Not all of us have access to a fast Internet connection (at home or at work). We may be geographically or financially challenged (and that's okay). Those of us using 56k or ISDN modems may not be getting as much bits as we possibly could. It's time to max out the BPS! The easiest way to do this is by editing the WIN.INI file; under the [Ports] section, you'll see COM entries 1-4. Write those settings down -- in case you need to get them back. Change each value to: "921600,n,8,1,p" (without the quotes). This'll hopefully pump up the bandwidth for ya. When you reboot, you should have new (higher) number choices. Open the Control Panel's Modem applet, press the 'Properties' button, then under the 'Maximum speed' section, bump it up as high as it will go.

How do I add an init string to Windows 95/98 Dial-Up Networking?

  1. Doubleclick My Computer, then doubleclick Dial-Up Networking. (If a Dial-Up Networking folder is not present in MyComputer, use this method: From the Start button, choose Programs, then Accessories, then Dial-Up Networking.)
  2. Right-click on your connection icon and choose Properties
  3. Click the Configure button
  4. Click the Connection tab
  5. Click the Advanced button
  6. Enter the init string in the Extra Settings field
  7. Click OK to save changes

How do I disable X2,V.90 or Flex to be able to connect to 33.6 K modem.

If you have a 56K modem but you're dialing into a V.34 modem bank, your modem will still try to negotiate a 56K connection, even though it's impossible. You may want to use one of the commands below to tell the modem to not attempt a 56K connection. Check before if your modem supports X2 or Flex only, X2 with V.90 compatible or Flex with V.90 compatible.

Modems 56K init string

Modem Type and Model

String

Acer56K External (X2 chips)

S32=66

Compaq Presario 56k DFI

-V90=0

Hayes (Rockwell chips)

+MS=11,1,300,33600

Magic Xpress 56 K external (Flex+V.90)

S109=0

Megahertz (x2 chip)

S32=66

Supra 56K Internal V90 mode

-V90=0 (To connect with 33.6 modem)

Supra Express 56K Internal (another rockwell chips)

-V90=0

US-Robotic Sporster (x2 xhip)

S32=66

Viking v.90 + k56 Flex PC-card

+MS=11,1,300,33600

Xircom (another Rockwell chips)

+MS=V34

For X2 USRobotics Chips (X2 Only)

 

x2 off

x2 off, V.8 on

Sportster**

S32=32

S32=34

Courier

S58=1

S58=1

X2 Plus V.90

 

x2 on, V.90 off

x2 off, V.90 on

Both off

Both on*

Sportster**

S32=66

S32=34

S32=98

S32=2

Courier

S58=32

S58=1

S58=33

S58=0

The other X2 modems use Sportster.
Modem that works with init string are : USRobotics, Megahertz, Most Rockwell chips

Flex Only:

For Rockwell-based K56flex modems that do not also support V.90, add +MS=11,1 to the end of your modem init string.

Flex Plus V.90:

V.90 for Loxinfo (Phuket) connections

N+MS=12,1,34667,56000

V.90 preferred (K56flex will still work)*

+MS=12,1

V.90 only, K56flex and V.34 disabled*

+MS=12,1,34667,56000

K56flex preferred (V.90 will still work)*

+MS=56,1

K56flex only, V.90 and V.34 disabled*

+MS=56,1,34000,56000

Disable V.90 and K56flex, use V.34 (28.8/33.6)

+MS=11,1,300,33600

For Rockwell HCF chips:

V.90 preferred (K56flex will still work)

+MS=V90

K56flex preferred (V.90 will still work)

+MS=K56FLEX

Disable V.90 and K56flex, use V.34 (28.8/33.6)

+MS=V34

Lucent chipset modems

For Lucent-based K56flex modems that do not also support V.90, add S38=0 to the end of your modem init string.

For Lucent-based modems that do support V.90, use one of the following strings.

For Apollo (LT Win Modem) and Mars (LT PCI Win Modem) chipsets:

Enable V.90

-V90=1
Disable V.90

-V90=0

Enable K56flex

S38=1

Disable K56flex

S38=0

Lucent Chipset

Enable V.90

-V90=1

Disable V.90

-V90=0

See current -V90 setting with explanation

-V90? in a terminal

Enable K56flex

S38=1

Disable K56flex

S38=0

For Venus chipsets (mostly used in external modems):

K56flex only (V.90 disabled)

S109=0

K56flex or V.90*

S109=1

V.90 only (K56Flex disabled)

S109=2

DIAL-UP ACCESS GETTING FASTER

The new V.92 dial-up modem standard promises to maximize the limited potential of analog connections. Once Internet Service Providers upgrade their hardware to handle the V.92 standard, the new protocol will shave a few seconds off of logon time, allow free Internet call waiting, and speed data conversion for faster downloads and uploads. Actiontec's Lesley Kirchman notes that, while the future definitely belongs to broadband, the V.92 standard could be the last great leap forward in analog modem technology. ISPs America Online, EarthLink, and MSN have yet to adopt the technology because it is so new, but representatives have promised that the companies will soon test and debug V.92. Among the new features are "Quick Connect" technology, which helps a modem to learn connection patterns and hook up more quickly, and the new V.44 compression protocol that makes text and Web pages move faster. (Washington Post, 23 February 2001)