Tweak a 56K Modem

Click on any underlined word to see its meaning. Words with ** before and after, are downloadable links. 

 

The Problem

Many of us connect to the Internet using a phone line when we're at home. Compared to the much faster speeds we're accustomed to in the workplace,  this can be very frustrating. (If you are an AOL customer, this article will, unfortunatly, not be helpful to you) The fastest speed of a phone modem is 56k, which means computer data will travel back and forth through the phone lines at a speed of 56,000 bytes of data per second (kbs). Often, however, for a variety of reasons (some beyond your control), your modem will not always achieve its fastest speed.

 

The Solution

Because the computer is a complicated device, there are several different methods listed below which will help increase your modem's connection speed when on the Internet. Don't be discouraged at the length of this section, or that you might not understand everything. Computers, like people, are highly complex pieces of equipment. When your doctor tells you to take two aspirin and call him in the morning, you may not be aware that he just prescribed a chemical that is part of the family of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal-Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), but you take them because you've entrusted yourself into his care. We are "prescribing" the following methods, because all these, if combined together, will go a long way toward speeding up your computer's Internet capabilities and making it a generally healthier machine. (Before you start feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, let's get to work!)

 

The Methods

A.    Downloading a driver update for your modem.

 

A driver is a little piece of software which communicates between your computer and an external (printer, ) or internal (modem) device. Newer versions of drivers are often released by their manufacturers to keep pace with newer operating systems like Windows XP. You can download a new driver from the website of its manufacturer. These days, most manufacturer web sites are displayed on the box your modem came in, or somewhere in the paper documents that came with it.

 

Downloading is not as hard as it seems.   If you know how to type in the name of the web site into your browser's address bar, you're halfway there. Use your mouse to point and Left Click on the directions at the web site. First look for the support section and then downloads. When you get there, read the directions carefully and completely before you start. Know the name, model and serial number of your modem. Different model, different driver! When asked where on your computer you want to download the file, always choose your desktop. That way you won't have trouble finding the file after its finished downloading.

 

B.   Installing your downloaded driver
       If your driver file ends with .exe, Double Left Click on it to automatically install it. You may then skip down to "B".

      If your driver file ends with .zip, Right Click on the file and then Left Click on the line of the menu that says Extract or Unzip.
      Be sure to place the unzipped file on the desktop also. The unzipped file is the one you will use in the next instructions.

     Now continue with the following directions:

  1. Find the My Computer icon on your desktop using your mouse pointer  and click the right mouse button.  A drop-down menu will open.

  2. Left Click on Properties and a properties box will open.

  3. Find the Hardware tab at the top of the box and Left Click on it. The Hardware page will appear.

  4. Find the Device Manager button and Left Click on it. A new window will open like this one:
     

 

 

 

  1. Find the line that says Modems and Left Click on the plus sign (+) next to it. Another line should appear with your modem's name on it.
  2. Right Click on the name of your modem and a drop-down menu will open.
  3. Left Click on Update Driver. A window will open called a Hardware Update Wizard, like the screenshot below.
  4. There are three Option buttons. You can only choose one. Since you've already downloaded the driver,
    Left Click on the last option, No, not this time. Then Left Click the Next button.

 

  1. Here is the next screen you will see. It has two option buttons at the bottom. Left Click on the second option,
    Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) Wow! You're advanced!! Left Click on Next.

 

 

  1. The next screen will look like the screenshot below. Left Click on the first option, Search for the best driver in these locations.
    Also Left Click in the box that says, Include this location in the search.
     

 

  1. Left Click on Browse and find your desktop and Left Click on the driver file so it appears in the window. Click Next.
  2. Left Click Finish to complete the Modem driver update.

 

 

C.    The next several steps

Any problems with the physical phone wire, inside your house or outside, will seriously effect the speed of your modem and its ability to stay connected to the Internet. If you hear a cracking noise or interrupted speech when you're on the phone with someone, or an unclear buzzing sound along with the dial tone, you might want to call your local phone company to see if they can improve the quality of your phone line.

 

D.   Cable Nut Software will optimize some settings in your computer's Registry, a critical part of Windows XP.
(If you downloaded Cable Nut Software in a previous section you may skip the download part and go #2 below) 

  1. Download CableNut and install it to the default (generally accepted as best) location specified in the installation procedure.

  2. Left Click on the Start button at the bottom left of your screen. A pop-up menu will open

  3. Move you mouse pointer or cursor to Programs and a list of all your software applications will automatically open.

  4. From the list, Left Click on the Cable Nut Folder. A pop-up list will open.

  5. Left Click on Adjuster.

  6. Enter the values (or numbers) exactly as shown in the screenshot below:
     

 

 

  1. After entering all the values and double checking your work, Left Click on Save to Registry.

  2. Left Click the Ok button when a warning similar to the one below is displayed.

 

  1. Left Click the Ok button in the Settings Applied box like the one below:

 

 

  

E.    Optimize your modem's settings

 

  1. Locate the My Computer icon on your Desktop. Right Click and a drop-down box will open.
  2. From the drop-down list, Left Click on Properties. A new window will open.
  3. Left Click  the Hardware tab. A new page will appear.
  4. Left Click on Device Manager. You should be able to see a screen similar to the one shown below.

 

 

  1. Left Click on the plus (+) sign next to Modems. The name of your modem should appear.
  2. Right Click on the name and a drop-down box will appear.
  3. From the drop-down box Left Click on Properties. A Properties Box will appear with several page tabs at the top.
  4. Left Click on the Modem tab. You should see a screen similar to the one shown below.

