Re: External Modem Recomendation?

From: Floyd L. Davidson (floyd_at_barrow.com)
Date: 07/04/05 

Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 18:52:28 -0800

Bob Hardy <bhxxxx@localhost.net> wrote:
>> I think you've missed a couple of significant points. One is that not all
>> modems are created equal. The inequality can be in any or even many of
>> several different areas. "Just about any external modem will work" is
>> only true for certain values of "work"!
>
>I didn't actually miss them. I know that there are various levels of crap
>and good in modems. But when you are stuck way out in the sticks on a
>telco locked down 26k phone line, high end performance is not an issue.

That is exactly when "high end performance" *is* an issue!

>> But most important, the Courier will provide more solid, higher
>> throughput, connections over impaired lines better than any other v.90
>
>Again, I don't have an impaired line.

You've just described, above, the fact that your line is not
"perfect".

>It is solid as a rock and totaly
>noiseless and clear. But it is also run through a splitter (or combiner,
>I forget the tech term for it) by the telco and runs 26k max. No fix for
>that outside of a revolution. Even an investigation by a state
>representative and a local newspaper about why so slow got the reply from
>the telco to go pound sand. "Don't ask cause we won't tell".

You're on some kind of cable carrier. It doesn't necessarily
cause low data rates, but one particular network topology will
do exactly what you described. The telco is not selling you an
inferior voice line, has not guaranteed you a great data line,
and isn't technically wrong to have an attitude... but it sure
as Hell isn't good customer relations (generally it isn't very
good engineering either) to snub their nose at people that way.

(If you aren't aware, the Dilbert cartoons were originally based
on the telephone industry. Dilbert, Walley, and the Pointy
Haired Boss are all very typical of how telephone companies have
*always* been! Obviously Dilbert is still alive and well in many
telco's.)

>But, a 20 dollar Courier would be fine. I will go back to Ebay and see
>what is offered.

I looked at both the past month of items that sold, to get an
idea of what they were selling for, and did a search on what is
being offered now. Most of them were going for $15-20 dollars,
and there was just a pile of them available. (As I noted
before, even if you get cheated twice before you find a good
one, it would still be a bargain!)

Aside from the modem... if you'd like some discussion of
possible ways to "improve" your telco, that might be productive
too! How many lines to you have to your home? Have you ever
managed to talk to anyone other than a clerk or manager at the
telco (a tech or an engineer)?? How far from the telco are you,
as far as cable goes? And most important, does *anyone* in your
area actually get better data rates?

The significance of all the above is that there are commonly
several different network topologies available (but sometimes
not). Yours appears to be on cable carrier that is configured
for a "universal" interface (meaning it goes back down to analog
and is hooked to a real telephone line on the telephone switch).
That's bad. But if they also happen to have a few direct cable
pairs (not great, but maybe better) or if they've added more
lines and some of them are provisioned with an "integrated"
interface (fully digital right into a digital interface, instead
of analog, on the switch), you may be able to either sweet talk
them into putting your line onto the better equipment (or trick
them if they are recalcitrant).

However, I lived for many years with a line just like yours; it
was not possible to make it better, and if it had been they
would have gladly given me the best line available. There is no
guarantee. (I worked for a long distance company that was owned
by the same parent company as owned the telco. I knew all of
their tech's and engineers, and often helped them with any
number of things. They tried everything I ever asked them to...
but in the end, a 4 mile cable run just won't get it.) 

-- 
Floyd L. Davidson           <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)                         floyd@barrow.com

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