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Upgrading to a 56k modem? The following information explains what is required to successfully connect at higher speeds and a bit about the technology. How are these faster speeds made possible? Modem performance is limited by the telephone network. One of the major problems is that analog signals degrade as they pass through the telephone system, increasing errors and slowing down the effective speed of the information flow. 56K technology reduces the telephone network's effect on analog signals by requiring the Internet Service Provider to create a fully digital path from the telco's central office switch to the ISP's Internet connection. We have done this by installing "channelized T-1s;" which are basically 24 digital lines combined into a single circuit. These T-1's are connected to Lucent Technologies' (aka Bell Labs) Portmaster 3s, which house K56flex/V.90 True Digital modems. In turn, these are connected to our multi-T-1 Internet connection. The result is a fully digital path from the telco central office, where your call connects to us, to the Internet! What's required on my end? You must be using a V.90 modem or a Kflex modem operating with v1.0 software or higher. Most likely, any new 56K modem has a current firmware version. If it is an older 56K modem, your modem may need a "flash upgrade and possibly even a hardware upgrade. To determine if your modem needs an upgrade, you can check the firmware version of your modem by querying it with an "ati3" command using a terminal emulation program (e.g., HyperTerminal or FreePPP). Once the program is running, type ATi3 followed by a carriage return. Note the response. If the response is something like V1.0-56K_DLS, then your OK. If the response is something like V0.519-K56_DLS, then you will need to upgrade (see below). What kind of performance can I expect? Normal performance provide for speeds between 40-50kbps. While this service is termed 56K, it is very rare that anyone will actually achieve 56kbps speeds. For one, the service is "asymmetrical." In other words, you will be able to download faster than with a 33.6K modem, but will still upload at 33.6K modem speeds. In addition, there are a wide variety of inhibiting factors on the analog link between your computer and the telco central office, which reduce the actual speed you will achieve. Please remember, our side of the link is completely digital, providing the fastest link possible with this technology. It is now your part of the link that ultimately determines your modem's performance. What kind of modem should I buy?In general, we do not recommend subscriber hardware. If you are looking to purchase a 56K modem, however, we will relate what other subscribers have told us. Many subscribers have been happy with Best Data modems; they perform consistently well and are relatively inexpensive. Also, many subscribers have reported maximum performance with Zoom modems. How do I upgrade an older 56K modem? If your modem is running a software version earlier than 1.0, then go to the manufacturer's website and download their latest software version. Then follow their directions on how to install the software upgrade. Some modem manufacturer's website addresses follow: What modems are compatible with Cove's 56K service? Lucent Technologies has tested many modems for interoperability, although there is no complete listing. Some modem models tested successfully follow:
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