 

 

 

 

  1. Adjust the modem Speaker volume to the desired level by pointing your mouse arrow to the little tab on the sliding bar between Off and High.
    While holding down the left mouse button, you can slide the bar to the left or right. Then release the left mouse button and you're done.
  2. Select the Maximum Port Speed to be 115200, by Left Clicking on the down arrow at the right side of the speed field or box.
    A drop-down menu will open. Left Click on 115200 and it will appear alone in the speed field.
  3. Select the Advanced Tab at the top of the page by Left Clicking on it. The Advanced page will appear as below.

 

  1. On the Advanced page, like the above screenshot, Left Click on the Advanced Port Settings button. You should now see a screen like the one shown below:

 

 

 

 

  1. Check the box next to Use FIFO buffers by pointing to it with your mouse pointer and click your left mouse button.
  2. Slide the bars of both the Receive and Transmit Buffer to the extreme right. (See #9 above for sliding instructions)
  3. Left Click Ok at the bottom and this page should close, leaving your previous page in view. Left Click on Change Default Preferences.
  4. You should be able to see a screen similar to the one shown below. Make sure the General tab is at the front.

 

 

 

  1. Select the Port speed to be 115200 by Left Clicking on the arrow to the right of the Port speed field. When a list appears, Left Click on 115200.
  2. Select the Data Protocol to Standard EC (using your mouse pointer and mouse button as above)
  3. Select the Compression to Enabled.
  4. Select the Flow Control to Hardware.
  5. Now select the Advanced Tab by Left Clicking on it. You should see a screen similar to the one shown below.

 

 

 

  1. Select the Data bits to 8   (see #11 above for selecting instructions)        
    Select the Parity to None         
    Select the Stop Bits to 1          
    Select the Modulation to Standard  (if it is available for selection.)    

 

 

 

 F.    Optimize your Network Properties

  1. Left Click your Start button in the lower left corner of your screen. A pop-up list will open.

  2. Left Click your Control Panel. A new window will open

  3. Find the Network Preferences icon in the new window and Double Left Click.

  4. Right Click the Dial-up Connection. A drop-down menu should appear. Select Properties by Left Clicking on it.

  5. Select the Networking tab by Left Clicking on it

  6. You should see a screen similar to the one shown below.

 

  1. Do you have only one computer in your home?  If you have more than one, are they connected through a Local Network? 

  2. If your answered No to the second question, then you will only need to leave Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) as your one choice (see above screenshot)
    Uncheck other boxes by pointing your mouse pointer and Left Clicking. Then Left Click on OK at the bottom of the page.
    If you think your computer might be networked to other computers in your home, or just aren't sure, do not change the above settings.

 

G.     Further optimizing other Registry settings, can help us achieve a faster connection speed. We will first edit the Registry to speed up network

        browsing. Network browsing refers to looking for other computers connected to the same network as yours.

        Follow the steps given below to speed up network browsing.

 

  1.  **Left Click on this file** to go to its download page. Your next step will be a little different than with previous downloads.
  2. When the window gives you the option to Open/Save. Choose Open by Left Clicking on it.
  3. After you select Open you may see a screen or two like the one below asking whether you want your Registry changed. Left Click Yes.

 

 

 

 

H.    Speeding up the time your computer takes to look for webpages.
       When you type any Internet address it is transformed into a unique DNS (Domain Naming Service). We will edit the registry to increase the priority of the

        process, which does this lookup.

 

  1.  **Click here to download this file** and follow the same instructions as the last download.

 

 

I.    Editing the Registry so your computer better utilizes your its RAM (Memory) while sending and receiving information.

  1.  **Left Click to download this file**. (This procedure is the same as the last two)

 

 

J.    Optimizing your Internet Explorer browser
        This last section is only for users of Internet Explorer (IE). If you use another browser like Netscape Navigator than skip this last section.

 

  1. Left Click on the Start button at the bottom left of your screen. A pop-up list will open.
  2. Left Click where it says Run, near the bottom of the list. A new window will open
  3. On the line (field) provided in the new window, type IEXPLORE. Your Internet Explorer browser will open
  4. Left Click on the Tools Menu at the top of your browser. A drop-down box will open.
  5. Left Click on Internet Options. You will see a window like this one:


 

  1. In the Temporary Internet files area, Left Click on the Settings button.
  2. You should be able to see a screen similar to the one shown below.
  3. Select by Left Clicking on Every visit to the page. This will ensure that you get the updated page every time you visit a site.

 

 

  1. Set the Amount of disk space to use to about 80MB either by sliding the bar or Left Clicking  the up or down arrows next to the number.
    This will limit the amount of Internet information stored on your local computer.
  2. Left Click Ok. You will see the Internet Options page appear again.
  3. Now select the Connections tab by Left Clicking on it. The Connections page will come to the front.
  4. Left Click on the LAN Settings button at the bottom of the page You should be able to see the screen as shown below.

 

 

  1. Make sure that all the boxes here are Unchecked. (If you are on a Local Network or think you might be, do not change the above settings.)
    Left Click on Ok. You will be returned to the Internet Options page
     
  2. Select the Privacy tab by Left Clicking on it. You will see a page similar to the screenshot below:

  1. Left Click the Advanced button. You should be able to see the screen shown below:

 

 

 

  1. Check the box marked, Override automatic cookie handling, by Left Clicking on it.
  2. Under First-party Cookies,  Left Click the Accept button.
  3. Under Third-party Cookies, Left Click the Block button
  4. Left Click and put a check in the box next to Always allow session cookies.
  5. Left Click on Ok.