56k modem troubles

[Siya]

Yeah yeah i'm still on dialup after all these years since I live in a bad area. Anyways I recently bought a new laptop and put FFXI on it (updated at a friends) but as I try to play it I randomly R0 anywhere from 5-20 mins. This constantly R0ing is really getting annoying and I'm not entirely sure what could be causing it. I disabled all the automatic updates as far as I know.

This is a brand new laptop so I doubt it's any kind of virus or spyware. I run vista 64 bit premium home edition.

I only have 1 idea as to what it could be, I set the max port speed down to 1/4 of what it originally was, could that cause it to randomly skip? If not I have absolutely no idea what it could be.

[Killgannon]

so... have you tried setting the port speed back to what it originally was and see if you get the same thing>.>? i know this probably makes me sound like an ass but seriously>.>;;

could also just be a shitty 56k modem... and your old one was better, it happens lol

[Kohan]

It sounds odd that you've reduced the port speed, as normally you want to optimize things rather than reduce their effectiveness. I would also suggest ramping it back up, in addition to using some of the tweaks on the following page (they basically apply to Vista, too):

http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofivers...p/t234499.html

Ensure that your modem has a call waiting feature, or that it's otherwise not being kicked offline by incoming calls or interference. Additionally, there are the simple physical troubleshooting methods, like trying another phone cord.

[Siya]

so... have you tried setting the port speed back to what it originally was and see if you get the same thing>.>? i know this probably makes me sound like an ass but seriously>.>;;

could also just be a shitty 56k modem... and your old one was better, it happens lol

I won't get a chance to try for a while >.> I know I prolly should have before posting, but wanted to get all info and possibly solutions before I start messing with it again.

[Siya]

Set the max port speed back and checked out that guide, still randomly R0ing in FFXI . I don't think the internet itself is lagging but something from vista hates FFXI... not really sure but I dunno what to do ; ;. I don't think my modem has call waiting but how do I check? Is there any way to see all programs that are using any bandwidth?

[Siya]

I'm curious, is there any other way to check for line noise other than using a phone and listening to static >.> cause since I'm online 24/7 I never bought a phone. Still randomly R0ing but think maybe it could be line noise since it was over 100 all summer then just started raining. And the R0s really flux, went the other night for 2 hours without R0ing then earlier this morning I was R0ing every 5 mins then after that it was every 30 mins.

[Sigi]

check to see if your disconnect if idle is set to 5 minutes or something- I noticed that on my connection (cellular modem ._.)

[Siya]

I don't disconnect, just R0 for 10-20 seconds then connection goes back to normal

[Siya]

So like I loaded up SEs windower so that I could ping something as I R0ed to see if it was just FFXI or the entire internet. As I R0ed I lost like 5-7 packets. So seeing as I'm losing packets would that be the cause of line noise? I shouldn't be losing any packets should I?

[Mizango]

I'm curious, is there any other way to check for line noise other than using a phone and listening to static >.> cause since I'm online 24/7 I never bought a phone.

Only other thing you can do is call your Telco and request a data line test, which in most areas cost you nothing. I'd check port settings, FIFO buffers etc. I mean it very well could be a line issue in which you need to contact them as opposed to beating down your modem so to speak.

[Siya]

I called up AT&T and had them run a test... but like they didn't tell me if I had a problem or not (it was automated) then it went directly into talking about sending something out, but also stated if the guy didn't find a problem they'de charge me 55 bucks. I've had issues before when they'de come out and find nothing so I'm a bit hestitant to go ahead and have them send someone out. an important thing I didn't point out was my dekstop doesn't R0 like this (same wires and phone line). The problem is either with Vista, My modem or phone lines but I'm not sure.

[Tirrock]

When I was on dial-up I had crappy phone lines and would r0 all the time. My mom's laptop was running vista and it was damn near impossible to even download basic things like antivirus updates. My desktop ran XP and, while slow and randomly disconnecting a lot, it did better than her laptop every time.

[Siya]

It's weird though, my laptop connects faster and even DLs faster than my desktop does >.>. While it's still possible to play FFXI on my laptop getting 10-20 seconds of lag randomly gets annoying and possibly gets you killed.

[Kohan]

Since you've stated that you recently bought the laptop, I would suggest exchanging it for the same model to see if the hardware is the problem. If you receive a new one and have the same exact problem, put your Vista serial somewhere it won't be lost, and switch to XP. If you still have the lag even then, I'm not sure what else to suggest.

