The OEM modems supplied with almost all new PC's (regardless of Brand) are inexpensive modems. Some of these even connect at speeds higher than they should for the quality of the telephone line. The fact a modem ONLY connects at or below a certain line speed does not mean it's defective - maybe poor quality and maybe good quality and it's selecting a line speed that is really indicative of the conditon of the telphone line.
The fact the USR only connects at 44 Kbps suggest your telco line is not the best in the world or that something inside the residence is affecting line speed.
There are many factors that can affect line speed. One prime factor is the telephone line, including the distance you are from the Telephone Company's central office. If you have over 3 "hops" (repeaters) then the modem speed will start deteriorating. The overall condition of the telco line. Inside wiring (wiring inside the residence including telco wall jacks). I've been on service calls for modem speed issues and found that the inside telco line at the modem had a problem and connecting to a different jack in the residence resulted in a higher connection speed. Another issue is the voice telephones and answering machines and in particular cordless phones can cause modem speed issues.
Finally, Anything about 33.6Kbps is considered "good". There are many vendors, including the Telephone Company, that will not do anything is your are getting over 33.6 Kpbs.
My comments were not meant to be a flame and legitimately trying to help. We are users helping users, not Dell employees. If you have a beef with Dell this is not the place to air it.
I too am a retired computer programmer/tech/manager. I managed a large, nationwide, federal government LAN/WAN network and hardware help desk until I retired. I've been a computer tech - sadly back when there were still tubes in computers. I've been a modem tech, working with Codex, Paradyne and Racal-Milgo (Racal-Datacomm) for many years. I've worked with telco data lines, from dial-up, to multi-point analog to T1 and fiber. My screen name "fireberd" comes from the TTC Corp's "fireberd" T1 data like and bit error rate tester. The government agency I worked for has the largest IBM CICS complex in the world. I was a programmer for NASA on the Apollo project.
"If you have a beef with Dell this is not the place to air it."
I agree. You made some valid points in your initial reply to explain the poor connect speeds which he apparently didn't want to hear. I would assume from reading his initial posting that he was looking for a place to vent rather than seek answers. Too bad Dell did away with the Customer Service forums which would have been a better venue in which to voice service and product complaints.
I believe I had the dubious distinction of being the first recipient to be blindsided by this individual and without provocation. What he failed to acknowledge is he ordered a system with a standard software fax modem, vs specifying the $20 upgrade option telephony (hardware) modem and wants to blame Dell. His other beef (and where he posted the identical "don't bother to post - suffer no fools" you got) was faulting Dell because the USB Dell KB and mouse wouldn't work plugged into a PCI add-in Serial port card using a USB to serial port converter. When I said I didn't understand why he would want to hook up Dell USB KB and mouse - that functioned properly plugged into the Dell USB ports - to a plug-in serial port card, he responded as noted.
In my 5 years of participation on these boards this is without a doubt the most vitriolic of response I've witnessed or been subjected to here. And thank you Fireberd for stating your background and experience in response.....even if you caused this individual to suffer one more fool..
In hindsight I have concluded that my response to some responses to my original posts regarding problems with my XPS 400 KB, Mouse & Modem were an overreaction. And I apologize to any responders that I have offended.
In my defense I was absolutely frustrated by the Non-Support I received from Dell over a 12-day, and counting, period. In reading other posts in this forum I realize there’s a lot of very frustrated people who are experiencing similar problems with Dell’s After Sales Support of XPS systems, there should be a place for us to vent, rather than in a Technical Forum. And further Dell should be attempting to fix this deficiency in their after Sales Support.
I am surprised that no where on these forums do I see any posts by an "Official Dell Customer Care or Technical Support" person. It’s as if Dell is sticking its collective head in the sand as to the user problems with XPS systems.
Further in my defense I do not think that questioning why I wish to connect my KB & Mouse via PS2 rather than USB is a valid technical response, I was hoping to get offered a solution. The reason why I want to do this, whether you agree or not, is quite simple having spent the extra money for PS2 Port option I would like it to work. Is that unreasonable?
Further the fact that the Dell USB KB & Mouse do not work on any of my PCs using a USB to PS2 Adapter, while other non-Dell devices do, seems unusual. Also I question why other non-Dell USB devises connect to my XPS on the PS2 ports through adapters with no problems. This mystifies me
Also as to my modem connect speeds I admit I knew full well that no one could offer a technical solution, as this was an inherent problem with "Soft Modems". Rest assured that if Dell offered an option, on the XPS 400, for a "Hardware Modem", I would have chosen to do so. However they do not, even though they do on other less expensive models.
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
November 13th, 2005 16:00
The OEM modems supplied with almost all new PC's (regardless of Brand) are inexpensive modems. Some of these even connect at speeds higher than they should for the quality of the telephone line. The fact a modem ONLY connects at or below a certain line speed does not mean it's defective - maybe poor quality and maybe good quality and it's selecting a line speed that is really indicative of the conditon of the telphone line.
