System utilities worth it ???? 3

[renajb]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question or not. I am looking for something to boost my internet speed. I have looked at the PC Booster & Modem Booster, also Windows Powertools. Has anyone had experience with either one of these (good, bad)? Or can someone suggest a program that is good or are they all just a bunch of hype? I'm running Windows ME and don't want something with a compatibility problem. Thanks for any info.

 

[thatrenowned]

My experience has taught me NOT to trust these programs. They claim that they'll increase your modem speed by 50%, 100% or 200% LOL, but the fact of the matter is if for example you have a 56k modem, then 56k is the fastest it'll go.

Also, have you ever noticed how these programs are made by renowned companies (renowned being sarcastic there).

My advice is to avoid these programs because to be quite honest, they're all shite.

 

[tbad1986]

What speed of internet are you on? I can help you out with your TCP/IP settings.. which are the (true) only ways to really tweak a connection. Let me know and I'll try to help you out.

 

[renajb]

Im' not sure of what you mean by speed of internet. I have a dial-up-connection and a 56k modem. Usually the speed that I connect at runs from 40,000-46,000. Thanks for any help or suggestions.

 

[xkjdhdg]

I found that my LT win Modem driver was limiting my connection speed. I
installed the standard modem for a 56k flex. I can connect most of the time at 115200kb.

 

[renajb]

Do you mean that you installed a different driver or a different modem? If it's just a different driver where would I find it to download it & would I need to uninstall my old drivers for my modem?

 

[xkjdhdg]

No you do not have to uninstall your modem. right click on my computer, select properties, select device manager, left click on the modem to expand it, then left click the on modem to highlight it that expanded, select properties, select driver, select update driver, click specifty the location of the driver, them click next, click display a list...,your current driver will come up select display all hardware, the first item is Standard modem type, go to the list on right and select the driver that matches your modem K56flex, V90 etc.
Windows will warning that driver is not the best take it anyway. When you get it installed go to (my computer) select modem, propertiers, set max speed to 115200, you will connect most of the time at that speed. If you check the box only connect at this speed do not be surprise that you can not connect I leave that uncheck.

 

[renajb]

I tried doing what you suggested, but ran into a problem. I can't find what type of modem I have. When clicked on, it says it's a Lucent Modem, but when trying to find out more, it says no version listed. So when I'm trying to select a driver to match my modem in the list, which one do I use? It has(56K USB) (56K V.90 PDC DF) (56K V.90 PCDi) (V.90 + DSL) and a few others. Is there some other way to find out what model or version of Lucent Modem I have, or should I just use one of the above listed, and if so which one? I really appreciate all your help, since I'm so lost in this area.

 

[jaeddy]

Just an aside here, the 115200 speed you are seeing is actually the transfer rate between the computer and the device, NOT your line speed. A 56k modem is limited to 56k (actually, around 52k given the condition of even the best home phone lines). Compression can up that somewhat, but you are still sipping through a straw.

Modem boost utilities are junk, pure and simple. You can tweak your tcp/ip stack to improve your efficiency, but the only way to see a really dramatic increase is to go to a faster connection such as cable or DSL. Try to avoid getting confused by the speeds people promise: 56k referrs to 56 kiloBITS per second. 8 bits to a byte, 1024 bytes to a kilobyte, 1024 kilobytes to a megabyte. If a DSL or cable provider promises a 1.4 Mb/ second download they are promising 1.4 MegaBITS, not MegaBYTES... ahh, I love this business...

 

[Einstein47]

Another thing you might need to look at is your MTU speed. I had a 19.2 modem and when I upgraded to a 56K my speed never improved. I finally learned about MTU speed and was able to change the size of packets my modem would be able to send and receive.

I'm not an expert here, but do a search on MTU speed and find a site out there to help you learn what your PC is set at currently, and what it should be at. Einstein47
(Love is like PI - natural, irrational, endless, and very important.)

 

[thatrenowned]

Simple answer to the original question:

System Utilities to improve your modem speed are not worth it.
To improve speed, you have to get a faster connection.



Dial-up modems are pathetic...unfortunately I still have a 56k but that will be changing shortly
14.4k's, 36.6k's and 56k's will only ever achieve a maximum of the respective values (most likely to be a bit less as jaeddy pointed out).
As stated above, the only way to improve your speed is to get a better connection i.e. cable, DSL etc.

To summarise : Avoid these stupid utilities for modems...get a faster connection.

Hope this helps

Rgds

 

[renajb]

So is the MTU speed thing for real, or is that a program kind of like PC Booster that really does nothing it promises?

 

[thatrenowned]

I read a report on MTU speeds, and from what I understood (remember, I could be wrong), its sounds like its the equivalent of overclocking your processor.
Probably something to avoid if you're not a pro with computers.

Rgds

 

[soundguy]

Hi,

A standard home phone line in the UK can only run 47.2K ish

Why have a 56.6K modem!!!

Thats in the Uk, dont know about other country's

 

[thatrenowned]

On my old modem, I used to connect at 52000bps (this in in the UK). My newer modem connects at 48000bps. The strange thing is that when I download, I get an average transfer rate of 5.2kbs. Hmmm strange.

 

[wolluf]

But aren't there 8 bits in a byte? So 48000 bits per second equates to 5.85 kilobytes (1024 bytes) per second.

PS. I'm also in UK - rarely use modem now, but used 2 different modems previously, both got between c. 45000 and 53000 bps (also depended on ISP - signed up with lots when 'free' local call only appeared. Force 9 gave consistently fastest connection). Higher speed connections (50000+) gradually disappeared, and when I stopped (about 10 months ago) using modem, 48000 was the norm (very occasionally 49200, often 46600).

 

[thatrenowned]

I use the same ISP so obviously its the modem in my case. I also read somewhere about something which optimises your modem if you go into:

Network Neighbourhood Properties
Dial Up Adapter Properties
Advanced
IP Packet Size
Change the setting from 'Automatic' to 'Small'.

I don't know if its had any effect, but it certainly hasn't slowed the modem.