 06:55:22 pm
I live in the middle of nowhere, can't get DSL, and the cable was cut off like 500 feet away from where I live. I guess I could get wireless broadband, but it's still kind of slow out here and it's like 50-60 bucks a month (not including buying the device).

Thanks goat.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: goat on May 08, 2008, 11:09:31 pm
Though 4 kB/s is acceptable for dial-up, if you are using the same line, same modem, and same ISP, and the difference came from  getting the new computer, I would say it's definitely software related. Granted 4 kB/s and 6 kB/s is nothing to us broadband users, that's a literal 50% increase in speed that he's capable of but not receiving.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: From Jungle on May 09, 2008, 04:29:44 am
Even though I think I have the latest software for my computer, I'm going to double check like you and KBJGXLM suggested. Yeah, 6.00kbs is a huge deal for dial up. When I download an anime episode (40MB), it usually took 2 hours, now it takes 3. Oh yeah I tried the things on that site you linked. No change.

Quote
I guess I could get wireless broadband, but it's still kind of slow out here and it's like 50-60 bucks a month (not including buying the device).
I could get cable internet or whatever it's called, but $50 a month is waaaaaay out of my price range.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: goat on May 09, 2008, 06:49:38 am
I could get cable internet or whatever it's called, but $50 a month is waaaaaay out of my price range.

Usually they have several packages, and even the cheapest one is much faster than dial up. They also give you a discount if you already are paying for cable TV or digital phone service from them.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Lord Kamina on May 09, 2008, 05:12:08 pm
Anime episodes in 40mb? Oh god... the quality...

Seriously, how about you check with other ISPS? There's GOTTA be one that has broadband.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Grogrog on May 09, 2008, 07:35:14 pm
Anime episodes in 40mb? Oh god... the quality...

Seriously, how about you check with other ISPS? There's GOTTA be one that has broadband.

Some areas just don't have the hardware for highspeed, specifically like he said, out in the middle of nowhere. DSL gets worse over distance, I don't know the details behind cable. But dude it really is worth it, even if it is outside your budget, there should be someway you can manage to get cable. It's so worth it.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: From Jungle on May 10, 2008, 10:16:43 am
Actually...I got a new job yesterday so I just might be able to afford it! Finally, I can move up from this crappy dial-up. Thanks for the help I got in this topic but I'm upgrading.

:fogetcool:
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: PTizzle on May 10, 2008, 03:16:17 pm
Anime episodes in 40mb? Oh god... the quality...

MKV files are usually pretty decent quality for episodes around the 40-60 meg mark. Definitely not DVD, but I'd prefer them over the usual 170 meg rips.

Congrats on getting broadband as well FJ.

Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Lord Kamina on May 10, 2008, 04:12:31 pm
PTizzle... You do realize MKV is the exact same codec as an AVI, right?
The only thing changing is that MKV is a better, more flexible container. But inside, it's still a divx/xvid in 99.5% of cases.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: goat on May 10, 2008, 07:40:04 pm
MKV files are usually pretty decent quality for episodes around the 40-60 meg mark. Definitely not DVD, but I'd prefer them over the usual 170 meg rips.

Wait, you PREFER lower quality video? Or are you on dial-up too? Because that's the only reason I can think to prefer it, besides maybe your system not being able to handle a higher bitrate video than that.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Ghost_Aspergers on May 11, 2008, 01:14:46 pm
PTizzle... You do realize MKV is the exact same codec as an AVI, right?
The only thing changing is that MKV is a better, more flexible container. But inside, it's still a divx/xvid in 99.5% of cases.

Just to clarify (to those who don't know)... MKV is just that. A container. It holds standard AVI files along with alternate video/ audio streams and subtitles.... though most of the time... the only reason people even use MKV is to give you the option to toggle subtitles.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: datamanc3r on May 11, 2008, 03:15:12 pm
I've always wanted to do this: http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/15/how-to-build-a-wifi-biquad-dish-antenna/

If you live in the middle of nowhere, this would be awesome for you to do. I don't know where you might be able to get such a huge dish (obviously the cable ones would not cut it) but that would be kickass thing to pull off. You can totally establish a connection between you and your friend, especially if he also lives in the middle of nowhere.

I remember dial-up. Oh god I would die if I had dial-up again.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: Lord Kamina on May 11, 2008, 10:43:06 pm
Reminds me of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLH_QyPTYM
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: james_the_composer on May 12, 2008, 04:59:19 am
get EV-DO broadband to replace 56k: 

http://www.3gstore.com

It's not available everywhere, although it's available more places than Cable and DSL. $60 a month is worth it to have broadband in the middle of no-where, too.
Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: james_the_composer on May 30, 2008, 12:21:52 am
Nevermind, Sprint EV-DO has cancelled their Unlimited for 5GB a month cap.

EV-DO sucks again. ;/

If you just want to play games, get a Verizon Blackberry and use ICS (don't hook it up to your computer, you need to network it to get it's full bandwidth on a laptop or desktop FROM the Blackberry).

Make sure you get a Byte Stat program so you can keep track of how much you download. 5GB is 160MB a day, so make sure you don't overdo it with the patches.

This is of course if you are desperate. Just about anyone here downloads about 50GB or more a week. ;p

Title: why is my dial-up so slow?
Post by: goat on May 30, 2008, 03:27:13 am
For remote locations, there's always satellite. Pretty meager upload speeds, but definitely better than dial up download speeds.