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logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 8/31/2004 11:48:42 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

I am looking for the best external hardware controlled modem. I have read on several forums that the USR/3COM Courier V Everything Modem is possibly the best performing Modem out there. I am looking at two modems on ebay that seem to fit that description, brand new one is $75.00 and there also is a slightly used one that is$35.

My question is, I have read that there have been some changes to the newer Courier V Everythng Modem....just wondering if they are good changes and if I should buy the more expensive of the two. And also how do I know how old or new either modem is?

If I lived in an area where I could get DSL I wouldnt even be writing this but as it is, there is no dsl or cable present and satelite cable (direcway) is ungodly expensive.

I initially became interested in Hardware Controlled External modems when I read about there great performance on gaming sites. Im not expecting Miracles but anythng to help my system run smoother...connect faster...and achieve better ping will be a win in my book. Recently I did purchase a Creative Modem Blaster, which was $60 and its performance is pretty good. My ping times have gotten alot better but Im still pretty confident that a "Much" better modem would also help.

If you would like to write me directly, email me at calvinzhobbes@hotmail.com

Thanks For the help.

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 9/1/2004 9:23:40 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
USR orphan's products and doesn't produce updates for them. That includes the Courier's once advertised as 'v.Everything' 'never obsolete'.... The older Courier's cannot be upgraded to V.92 as USR has orphaned them.

The newest Courier is a manufacturing cost-reduction as the older Courier's used technology that has long been obsolete.

I don't think the Courier is the best performing modem out there (perhaps at one time - 6 years ago or more it may have been) -

What speed do you connect at with your Creative modem?

Also see
www.modemsite.com/56k/faster.asp
www.modemsite.com/56k/gamerslag.asp

Aloha! Richard.

logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 9/1/2004 11:36:50 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

Having problems posting!
logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 9/1/2004 11:43:46 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Ok well fixed that.....

Modem Blaster from Creative connects at 26.4. My internal usr modem connected faster than the one before it =26.4....one before got fried by lightning and connected at 24. Modem blaster had much better ping but I based buying a USR Courier Modem on this link http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9200378~mode=flat~days=9999~start=20?r=774

That one post is what actually got me to this site :)

Last night I purchased the 3comUSRobotics Courier Everything 56k V92. Since i will have the Modem blaster and the courier at the same time for a lil while, I will check ping and connect rates and if there is another test I can do let me know.

Till I get that modem I am going to do some of the things you recomended on your links in the last post.

Thanks For your help

logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 9/1/2004 12:54:32 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

I checked out the links you posted. I downloaded ping plotter and modem check. I went into modem properties and disabled "use error control". Im pretty sure thats not the same as using the AT commands.... after I did that and connected again ping was much worse. Can you tell me how I could find the AT commands to disable 56k and some of the other options you recomended.

I want to get the best out of this modem as possible....and then do the same with the 3com/USR everything modem. Then when I post the results it will be fair.

charles
Tl Posts:
5879

USA
Posted - 9/2/2004 1:36:19 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
When you set up a modem for gaming it will not be the best for using it on the net.From the looks of your connection speed you could be having problems with the phone line.
One thing in gaming you need to also get the pc set up,like Ram,video card and disable anything that is running in the background that is not needed.What OS are you using and the modems model number.


http://modemsite.com/56k/usr.asp
http://www.usr.com/support/3453b/3453b-crg/chap%201-installing%20your%20modem.html

Some things here to check for connection problems.
http://help.stargate.net/dialup/slow_connection.shtml

You are not making a V90 connection at that speed.

logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 9/2/2004 3:10:31 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

Only two things I have running -explorer -systray. My system is old -733mhz -256SDram -64mb nvidia pci-----and my OS is the worst ever made (millenium edition) I looked at the link you posted about slow connects and Im sure Im Miles away from the "central office". I checked 26400 speed and found that im basically at 34v. I have some relatives that live nearby and have a new dell and they dont connect any faster than 26400 either.

I saw you mention that changing packet size and making adjustments for gaming makes it slow for web browsing. Is there a way I can set it up so that I can make changes easily.....like having two profiles---windows user profiles? that possible?

How do i change packet size......is there a utility I can use.......how do i know if one size is better than another?
I play shadowbane (online mmorpg) and I dont know how I could go about checking and changing packet size..and seeing what works best. I realize that I wll pretty much have no chance of connecting any faster than 26400 but I really wanna get the most out of my tiny connection. If I was running win xp.......and had everything extra turned off, you think my game would run smoother than it does with ME?

The isp i use is the phone companies isp (bellsouth). Is it very likely that I could get better performance out of another ISP in the area?

The modem I am using now is a External Creative Modem Blaster V92 Serial model-DE5621
I havent received the 3com/usrobotics external modem yet. Will get it in the next week.

Thanks for your help and suggestions

logangregor
Tl Posts:
7

USA
Posted - 9/2/2004 6:26:37 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message

Ive noticed that since using the external modem I have a much better ping time but I also lag more for no reason compared to my external.I think its possible that the modem retrains too often because I can be playing my game....not many people in my group...no reason to lag....and information just stops sending. What noise will I be hearing if the modem is retraining?--What should i hear if its not retraining? and is there a way I can go about fixing that problem.

In the meantime I am going to do some research on the AT thread for this modem.

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 9/14/2004 8:48:53 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
You can check the modem post-call diagnostics for stats including retrains, link errors/NAKs, etc. after you disconnect
www.modemsite.com/56k/diag3com.asp

If you leave the modem speaker ON you can hear retrains/rate renegotiations - see
www.modemsite.com/56k/trouble.asp

Aloha! Richard.

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