Modems - my thoughts on their speeds w/ phone lines..

[vhelp]

Hi everyone ..

Just some things on my mind about Analog Modems and their speed over phonelines ...

Does anyone know the true reason why did stopped making *regular*
modems (ie, 28.8k; 33.6; 56k) and didn't continue to the next level of
speed, which would have probably ben, 112k speed, and finally, a 224k ??

I know they said it had something to do w/ the Phone Lines being limited
to electircity or something like that. But, that just doesn't make much
sense, specially, when my phone company tried to sell me DLS over my own
phone lines. ( I asked, "won't you have to change all my wires now..?",
and they said, "no!" ) ..which makes me believe that a conspericy had ben
cooked up, and all the serial/pci/usb modems seased to exist

I'm pretty sure that we could have a 112k or even 224k speed modems today.
.
I even saw a pci modem w/ a built-in Firewall (was tempted to get it) over
at CC for $79 bucks.

Mind you. I'm really not interested in fast interneting. It's
not all that what it's cracked up to be. At work, we have very fast connects,
but even when I surf over to this web site, it's slow at times (depending
on some conditions) So, in my experience w/ Fast vs. Slow (w/ respect to
dialup modems) it doesn't really matter (for me and my needs) and I don't
go D/L'ing huge files in my day-to-day surfing

And, don't get me wrong. I wouldn't mind the added speed, but I was just
wondering if the 112k or 224k (were the next level up to speed then) that
I would be happy w/ these, and it would be that much closer to being settled (speedwise)

As I said, these were just some things that were on my mind w/ regards
to Modems.
Feel free to comment on this

Cheers,
-vhelp 2914

[Scottie]

I don't think phone lines can hadle speeds that high without a DSL modem so there wouldn't be any point I would think.

[guns1inger]

Don't know what it's like in the states, but over here (Australia), the phone lines are only guaranteed up to 19,800. A lot of pair gain has been used, and is now being undone to allow ADSL (no-one flogs symmetrical plans over here, they are all asymmetrical to discourage home web servers). Basically, our major telco is complete crap, but owns 90% of the infrastructure.

Sorry - got onto a bit of a rant there.

[bugster]

Phone lines are intended for speech. They are filtered at the switch to not pass any frequencies above 3.1Khz. Thats why the bandwidth is so limited.
DSL uses much higher frequencies for signalling. This is allowed through at the switch by adding special circuitry to seperate it from the speech. (Your line has to be ADSL enabled by the Telco). The filters ADSL users are provided with by the Telcos (or in some cases they have to buy for themselves) are intended to stop the high frequency ADSL signals getting onto the speech lines, not the other way round as many people seem to think.

3.1Khz is simply not enough bandwidth to go much faster than 56k. That in itself took some doing and requires some fairly fancy signal processing at both ends. There was work in progress to push it up to 64k and beyond, but the cost was too high considering ADSL and other broadband technologies were soon to arrive with even higher speeds.

[Capmaster]

Plus, at one time there was a big push to get people to buy ISDN. At the time it came out the speeds seemed fantastic.

But ...with the arrival of DSL and cable, ISDN speeds (64K or 128K) looked pretty pathetic, and it was always very expensive.

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

I like knowing that should something happen to my broadband, I can always use dial-up to get online ...from anywhere

[stiltman]

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

Got to have your FAX machines still

[Capmaster]

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

Got to have your FAX machines still

Good point

[stiltman]

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

Got to have your FAX machines still

Good point

Plus, AOL still has many deals with manufactures for their software to be on the start menu....what good would it be without a modem? Betcha AOL kicks in a little for the cost too

[ViRaL1]

If there was no DialUp, AOL would cease to exist. My company offers dial-up, and at only $13.95 a month.

[Capmaster]

There's a reason it's called "Ghey Ole Hell"

Fortunately many people ditch the AOL training wheels once they find their ass with both hands.

I don't mean to belittle anyone who has AOL, but I just wonder how many people still even use AOL once they can find the Yahoo or Google home page on their own?

[vhelp]

Actually, I have a couple of friends who are still on
AOL and I'm thankful for that.