The fact the USR only connects at 44 Kbps suggest your telco line is not the best in the world or that something inside the residence is affecting line speed.
There are many factors that can affect line speed. One prime factor is the telephone line, including the distance you are from the Telephone Company's central office. If you have over 3 "hops" (repeaters) then the modem speed will start deteriorating. The overall condition of the telco line. Inside wiring (wiring inside the residence including telco wall jacks). I've been on service calls for modem speed issues and found that the inside telco line at the modem had a problem and connecting to a different jack in the residence resulted in a higher connection speed. Another issue is the voice telephones and answering machines and in particular cordless phones can cause modem speed issues.
Finally, Anything about 33.6Kbps is considered "good". There are many vendors, including the Telephone Company, that will not do anything is your are getting over 33.6 Kpbs.
Message Edited by fireberd on 11-13-2005 01:28 PM
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
November 14th, 2005 09:00
My comments were not meant to be a flame and legitimately trying to help. We are users helping users, not Dell employees. If you have a beef with Dell this is not the place to air it.
I too am a retired computer programmer/tech/manager. I managed a large, nationwide, federal government LAN/WAN network and hardware help desk until I retired. I've been a computer tech - sadly back when there were still tubes in computers. I've been a modem tech, working with Codex, Paradyne and Racal-Milgo (Racal-Datacomm) for many years. I've worked with telco data lines, from dial-up, to multi-point analog to T1 and fiber. My screen name "fireberd" comes from the TTC Corp's "fireberd" T1 data like and bit error rate tester. The government agency I worked for has the largest IBM CICS complex in the world. I was a programmer for NASA on the Apollo project.
Message Edited by fireberd on 11-14-2005 07:12 AM
Majestic
9.4K Posts
0
November 14th, 2005 10:00
VCraig
2 Intern
•
2.1K Posts
0
November 14th, 2005 22:00
I believe I had the dubious distinction of being the first recipient to be blindsided by this individual and without provocation. What he failed to acknowledge is he ordered a system with a standard software fax modem, vs specifying the $20 upgrade option telephony (hardware) modem and wants to blame Dell. His other beef (and where he posted the identical "don't bother to post - suffer no fools" you got) was faulting Dell because the USB Dell KB and mouse wouldn't work plugged into a PCI add-in Serial port card using a USB to serial port converter. When I said I didn't understand why he would want to hook up Dell USB KB and mouse - that functioned properly plugged into the Dell USB ports - to a plug-in serial port card, he responded as noted.
In my 5 years of participation on these boards this is without a doubt the most vitriolic of response I've witnessed or been subjected to here. And thank you Fireberd for stating your background and experience in response.....even if you caused this individual to suffer one more fool..
Message Edited by VCraig on 11-14-2005 07:40 PM
fireberd
9 Legend
•
33.4K Posts
0
November 15th, 2005 09:00
Vcraig, thanks for the support and info. Obviously this guy will never get another response from me.
We could report him to the moderator but, talking to others on the forum, that never results in anything.
Pete Fisher
13 Posts
0
November 15th, 2005 13:00
In hindsight I have concluded that my response to some responses to my original posts regarding problems with my XPS 400 KB, Mouse & Modem were an overreaction. And I apologize to any responders that I have offended.
In my defense I was absolutely frustrated by the Non-Support I received from Dell over a 12-day, and counting, period. In reading other posts in this forum I realize there’s a lot of very frustrated people who are experiencing similar problems with Dell’s After Sales Support of XPS systems, there should be a place for us to vent, rather than in a Technical Forum. And further Dell should be attempting to fix this deficiency in their after Sales Support.
I am surprised that no where on these forums do I see any posts by an "Official Dell Customer Care or Technical Support" person. It’s as if Dell is sticking its collective head in the sand as to the user problems with XPS systems.
Further in my defense I do not think that questioning why I wish to connect my KB & Mouse via PS2 rather than USB is a valid technical response, I was hoping to get offered a solution. The reason why I want to do this, whether you agree or not, is quite simple having spent the extra money for PS2 Port option I would like it to work. Is that unreasonable?
Further the fact that the Dell USB KB & Mouse do not work on any of my PCs using a USB to PS2 Adapter, while other non-Dell devices do, seems unusual. Also I question why other non-Dell USB devises connect to my XPS on the PS2 ports through adapters with no problems. This mystifies me
Also as to my modem connect speeds I admit I knew full well that no one could offer a technical solution, as this was an inherent problem with "Soft Modems". Rest assured that if Dell offered an option, on the XPS 400, for a "Hardware Modem", I would have chosen to do so. However they do not, even though they do on other less expensive models.
In short if I’ve offended anyone I apologize.