Is my modem bad?

[PhotoGuy]

I have dialup SOL (Suckers OnLine) at home and I have been experiencing difficulties getting online lately. My computer dials in at least a dozen times before ever establishing a connection, and when it does, it is only at 14bps or less. I turned on my speakers to hear it dial and there is a lot of crackeling and hissing on the line and the touchtones are really broken up. When I use the phone, it dosn't sound like that. It is actually quite clear. Could this be a problem with my modem? I have tried a new phone cable, switching outlets, turning lights, fans, the tv and appliances on and off (to check for electrical disturbances) and I can't figure it out.

You know you are addicted to the board when you are up till 2am doing all this.

 

[builder]

I sounds like noise on the telephone line. Call Bellsouth and ask them to check. I tried 4 service providers before I realized it was the phone line. Now I have Roadrunner and threw my phone out the window. FUCK BELLSOUTH.

 

[PhotoGuy]

Thanks, I'll try that. We have been thinking about getting Roadrunner and getting rid of our phone service altogether since Mrs Photo has a Cricket phone and I never use a phone anyway. The price of Roadrunner is a little steep, but getting rid of phone service will compensate for it.

 

[builder]

Think of it this way:

The time it takes you to do all you do on dialup til 2am is worth way more than 44.95/mo.

 

[twentybelow0]

Hell, use your computer to make phone calls

 

[mathmajors]

The best thing to do with a bad modem is to spank it. That always straightens them out.

 

[VOR]

Not if you're larry

 

[Y2Buddy]

Are all your phone jacks giving you static? It will seriously alter your online speed/connection.

Outside at the phone box, you can plug in a phone at the main jack. Unplug the line going to the house and try the phone there. If it's clear, than the problem is in the house. If there's static, obviously it's outside the house.

If you pay for a maintence plan, you're covered for inside.

Have you recently added a phone jack or done anything at all with any phone lines? You might have to go from jack to jack making sure all connection are tight. You can test it by disconnecting one jack and listening on another to see if it goes away.

Also if anybody has been digging anywhere in the area, they'll have to come out.

 

[twentybelow0]

Do you live in an area with old lines and/or old junction boxes? If so you might be screwed, they tend to have a lot more line noise.

 

[mathmajors]

Originally posted by VOR
Not if you're larry

Did I just hear a rimshot?