posted 08-26-1999 11:27 AM            

Do you have the *exact* same settings on both computers?

Do you use the *exact* same phone cord to connect?

Have you installed the latest modem update files for both modems?

There are a lot of variables that could come into play here. IF you are using two different phone cords to connect with, I would have buy a new hunk of phone cord and test the computer with the lousy connection. If it is still getting lower speeds, then contact your local phone company and have them test the line (most, but by no means all, will test for line quality at no charge).

Next, apply the latest driver/firmware updates to the modem that isn't up to snuff. If that doesn't help, and the lines check out ok, then you probably should escalate this to a tech support issue if the Mac is still in warranty. I don't know if this is the case, or not, as you don't mention any existance of Apple Care, or something similar.

Thanks for writing in!

posted 08-27-1999 10:48 AM            

More times than not, connection problems are the result of poor quality phone lines/power supply issues/insert physical causes here - and not the result of a "poor/shoddy/substandard" modem.

Please - there is enough hyperbole in the world. If you can point me (us?) to something more concrete along the lines of documentation of this problem, we would love to hear about it and learn from it, I am sure. Else, I am afraid it just fuels confusion and misunderstanding.

Thanks for writing in!

posted 08-28-1999 09:06 PM            

All updates installed, firm- and soft-

The iMac in fact achieves better speeds - 46667-48000+ than the GV at 45333-48000.

posted 11-15-1999 07:36 PM            

Apple customer support folks acted like this was all a great mystery to them. After listening to innumerable diatribes on how the FCC limits performance and how the problem is likely to be my phone lines (thereby disregarding the fact that several other Macs work great on the same line/same port), they offered the tidbit that I could take the iMac to a customer service center and then if nothing is found, pay a surcharge! Needless to say, for a 1 day old iMac, odds are this puppy is being returned outright and I'll look elsewhere!

posted 11-20-1999 02:22 AM           

Does anyone know why that would be?

posted 11-20-1999 04:04 PM         

I have a v90 lucent winmodem that I have removed from the computer in favor of an external USR which always connects at 47000+ with either my PC or my Mac. The Lucent never connected at better than 31200.

Same phone line, same jack, same ISP, same telephone number, same computer.

The question with internal modems is whether they are hardware modems or whether they share resources with the OS. I would assume that since you are dealing with the bottom of the line in terms of apple computers that you are dealing with a software modem. (They are cheaper to install) Software modems almost never perform as well as hardware modems, & in my experience Lucents in particular are crap.

Many things enter into the performance you will achieve from a software modem as it is sharing resources. Amount of ram, other extensions, other programs running at the same time etc. If I were you, I'd just use the other modem.

I'm fascinated too, at some of the responces you have recieved here on this issue. The assumtion seems to be that you can't possibly be configured right or know what you are talking about. This may not be a particularly well documented problem with imacs, but it is a very well documented problem with software modems in general (& with internal Geoport software modems, for that matter.)

Cross your fingers & be glad it's only the modem. I'm replaceing far too many logic boards & analog video boards in imacs.

posted 11-21-1999 01:26 PM            

For background info. check TIL #11128
and
11315
ilene

------------------
ilene hoffman
Senior Ed./Admin., Macfixit.com
Keeper of THE Lists:
http://www.xensei.com/users/ileneh/partylist.html
http://www.xensei.com/users/ileneh/td/macpeople.html

posted 11-24-1999 11:59 AM            

I believe this is the Modem Puppet Show website address:
http://www.busprod.com/watchenman/modem_puppet_show/modem_puppet_show.html

posted 11-24-1999 12:13 PM            

------------------
I watch, I Listen, I Learn.

[This message has been edited by watchenman (edited 11-24-1999).]

posted 11-24-1999 01:34 PM           

When I spoke to apples tech help line I wound up talking to chap who seemed to know less about Macs than I did and I've only had mine for 1 week!

After much to-ing and fro-ing he came back to the phone and told me I would either have to upgrade my phone line or check to make sure my ISP was providing a V90 connection point. I explained that I had a windows PC with a v90 modem connecting to the same ISP via the same phone line and the same phone socket and that it gave a better response every time. At this point he went very quiet and offered to escalate my call to level 2 (whatever that means) and that someone would call me back.

So far I'm still waiting.....

posted 11-24-1999 01:40 PM           

Anyone know of a control strip module that shows a truly accurate connection speed?

posted 11-24-1999 03:29 PM            

In my experience, using two different ISPs and multiple POPs for each, the internal modem only rarely breaks 28.8, and when it does it promptly disconnects. However, a Global Village PC card modem installed in the SAME Powerbook, using the SAME TCP/IP and PPP settings, using the SAME phone cord attached to the SAME jack and calling the SAME numbers never fails to connect at 40 Kbps or better.

posted 11-26-1999 03:35 PM           

Go to the TCP/IP control panel (in the control panel folder which is inside the sytem folder) and set "connect via" to "PPP" for mindspring (or any ISP other than AOL).

posted 11-29-1999 12:11 PM            

On my PowerBook G3 (the quality of whose internal modem K56/v90 was highly questionable until it got a shot of firmware) I got poor connections (from 31.6 down to 28.8, but occasionally 45.5) with one ISP. I changed ISP and got often disconnected to start with. Then they suggested I download the default modem script they offer on their site (note now that they have only ONE telephone number for ISDN, K56, x2 and v90, how they manage it at the other end, I don't know!)