[Siya]

I was thinking about that however there's worse defects with the laptop itself, gateway rushed the model and a lot of defective video cards n such so I'm happy I got a working model. Would the only thing hardwarewise that could cause the problems be the modem? Was thinking of buying a USB modem and going from there. Downgrading (or upgrading ) to XP isn't exactly easy with drivers and such but it is possible. I have until Thursday to exchange the laptop without any fee (granted bestbuy actually sees the problem...). I'm also trying to find a friend to let me come over so i can use his phone line to play and see if that does anything, cause if I don't R0 there it has to be my phone lines and my laptop modem is just more sensitive... or something (Is that even possible?).

I know it's not the same, but if there was some kinda of defect in the laptop making it R0 would that also transfer to high speed? Kinda dumb question but... meh, I haven't noticed anything leeching high speed internet.

Gonna call up my ISP later today and see if I can get a stability init string for my modem (they did that before when I had line noise but it didn't help).

[Kohan]

I was thinking about that however there's worse defects with the laptop itself, gateway rushed the model and a lot of defective video cards n such so I'm happy I got a working model.

If the modem isn't functioning properly, then it isn't a "working model," but if you want to accept this, that's your decision. I can understand, considering that the only problem is in FFXI and that's not an essential application.

Would the only thing hardwarewise that could cause the problems be the modem? Was thinking of buying a USB modem and going from there.

You can try that, but using a USB modem may introduce a whole new slew of problems, and you will have to ensure that the dated technology works with Vista. I would still suggest returning the laptop over all else, but using other kinds of modems is indeed an option.

Downgrading (or upgrading ) to XP isn't exactly easy with drivers and such but it is possible.

If your laptop has a burner, it's very easy. Download all of the drivers you'll need for Windows XP, burn them to a CD, install XP, and then install all those drivers (make sure they're either uncompressed or that you have an archiving utility on the CD, too). A couple hours of your time spent will yield a better OS with higher compatibility and superior framerates in FFXI, among other games.

I have until Thursday to exchange the laptop without any fee (granted bestbuy actually sees the problem...).

I would once again highly suggest doing this. There's no reason to deny yourself the opportunity to use the process of elimination and determine whether the internal modem is the problem or not.

I'm also trying to find a friend to let me come over so i can use his phone line to play and see if that does anything, cause if I don't R0 there it has to be my phone lines and my laptop modem is just more sensitive... or something (Is that even possible?).

It is possible for bad cords to cause connection problems, yes.

I know it's not the same, but if there was some kinda of defect in the laptop making it R0 would that also transfer to high speed? Kinda dumb question but... meh, I haven't noticed anything leeching high speed internet.

If using high speed internet doesn't produce the same R0, then that, if anything, says more strongly that there's something wrong with the modem.

[Siya]

Well I called the warehouse down the road and apprently they are having problems with their lines too, so it could very well just be a problem with the lines and not my modem. However I also just found out today I might, just might be able to get some high speed. Won't be the fastest high speed but I'll take anything I can get.

[Siya]

Well I could have very well found the problem. I had these 25 foot phone cords that I used before when i had line noise cause they told me to try different cords. Anyways as I was plugging it into the box outside I noticed that one of the wires (like inside where you plug the cord into) is bent, and it's bent pretty good I think. That could very well be the source of my problem. What do you guys think?

I also noticed when I used that long ass cord my connection worked a bit better, didn't R0 as much but still R0ed a bit but it was a lot mroe managable.

Still curious if the bent wire is indeed the problem, why it didn't affect my desktop... but my dekstop dials in slower than laptop so I dunno.


Edit: It turns out this is also affecting my desktop, just not as much. Since I found that bent wire I started to ping my desktop and I sat there and watched it for a good while lol. It appears my desktop is also losing packets... but not as much as my laptop. When playing on my dekstop sometimes things would jump but not stop moving all together (probably due to not as many packets being lost). So I'm kinda sure this is what it could be.

[Siya]

Well I have a question about wireless broadband. The one I'm planning to get is through the radio apprently. And my question is: is that any good? I know Satellite internet sucks as it's totally unreliable so I'm hoping this isn't like that. Granted I can actually get this it will solve my R problem and dialup problem (lol). It's not 100% yet, but the building like half a block from me is able to get it so I will most likely be able to (Hoping for the best ><)

[Skie]

When i had this problem on dial up was usualy a result of my access numbers. try changing them