How Do I Change These Numbers?

[Linda]

It used to be that when I held my cursor over the little blinking computer icons, it said so many bytes received and so many bytes sent @ 26400 bps.

At some time, my ISP had me change those numbers to something like @56 or 57 something. Why would I have needed to do that and where can I access that to put it in again? :think:

[LeRoi]

Linda,

Do you mean that you are getting a reading of bps at 56,000 bps or higher?

If so that means you have a very good (dial up) connection, I think. The lower number (26,400bps) would indicate a slower connection. I usually get 34,000 to 36,000 out here in the country. I am not aware of any setting you can change to affect those numbers unless it would be in modem properties and any adjustment would probably slow down your connection, imo. There are "strings" you can enter in modem properties that can serve to optimize your connection, some are isp specific, I think.

[Linda]

No, I want to get that reading again. Before when my connection was so slow, my isp had me go somewhere and change the numbers and then the connection went up to that 56 number. Only now I can't remember where or how I did that! :think:

[ladyLuck]

Linda is the number you are referring to 57600. If so go to your control panel, modem, properties.

[Linda]

I checked in there and it is at 115200. What does all that mean? And would that have something to do with an isp having you change it to speed things up?

[ladyLuck]

My server also had me change it from 115200 to 57600. He said it was causing my connecting problems. I didn't see any difference. I left it at 57600.

[Linda]

Thanks for sharing that information! I didn't have any connection problems, so I am just really confused now as to why they had me change it. Now I wonder, should I change it back to the 57 or leave it where it is? I just looked again, and of all the options to pick - why isn't there a 26,400 which is what mine shows up as? :think:

[ladyLuck]

My baud rate is 46666, this I believe is controled by the server.

[amb141]

Linda

The connection speed in modem properties SHOULD be set to 115200, unless you are having certain connection problems, some of which which may be solved by lowering the modem speed.

The fastest connection possible on a 56K dialup connection (the number that is displayed when you hover your cursor over the "little monitors" in the System tray) is 53,333bps. This is limited is imposed by your telephone company. Actual data transfer will almost always be lower than the connection speed displayed in the System Tray. You can calculate your actual connection speed by downloading a file from the internet or an FTP site. You will be told that the rate of transfer is something like 5.9 KB per second. Multiply this number by 8000 for the same number expressed in bits per second. A data transfer rate of 5.9 KB/sec translates into a rate of 47,200 bps. which is about as good as you can expect.

alan

[Linda]

Alan, actually I think they did something that maybe they shouldn't have. The guy had me to backspace some numbers off and put in what he told me and it did change the number when I hover the cursor over the computer icons to the 57 something number.

At one time when I lost those settings and called back - I was told that it was "illegal", but when I told them that someone there had told me to do this - then they had me do it too.

Now I wonder what he had me do and what was illegal? :unsure:

[amb141]

Linda

Not illegal, but meaningless. There are occasions when the "little monitors" will show the modem speed rather than the connection speed (you will have to wait for someone more of a gearhead than I to explain how to get it to show the connection speed). What happens now if you set the "connection speed" in Modem Properties to 115200, where it should be.

alan

[Linda]

Alan, leaving it at that number - only gives the 26,400. It was another number that I put in that increased it to the higher 57 something number.

[amb141]

Linda

If the connection speed as shown by hovering the arrow over the "little monitors" in the system tray is any higher than 53333 then it is reporting the modem speed not the connection speed.

Try this. With your modem speed set to 57600 in Modem Properties (as it is now, right?) go to http://www.radiolovers.com/pages/ellery_queen.htm right click on any of the Ellery Queen radio shows there and choose"save target as" and start saving the file to your desktop. After a minute or two make a note of the data transfer speed. Once you have noted the speed you can cancel the download. Then reset your modem speed to 115200 in Modem Properties, and try it again and see what the transfer speed is. (You probably should reboot and reconnect after you change the modem speed.) Post the results here.

alan

[Linda]

Alan, it is already showing the 115200 figure. I haven't changed anything on it since the harddrive install. Before the install is when they had me change something and then the little monitors would show the 57 figure when I hovered the cursor over them.

But, now since the harddrive install, I'm back to seeing the 26,400 when I hover the cursor over them. :unsure:

[amb141]

Linda

I'm afraid I'm not being very clear here. If your ISP had you reset the modem speed to anything other than 115200 it was to address a problem that they thought you were having. You can still do my little experiment to see which modem speed setting in Modem Properties will give you the fastest throughput. You will have to reboot and reconnect after you change the modem speed in Modem Properties.

But one thing is certain, if your connection speed showed any number greater than 53333 when you hovered your arrow over the "little monitors" in the System Tray -- that number was NOT your actual connection speed.

alan

[Linda]

Alan, I'm sure you're being clear - I'm just lost in a fog! LOL! I guess what I'm trying to understand - is that you thought that mine was set at the 57,600 now and wanted me to run the test and then change to the 115,200. But, it is already at the 115,200 figure. Are you saying to move it back down to the 57,600 - run the test - and then put it back to the original 115,200? :unsure:

It'll probably be tomorrow before I can check anything - I have to run and eat a "midnight dinner". :amie:

Thanks for the help!

[sixpac]

Hi Linda

A couple of things to check

The Windows default Com Port speed is set very low to prevent quite old modems running into problems. This slows downloading - data passes through the Port far too slowly.

Increase the Port speed in Device Manager
Right-click My Computer and then select:
Properties • Device Manager • Ports (COM & LPT)

Select the Port you use, and then Properties • Port Settings

28,800K modem Use 38,400 or 57,600 bits per second
33,600K modem Use 57,600 or 115,200 bps
56,000K modem Use 115,200 or 230,400 bps

Note:
Internal modems should also be configured in the Modems applet in Control Panel and Dialup Networking in My Computer

I think this is what your looking for

Actually, your computer might say that you've connected at 115200 bps, but your modem really has not. The speed that it is saying that it has connected at is the speed from the computer to the modem (port speed), not the modem to modem speed (connect speed).
To get your dialing software to report the true connect speed, add W2 to your modem initialization string

The first thing customers should know is that 56K modems really cannot do 56Kbps. The FCC has mandated that 56K modems are permitted to operate at a maximum speed of 53.6Kbps. All 56K modems are asymmetric, which means that you will be able to receive data faster than you can send it. The determining factor of how fast your 56K modem connects is the quality of the telephone line from location to the local telephone company central office (CO). A typical 56K modem with a good quality phone line will connect in the 42Kbps to 48Kbps range, however your results may vary. Customers having lower quality phone lines may not be able to connect at anything higher than 28.8Kbps.

Phone companies to not guarantee anything better than a voice quality connection for a standard POTS line. (Plain Old Telephone Service) Customers that absolutely need these higher speeds should look into a ISDN line for connections of 56Kbps, 64Kbps, 112Kbps and 128Kbps.

Hope this helps

[amb141]

Linda

sixpac covered it very well.

>>To get your dialing software to report the true connect speed, add W2 to your modem initialization string<<

If you are able to do this you won't have to run my little experiment, hovering the arrow over the "little monitors" will tell you your correct connection speed rather than the internal modem speed. Setting the modem speed to 115200 should be optimal for a 56K modem.

But you might start to download a large file just to see what kind of throughput you are actually getting, if you are curious. And if you are VERY curious, throttle back the modem speed to 57600 and try downloading the same large file again just to see which is better for your setup.

alan