I took their script, edited it in BBEdit to add a couple of commands from the original Apple script, and ever since I've had a stable nominal 50 kbps connection.

Repeat: NOMINAL. Because tests from Toast.net (not my ISP) show that the connection speed, allegedly, is only 28.8 or so. But how reliable are these tests anyway, when IE shows that downloading is taking place at 5-5.5?

BTW, I tried to see if I could an even better connection out of the Modem Puppy scripts, but none of them worked.

------------------
Michel
tingo@tanca.com

posted 12-15-1999 12:58 PM         

--Vince

posted 01-06-2000 02:28 PM           

Now, we have an iBooK: it refuses to connect nearly 100% of the time in the morning (when even the iMac attains its slowest connection rates). The few times it did connect it was 14K. Oh, yes: same time, same cord, same ISP. Switching to V.34 made no difference. In the evening - when the iMac will make a 26K connection - the iBook will do 21K. Wow!

We returned one to CompUSA and will - I hope - return this one for a full refund for this very problem. The modem is simply not robust.

Also, I intend to re-route some wiring - but our phone line is buried out to the pole.

posted 01-13-2000 10:24 PM            

For the first two weeks after I got it, I consistently (100%) connected to my local ISP at speeds in the high 40s. After about 2 weeks, I had the computer call Apple to register itself. This was done at 26k. Since that time, I have consistently connected to my local ISP at 24-28k, again 100% of the time.

I know that these are both 100% and when the break came by review my Remote Access Log document.

I haven't yet tried some of the tricks yet cited here (e.g. QuickTime control). Something though in the computer software either reset or slowed downed my modem speed and it obviously has nothing to do with phone line, equipment, ISP, etc.

posted 01-16-2000 12:26 AM           

quote:

---

Originally posted by gmann:
cadet 50
Yesterday uswest put in a dedicated line at my home to free up my personal phone. They changed the outside box to one that changed digital to analog (wish i knew why) before i was connecting at 45333bps to 46667bps. now my connection is from 24600 to 26???bps. ihave a 56kv.90 modem, so i find this to very disturbing. anyone have any ideas?
all suggestions appreciated.

---

posted 01-17-2000 12:30 PM           

I had a spat with intermittently having slow connection speeds and very unstable connections using the internal modem on my 233 Rev A. iMac.

posted 01-17-2000 01:06 PM           

What you should know about Pair Gain.

Your local telephone company routinely uses Pair Gain devices to serve its customers. What is Pair Gain you ask? It is a method to serve more customers over the same number of cable pairs. Pair gain is a digital service. Ma Bell can cram up to 96 conversations onto 11 copper pairs as I recall, using Pair Gain. This helps keep the cost of service down which is good but if you are served by Pair Gain you will suffer.

Here is how this works. The copper pair leaves your home and is run a short distance to a small hut or metal cabinet that contains the Pair Gain electronics. Here your analog signal is converted to digital and multiplexed onto a digital facility (T1). At the telco Central Office the digital signal is converted back to analog and cross-connected into the telephone switch where it is converted back to digital once again. (Note that this is two A/D conversions.) You cannot make a V.90, X2 or FLEX connection in this case.

What this means is that you will be unable to achieve the bandwidth your modem was designed to deliver because the phone company facilities will not support it. Typical telco response “We don’t guarantee data performance on voice grade lines. If you wish we will install a conditioned data line.“ Good solution if you like spending lots of money. If you want better speed and DSL or Cable modems are not available in your area your only alternative might be ISDN which is becoming more widely available.

If your performance suddenly drops to 28.8k and stays there it is likely that your telco has just put your line on a Pair Gain system. All you can do is talk nice to them and plead for being put back on copper.

Other performance issues can often be traced to poor connections either in your home or outside. Before you call your telco you should try removing the phone wires at the distribution point in your home. (Where your telephone cable enters your home.) Some of these have jacks to simplify testing. Next run a direct cable to your modem and do some testing. Does the speed improve with your internal home wiring and phones disconnected? If it does you can rewire and/or replace old or faulty sets. If not you should start bugging your telco. Dial a silent termination number (frequently XXX-0011) and listen for any trace of noise. Listen for clicks, static and especially hissing or hum. If you hear any of these report this to the telco and keep reporting it until they respond to the problem.

One last issue that is often overlooked is proper grounding. I am not talking about the three prong AC outlets in your home here. I’m referring to your homes main electrical ground connection. This is often located in a damp basement and is usually a connection to the cold water pipe made where it enters the home. This connection is frequently corroded and can induce noise. If a visual inspection makes you suspect that this connection is a possible problem call your electric utility and ask if they will service this connection. If not you should hire an electrician to reconnect the ground.