win 98se/pent3/127meg ram/ 56k dialup modem probably a simple question but could someone please tell me why, when I download something from the Net it will start at something like 27bps then gradually drop to 1.27bps? It's infuriating. Is there something I can do to keep it up, so to speak? ;)

Mine does that to. I think it's just because initial bursts of data are not a reliable way to measure the rate. My 56k usually starts off around 10 and levels off to around 3.5. I've never tried anything to maintain a higher rate but others may post their findings.

Quite often it's not your modem connection, but the available bandwidth to the server supplying the download. OR, the many connections between you and the server, OR, the number of other simultaineous links to that download. A download manager like Get Right will allow you to stop a slow download and resume it at a later time when the connection may be better, or less crowded. More on modem troubleshooting: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Backdoor-RS%22+Trojan&btnG=Google+Search

OOOOOOPS Wrong link for troubleshooting modems. try this one http://808hi.com/56k/trouble.htm

Just out of interest there is a school of thought (Norton) that says that if you are using an analogue phone line you should set your modem speed down to 38400 or, at the highest 57600, rather than 115200. The theory is that running full speed results in excessive error correcting because of the phone line limitations and actually reduces your "overall" speed. I'm not taking sides on this argument but if you care to try it you set it in both the Control Panel/Modem and your Dial-Up-Networking server icon (right click Properties and Configure).

Get a cable modem screw dialup

Sure TOM, you gonna supply cable or DSL service to EVERYBODY who'd like to connect at high speed?? Some of us don't have the option to connect through more than a phone line, and believe it or not most of the world's phone lines are not yet DSL capable. Cable for TV or for 'puter's is pretty much a city slicker affair.