Speed

How fast will my modem work with your equipment?

We use only 56K digital equipment. Modem speeds will vary according to the quality of the copper phone line between the back of the computer and the nearby switching station, which provides a fiber optic link to the Internet.

Your modem will try to connect at the fastest speed possible and then "downshift" until it is able to make a reliable connection. This is what takes place as you hear the hashing noise when your modem first connects to the Internet. It is negotiating the language to be used while connected (the protocol) and the speed that works best.

Most users of 33.6 K modems can connect at speeds between 28800 BPS and 31500 BPS. Most users of 56.6 K modems can connect at speeds between 28800 BPS and 49000 BPS. Since every household has a slightly different path to the phone company's switches, your actual experience may vary from these numbers.

Some of our customers are in locations where they can receive DSL service from us. Click here to find out more.

Some business customers buy special T1 lines that tie into these switching stations for exceptional speed. They transfer data virtually as fast as the modems will go. For most residential customers, the cost of a high-speed line is prohibitive.

One option available is a DirecDuo satellite dish. You can use this device to receive both satellite TV programming and Internet signals. Once you own the dish you subscribe to DirecPC services, which gives you a monthly Internet package. This enables a computer to download a 2MB file in as little as 40 seconds.

The satellite serves only as a receiver of information. The computer must still be connected to the phone line so it can send commands to the Internet.

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