56K/v90 Modem Info
56K modems are still a relatively new technology. As such, it is very common to experience dropout and connection problems.

It should also be noted that even though your modem is sold as a ‘56K’ modem, that is only an indication of its top speed under ideal conditions. Most 56K modem users experience slightly slower connection speeds, generally in the range of 44–50K (which is still significantly faster than 33.6K modems).

The difference between the advertised top speed and the ‘real life’ speed can generally be attributed to the quality of the telephone lines* in your area and how far you are from the nearest telephone exchange.

Having said that, there are a few ‘tweaks’ available that can help you squeeze extra speed out of your 56K modem.

Test for line quality
The best way to improve the performance of any modem is to ensure that your telephone line is free from ‘line noise’; that is, an audible, crackling static. Plug a telephone into the telephone line used by your modem and call a friend. Listen for any background static. If you hear any, report it to the Telstra Faults Line (13 2203 for Residential or 13 2999 for Small Business).

Don’t share the line
For the best modem performance, your modem should have sole use of the telephone line. Unplug any other devices (including fax and answering machines) that are plugged into the same telephone line.

Fine tune your modem
Reduce the maximum speed: While it may sound counterproductive, reducing the maximum speed setting for your modem can actually improve the speed and stability of your modem connections.

The maximum speed setting actually dictates how quickly your modem ‘speaks’ to your computer’s serial port, not how fast it connects to the modem at the other end.

If the setting is faster than the serial port (through which your computer communicates with the modem) can cope with, it can result in ‘comm. overrun errors’. These occur when your computer can’t keep up with the data as it is being passed on by the modem, with the result that the modem must retransmit it, interrupting the flow of data and generally hindering modem performance.

To change the maximum speed setting under Windows 95/98, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Double-click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Modems.
4. Highlight your modem (if necessary) and click on the Properties button to display the Properties dialog box.
5. Click on the Maximum Speed pull-down menu and select the desired speed.
6. Click OK.

You may wish to experiment with different speed settings to find the optimum setting for your modem.

Switch off data compression: Some modems use data compression in order to speed up the data transmission process. If you are experiencing problems, try switching data compression off.

To change this setting, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Double-click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Modems.
4. Highlight your modem (if necessary) and click on the Properties button to display the Properties dialog box.
5. Click on the Connection tab.
6. Click on the Advanced button.
7. Untoggle the compress data option.
8. Click OK.

Fine-tune the initialisation string: An ‘initialisation string’ is a collection of commands, which instruct your modem to act in certain ways. Different modems use different initialisation strings. Your modem’s manual will detail the initialisation strings that you can use to change various settings for your modem.

Where possible, you should use the instructions provided in your modem manual over those contained here (which are generic and thus may not be optimal for your modem).

You can fine-tune your modem’s initialisation string via the Advanced modem menu. To display this menu, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button
2. Select the Settings option
3. Select the Control Panel option
4. Double-click the Modems icon
5. Click once on the installed modem
6. Click the Properties option
7. Click the Connection tab
8. Click the Advanced button
9. In the long rectangular box labelled ‘Extra settings’, type in the init string. Finish by clicking ‘OK’.

There are numerous resources available on the web for modem init strings. Most are specific to the manufacturer of the device. Generic strings can be used but it is recommended that you use specific drivers. Check the modem documentation, web site or call the manufacturer.

The init string will be used on every dial-up networking connection that uses that modem. If you have more than one modem, you will need to repeat the above procedure for all installed modems.

Generic strings: a) To set the modem to factory default:

at&fx3%c0

Tip: You may also want to try one of these generic init strings:

AT&F
AT&F1
AT&F&C1&D2
AT&F1&C1&D2

Tip 2: For K56flex modems, try one of these generic init strings:

AT&F+MS=56
AT&F+MS=56S202=32
AT&F1+MS=56
AT&F1+MS=56S202=32

For more specific initialisation strings, you can refer to our list of Modem Initialisation Strings

Update your modem drivers and firmware: Modem manufacturers continually tweak and refine their modem software in an effort to ensure the peak performance of their products. You should ensure that you are using the latest driver software for your modem. Most manufacturers make copies of their latest software available for download on their Web sites.

As a general rule, the updated software will include a setup program, so installation is simply a matter of downloading the setup software and running it.

If your modem manufacturer has not released any new driver software for your modem, or if it does not solve the disconnection problem, you should install the default Windows 95/98 ‘universal’ modem driver (which should work with all modems).

Modem manufacturers regularly publish updates to their modem software and drivers. Check the modem manufacturer’s Web site to ensure that you have the latest software for your modem. You should refer to the vendor’s Web site for instructions on how to install this software.