But, I think one reason why they are on AOL is because
(not that they don't know any better, cause they don't)
but because tehy don't have the strength or will power to
bother. They just want to get online and run around a little,
like kids. Do a couple of meaningful things and log off.
.
I have a friend who does just that. And every time I bring
this fact (above) up, I'm told, "..I can't be bothered" or
something similar

Heck, I'm still on dial-up. I'm proud of it. I like, maybe
because I'm a little old-fashion or something. If it ain't
broke, don't fix it. I've grown accustom to the web page
refresh speed etc. I don't D/L large files. And, most
important, I type slow.. so I have the time to think first,
before I send

-vhelp

[stiltman]

I have used Prodigy, Compuserve, AOL

Used be all free till they started matching databases with name and CC numbers

[redwudz]

At least in my area even a 56K modem will only operate at 53K max. I'm told this is a limit imposed by the phone companies. Some rural areas are worse where they multiplex the lines together. (Done to eliminate the old 2 and more party phone hookups.) These multiplexers cut the bandwidth down to 44K max. Worst of all, the phone companies have no duty to you other than voice transmission. If your line is too slow for efficient modem use, too bad.

Our phone system locally has no hard wire connections out of the area. All calls go through microwave links. They have tweaked the system in the last ten years to the max where you can always get a long distance call out. In the past you had to wait occasionally to make a long distance call.

They brought in a fiber optic link in this year, but it's still not fully functional. Fortunately I have a cable modem and our cable company has a satellite link for video and data, so my cable modem is about 3.5M down, 500K up.

My dialup is 44K and I've never got it beyond that.

[vhelp]

hmm. My dialup runs at 53.333 Bps almost every time,
unless I use a phone device or too to it.
.
I'm thankful that I have that speed, and I'm happy
with it but any lower, and I *do* notice it when I'm
waiting for webpages to D/L in my browser.

-vhelp

[vitualis]

Remember, a modem modulates the data signal as audible frequencies. There is only so much bandwidth you can have.

Regards.

[Capmaster]

hmm. My dialup runs at 53.333 Bps almost every time,
unless I use a phone device or too to it.
.
I'm thankful that I have that speed, and I'm happy
with it but any lower, and I *do* notice it when I'm
waiting for webpages to D/L in my browser.

-vhelp

How do you even download a text page at that speed? Why is it so slow?

[yoda313]

Hello,

Yeah the fax capability of a modem will keep it around for a LONG time to come.

And I never got higher than 45.2kbps on my dial up (with my college service for a few years and then SBC YAHOO Dial up before finally getting DSL a month ago ).

Kevin

[bazooka]

Plus, at one time there was a big push to get people to buy ISDN. At the time it came out the speeds seemed fantastic.

But ...with the arrival of DSL and cable, ISDN speeds (64K or 128K) looked pretty pathetic, and it was always very expensive.

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

I like knowing that should something happen to my broadband, I can always use dial-up to get online ...from anywhere

Pri isdn has a much higher capacity.

Total speed for bri isdn - 192kbps
Total speed for pri isdn - 1.544 Mbps

[Capmaster]

Plus, at one time there was a big push to get people to buy ISDN. At the time it came out the speeds seemed fantastic.

But ...with the arrival of DSL and cable, ISDN speeds (64K or 128K) looked pretty pathetic, and it was always very expensive.

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

I like knowing that should something happen to my broadband, I can always use dial-up to get online ...from anywhere

Pri isdn has a much higher capacity.

Total speed for bri isdn - 192kbps
Total speed for pri isdn - 1.544 Mbps

I was referring to their residential packages ...not corporate.

They offered it here for $168/mo. for dual-line ISDN, 128 Kbps.

[bazooka]

Plus, at one time there was a big push to get people to buy ISDN. At the time it came out the speeds seemed fantastic.

But ...with the arrival of DSL and cable, ISDN speeds (64K or 128K) looked pretty pathetic, and it was always very expensive.

I think they still automatically include modems on all new laptops and desktops, so it'll be a long time before they go the way of the floppy

I like knowing that should something happen to my broadband, I can always use dial-up to get online ...from anywhere

Pri isdn has a much higher capacity.

Total speed for bri isdn - 192kbps
Total speed for pri isdn - 1.544 Mbps

I was referring to their residential packages ...not corporate.

They offered it here for $168/mo. for dual-line ISDN, 128 Kbps.

Gotya

My apologies

[studtrooper]

At least in my area even a 56K modem will only operate at 53K max. I'm told this is a limit imposed by the phone companies.

I believe the FCC made it illegal to connect at a full 56k due to line noise complaints at that level of transmittion (which is why people can only connect at 53.3K or whatever). Not like it makes any difference... 6-7KBps MAX download speeds are 100% horrendus nowadays. Every single day it seems like, one of my favorite sites goes completely 56k-unfriendly. PC games made within the last few years are nearly impossible to play decently on line. Patches are growing in size. Bleh, it makes me sad just thinking about it. I HATE living in a semi-rural area JUST outside the max DSL limit...