Make sure you have the latest driver.

I've had the computer less than 2 weeks, so Dell support didn't think there would be a newer driver. Anyway I tried to upgrade and got the message that my driver was current. I read through the Modem troubleshooting section already. There was a lot about phone line issues, but like I mentioned, all my other computers using the same phone line connect at a higher speed. I am currently at work, dialed into my ISP using the same number as from home, and am connected at 56.0. When I get home and dial in with the dell, I will connect at 29.0. If I unplug the Dell and dial in with my other laptop, I will connect at 52.0. Dell "India" said they can not help me. I don't believe the modem is the problem simply because it will connect at higher speeds from other sites. Yet the phone line can't be the problem because my other computers connect at higher speeds.

If the PCTel will connect at a higher speed from another location, then it is a phoneline/phone cable/line load problem.  I know the Actiontec modem did not drive the line very hard with most earlier drivers but with a couple it took the connect speed from the 26k range to the 51-2k range.  Possibly run new high quality cable from where the line comes into the house directly to a RJ-11 connector to plug into the modem.  I ran Cat5 cable and only used 4 wires - 2 twisted pairs.  That helped.  More phones, answering machines, telezappers, and caller id modules all load the line down - try removing any of those.  If you have a new style entry box outside, there is a modular connector in that grey box that you can use and eliminate all the internal wiring in your house to see if that is doing it.

I have a 600m with a PCTEL 2304WT V.92 modem & it only connects 37.2 at work compared to the 50.2 that I got with my over 2 year old Inspiron8000. The bad thing is that the connection is sluggish too taking too long to respond & bring up pages. Is the modem in the 600m replaceable with another brand? Or perhaps there's a setting I'm overlooking?

Thanks for the info. We built our house two years ago, and used Cat 45 wiring throughout. I was going to try and remove (ie unplug) other phones to see if that helps. It must be something specific to the PCTel though because no other modem in the house has this issue. Is f this doesn't solve the problem, am I better off installing a different brand of modem?

To you and youthco, I am not sure what the 600m's modem looks like, if it is the same one or shape/connectors as in earlier Inspirons, to know if there is a different modem that would fit/work.  It would be the Actiontec MD56ORD modem if the size/shape/connectors are the same, and there are complaints against that one too.

What thought I didn't complete in my other post was the PCTel modem sounds like it also suffers from line-driving deficiencies.  The Actiontec's drive capabilities was highly dependant on driver version - possibly it will be the same with this PCTel.  Check Dell Downloads, Windows Update site, and PCTel's support site for different drivers.  I wish I could offer more.

As to a different modem, there are PCMCIA card modems that are hardware (chipset) based that perform much better that these software based Winmodems.

Same problem here, I posted a reply to Laurie a few minutes ago. Laurie also reports the same problem! How interesting:>:

 

Rather than retype the whole message, I will cut and paste my reply (since it's relevant to your problem).

 

-------------------------------------------------------

Begin reply to Lauries post:

 

good day.......

I just bought an inspiron 1100 and from what i read ... slow connection speeds are nothing new to these modems but i thought id put something up here to see if anyone has any ideas.... 26.4 is as fast as i can get out of modem and i tryed the suggestions that ive seen..... and its still the same. Dell does have a new driver for download that says it fixes the problem with the slow connection speed... if i read that correctly but i downloaded it but it had no effect and my old compuer connects at 44 kbs. I have a feelings its this new v.92 modem because my old v.90 works just fine on my other computer but with this computer it takes so long to connect and when it does its 26.4 kps. I called my isp and the dont support the new v.92 and they mentioned getting a new driver but like i said the dells driver didnt work does anyone have any suggestions? if not ...i guess its off to but a new modem what a pain from a computer thats only 2 days old...lol..... thanks for any help you can provide...... take care.........

 

Laurie

 

-------------------------------

 

Hi Laurie,

 

I have the EXACT same problem, same computer and same modem. I recieved my system in September and it still doesn't run!

 

I emailed Dell, they sent me endless URL's and technical procedures to try, I did them all. It took me weeks for this step. Finally they told me to send it to the factory, but it came back with 'no problem found'.

 

I called tech support (in India) and spent a full 8 hours with them on the phone (missed a full days work!). They finally gave up and agreed to send me a new system. They were very nice and competant, but after an all day session, they could not make my Dell Supplied drivers disk load (after they instructed me to wipe the OS). I'm waiting for it to arrive.

 

In the meantime, I'm checking out the Dell Forum and saw your message.

 

I've had computer(s) in this house since windows 95 days and they all run at 44 to 48 K. I hook my dell up to the same connector that I use for the old system (same wiring), and it connects at 30 to 34k!

 

I'm worried that the replacement system will have the same problem after reading your message!

 

Thanks for writing the message on the Dell Forum!

 

AIM

Art in Maine

End previously posted text:

-----------------------------------------

I have the same problema dn posted a reply to Laurie on this forum (who also had the same problem). Rather than type everything all over, here is her text and my reply.

----------------------------------------------

begin:

 

good day.......

I just bought an inspiron 1100 and from what i read ... slow connection speeds are nothing new to these modems but i thought id put something up here to see if anyone has any ideas.... 26.4 is as fast as i can get out of modem and i tryed the suggestions that ive seen..... and its still the same. Dell does have a new driver for download that says it fixes the problem with the slow connection speed... if i read that correctly but i downloaded it but it had no effect and my old compuer connects at 44 kbs. I have a feelings its this new v.92 modem because my old v.90 works just fine on my other computer but with this computer it takes so long to connect and when it does its 26.4 kps. I called my isp and the dont support the new v.92 and they mentioned getting a new driver but like i said the dells driver didnt work does anyone have any suggestions? if not ...i guess its off to but a new modem what a pain from a computer thats only 2 days old...lol..... thanks for any help you can provide...... take care.........

 

Laurie.

 

------------------------------------------

 

Hi Laurie,

 

I have the EXACT same problem, same computer and same modem. I recieved my system in September and it still doesn't run!

 

I emailed Dell, they sent me endless URL's and technical procedures to try, I did them all. It took me weeks for this step. Finally they told me to send it to the factory, but it came back with 'no problem found'.

 

I called tech support (in India) and spent a full 8 hours with them on the phone (missed a full days work!). They finally gave up and agreed to send me a new system. They were very nice and competant, but after an all day session, they could not make my Dell Supplied drivers disk load (after they instructed me to wipe the OS). I'm waiting for it to arrive.

 

In the meantime, I'm checking out the Dell Forum and saw your message.

 

I've had computer(s) in this house since windows 95 days and they all run at 44 to 48 K. I hook my dell up to the same connector that I use for the old system (same wiring), and it connects at 30 to 34k!

 

I'm worried that the replacement system will have the same problem after reading your message!

 

Thanks for writing the message on the Dell Forum!

 

AIM

Art in Maine

 

end:

 

-------------------------------------------

 

Hope this helps:>:

 

AIM

I received my replacement computer today, it came without paperwork or warning so I had to call Dell to ask them what to do with the old one:>:

 

Anyway, it's just a couple of hours old now. My first connect was at 44K, my second try was 44K, the third try was at 45.3K.

 

I should say that the new punchbox came with a different modem-neither conectant or pctel!

 

Dell swore my phone line was at fault:>:

 

Good luck to all!

 

Art in Maine